General Use Basket Pattern

Materials:

12” x 19” D handle - sanded well
12" x 3/4" oak hoop - inner rim
1" flat reed - spokes
3/4" flat reed - outside rim
3/8” flat/flat reed - weavers
3/16” flat/flat reed - weavers
3/16" flat/oval reed - lashing
#3 round reed - twine base
#4 round reed - whaling on base and first row
#3 seagrass - rim filler

Cut:

13- 40” x 1” flat spokes

Mark all spokes at the center on the rough side. Mark the center of the handle and 3" on either side of center.

Lay out six 40” spokes and mark them 3" on both sides of center on rough side. Place these in a suburst pattern on top of the center mark on the inside of the handle. The spokes should be spread out equally, and the centers all on top of each other, the 3" marks forming a circle.

Using the 3" marks as a guide, twining your first row on top of them, twine 3 rows using #3 round reed.

Over-under weave 7 rows of 3/16" flat reed. The base should still be flat, and use a 6 spoke overlap to end each row.

Twine 2 more rows of #3 round reed.

Place a new spoke in between two existing spokes. Place a 3/16" flat weaver under the existing spoke to the left, weave over the new spoke, and under the next existing spoke. Place another new spoke in the open space, and weave over it, and under the existing spoke. Follow this pattern around the base until you reach the halfway point and run out of spokes. Continue to weave, catching in the other sides of hte new spokes. Weave two additional rows after this of 3/16" flat, making a total of 3 rows completed with 6 spoke overlap.

Using #4 round reed, weave one row of 3 rod whaling. Step up and weave a row of reverse 3 rod whaling, creating an arrow. This should bring you to the edge of the handle. Upsett spokes.

Sides:

Row 1: Again using #4 round reed, weave one row of 4 rod whaling, attempt to hold the sides straight up as you go.

Rows 2-4: Weave 3 rows using 3/8" flat reed. The first row should fall on the outside of the handle, and the sides should be at a 90 degree angle from the base. This basket does not flare.

Row 5: Beginning under the 3rd spoke to the right of the handle, weave 3/16" flat reed under 2/over 2 twill pattern for one row, ending in a 4 spoke overlap.

Row 6: Beginning under the 4th spoke to the right of the handle, weave 3/16" flat reed under 2/over 2 twill pattern for one row, ending in a 4 spoke overlap.

Row 7: Beginning under the 5th spoke to the right of the handle, weave 3/16" flat reed under 2/over 2 twill pattern for one row, ending in a 4 spoke overlap.

Row 8: Beginning under the 6th spoke to the right of the handle, weave 3/16" flat reed under 2/over 2 twill pattern for one row, ending in a 4 spoke overlap.

Row 9: Beginning under the 7th spoke to the right of the handle, weave 3/16" flat reed under 2/over 2 twill pattern for one row, ending in a 4 spoke overlap.

Row 10, 11, 12, 13: Repeat rows 8, 7, 6, 5 respectively using the 3/16" flat reed. This should create an arrow of twill. Weaving will tend to be loose on this part, but you can tighten it up if you like after a few rows by working the "extra" around to the overlaps and trimming.

Row 14: Weave a row of 3/8" flat reed, going to the outside of the handle.

Rows 15-29: Weave rows of 3/8" flat reed. After every row, slip the 12" x 3/4" oak hoop to the inside of the basket. The rows should fit around the hoop snugly as this will be your inside rim.

Row 30: Weave one more row of 3/8" flat reed. This is your last row and the oak hoop must fit inside it. Allow a minimal amount of room so that once you cut and tuck the rim will still fit on the inside. Pack your weaving, making sure there are no spaces. Be careful of packing around the 3/16" weavers, as they bend and fold easily. This is the time to take out any looseness in rows 5-13.

Cut and tuck.

Use 3/4" flat reed as your outer rim, and a 12" x 3/4" oak hoop as your inner rim. #3 seagrass is the rim filler, and lashing is 3/16" flat/oval reed. Be sure to lash x's over the handles.

*3 rod whaling - begin 3 pieces of round reed behind 3 adjacent spokes. Bring the one on the far left side in front of the next two spokes (weaving over the other 2 round reeds), behind the 3rd, and out in front again. Then take the one that is now on the far left and bring it in front 2, behind 1 and out. Then take the next one on the furthest left and bring it in front 2, behind 1, and out. Continue doing this until your 3 weavers are behind the 3 spokes just before the ones you started under. Then, instead of taking the one on the far left, use the one of the three that is furthest to the right, and have it go over 2, behind one, and out. Then use the one in the middle to go in front 2, behind 1 and out. Then use the last one to do the same. This completes one row of 3 rod whaling.

*reverse 3 rod whaling - begin 3 pieces of round reed behind 3 adjacent spokes. This weave is the same as the 3 rod whaling, with the only change being that as you weave in front of the two spokes, you travel under the 2 sticking out round reeds instead of over them. This will create an arrow pattern when the two types are used together. To end, you come around to right before where you began, and use the one on the right to go over the two spokes, and under the row of whaling to go under the third spoke. The middle weaver goes over two spokes, and under the whaling to end under the third spoke. The last weaver also goes over two spokes, and ends under the whaling behind the third spoke. Trim the ends flush.

*4 rod whaling - same as 3 rod whaling, except you are using 4 pieces instead of 3. Begin on 4 adjacent spokes, and pattern is over 3 spokes, behind one, and out.