Colorful Market Basket: Basketry Tutorial

This self-paced basketry course will teach you the skills and techniques to complete a Colorful Market Basket. Using video, visual, and written instructions, Brittany will walk you through using rattan reed and basketry tools to make a handwoven basket. This colorful market basket is a fun twist on a traditional basket style. Called a market basket because of its classic use as a shopping basket, this style continues to be a popular basket shape. Take this beautiful basket to the farmers market, decorate your home, or give it as a gift basket. Using dyed reed, the weaver can play with color, size, and shape to create a unique pattern in the basket weave.

This course is intended for beginners to intermediate basket weavers. Previous basket weaving experience is optional.

What’s included:

• Step-by-step video tutorial of the entire basket-weaving process
  • Brittany will show and explain how to do each technique. The video presents multiple angles to give the best instructional experience
• Illustrated instruction manual
  • Clear photo instructions
  • Materials and tools list
  • Cut list - lengths of stakes and spokes
  • Suggested resources for materials and tools
  • Additional basket weaving resources and inspiration
• Rattan Basket Weaving Guidebook by Brittany Stanton
  • Glossary
  • Explanation of different reed types
  • Tools used in rattan basket weaving
  • Resources

Basketry skills and techniques learned in this course:

• Two-tone layered stake technique
• Open base
• Weaving with a handle
• Twining
• Plain weave
• Working a weaving pattern
• Weaving with seagrass
• How to dye reed (bonus tutorial)
• Using multiple reed sizes and shapes
• Setting up a rim
• Basic lashing with a handle

This basket course covers rattan basket weaving techniques. The material we use is called rattan reed and is processed from a tropical vine. The vine is turned into different sizes and shapes and imported as a basket weaving material. Resources for this material are included in the instruction manual. 

The approximate completed size of this basket: 

Dimensions: 8-inch x 12-inch base, 7-inch walls, 12-inch handle

• Please note that every basket will turn out slightly different depending on the person weaving. No two baskets are identical, as this is a handcrafted piece, and each weaver will approach the process slightly differently. The dimensions included here are the intended outcome but may be altered or turn out slightly smaller or larger.