Learn to weave

Pull up a chair.

Everything we know about weaving, written down and free to read. Start wherever you like, take as long as you want, and if a guide leaves you stuck, write to us. We answer.

01 The base

Every basket starts flat. Pick the base your pattern calls for.

Laying Out an Unfilled Base
Before your basket can have sides, it needs a solid foundation. This step-by-step guide walks you through laying out an unfilled base - weaving horizontal and vertical stakes together, adding a locking row to hold your measurements, and upsetting the stakes to bring your basket to life. Works for baskets with or without a handle.
Laying out a Filled Base
Laying out the base is one of the very first steps in weaving a basket. This tutorial can be used in making a basket either with or without a handle. The pictures use a handle, but if your project does not include one, then simply replace the handle with your center stake
Twining a Round Base Tutorial
Twining a Round Base TutorialBoth the filled and unfilled base tutorials we have shared on our blog have taught how to make square or rectangular basket bases. But what about the round patterns?The b...
Weaving with a Wooden-Bottom Base Tutorial
There are only a handful of different techniques used to construct the base of a basket. The wooden-bottom base combines the technique of a plaited base with a little carpentry. In this tutorial, I’m...

02 The sides

Once the stakes are upset, the flat base becomes a basket.

03 The last weaver

The row that sits between the two rims, anchoring the tucked stakes and the lashing.

Twining the Last Weaver Tutorial
On a basket, the last weaver is an important row. It’s the one sandwiched between the two rims. This is the row that will be held in place by the tucked stakes and the row that acts as the anchor for...

04 Clip and tuck

Every other stake gets cut, the rest fold over and tuck down inside. Where the sides are declared done.

Clip and Tuck Tutorial
After the last row 3/8” reed has been added to the basket, the sides of the basket are complete. The next step is to clip and tuck the horizontal and vertical stakes. Notice that every other stake is...

05 Rim and lash

Two rim pieces, a filler, and lashing to hold it all together.

06 Handles

Handles attach at different points depending on the type, so check your pattern for timing.

07 Finishing

The basket works now. Finishing is what makes it last and keeps the colour from fading.

Whenever you are ready

The rest is in your hands.

These will teach you the technique. When you would like to put it to work, a kit turns up with the reed cut to length and a pattern for one particular basket, and you can take it from there.

Start with a kit Read the journal

Pull up a chair.

01 The base

Laying Out an Unfilled Base

Laying out a Filled Base

Twining a Round Base Tutorial

Weaving with a Wooden-Bottom Base Tutorial

02 The sides

Weaving the Sides Tutorial

Shaping the Sides of a Basket Tutorial

Sea Grass Continuous Weave Tutorial

03 The last weaver

Twining the Last Weaver Tutorial

04 Clip and tuck

Clip and Tuck Tutorial

05 Rim and lash

Double-Lashing Tutorial

Single Lashing

06 Handles

Leather Handled Tote Strapping Tutorial

Weaving with Leather Handles

Wire and Bale Handles

07 Finishing

Basket Finishes

To stain or not to stain … that is the question!

Singeing Tutorial

Staining Tutorial - With or Without Leather

The rest is in your hands.