CHAPTER X

FRUIT BASKET TRAYS

MODEL 47.——FIG. 64

NO. 1 FRUIT BASKET TRAY

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 8 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 16 inches. 1 spoke No. 8 reed. 32 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 4 reed.

Insert and fasten the spokes in position with the cross weave. Weave four rows of No. 2 reed. Follow this with twelve rows of pairing and nine rows of double weaving.

Insert the 31 spokes and weave with No. 4 reed, four rows of three-rod coil. Pinch the spokes and set up three rows of triple twist. Weave eight rows of double weaving, holding the spokes slantingly outward. Finish with three rows of triple twist and the plaited border.

HANDLE

Insert the piece of No. 8 reed down through the border, through the weaving to the lower triple twist. With No. 2 reed, coil eight rows around the handle making ten twists.

MODEL 48.——FIG. 65

NO. 2 FRUIT BASKET TRAY

MATERIAL

16 spokes No. 2 tan reed, 46 inches. 30 spokes No. 2 tan reed, 16 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 3 reed. Tan colored dish. Handle——2 spokes No. 5 reed, 25 inches.

Over a 16 spoke center weave a base 3-1/2 inches, separating the spokes into groups of twos. Insert the 30 spokes. This will make groups of fours.

Turn up with two rows of No. 3 reed in triple twist. While weaving, curve the spokes to correspond to the curve of dish, draw the weavers tightly to hold the dish securely.

Follow the upset with eleven rows simple weaving. Consider every group of fours as one spoke. With two rows of triple twist in No. 3 reed, separate the groups of fours into groups of twos. Weave twenty-eight rows in simple weaving.

For the sides, take one spoke of each group, pass it back of next two groups, bring it down the outside of basket and through the triple twist at base. The spokes will run singly on the outside of the basket, but will pass through the triple twist at the base in groups of twos. After all the groups have been passed through the triple twist the border is made as follows:

First row, each group is passed back of the next two groups to the right.

Second row, each group is passed in front of the next two groups, back of the third group where the ends are cut off closely.

BORDER FOR TOP OF BASKET

First row, each single spoke is brought back of next two spokes.

Second row, each group is passed in front of next two groups and back of third group where the ends are cut closely.

HANDLE

Insert the ends of handle through the weaving about 1-3/4 inches apart. Coil six rows around the handle and fasten ends securely.

MODEL 49.——FIG. 66

NO. 3 FRUIT BASKET TRAY

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 36 inches. 9 spokes No. 5 reed, 15 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 3 reed.

Make a four inch base in pairing. Turn sharply upward and slant inward with four rows of No. 3 reed in three-rod twist. Weave eight rows in No. 2 reed, over two, under one. Change the reed to No. 00. Weave six rows, over two spokes, under one, with three stands of No. 00 reed in slewing. The weaver must constantly keep drawing the reed tight and holding the spokes well in towards the center. With a strand of No. 00 reed, make eighteen rows in the plain weave. The diameter should be now 1-1/4 inches. Hold the spokes slightly outward and with three weavers in slewing, make seven rows, weaving in front of 2 spokes, back of 1 spoke. The diameter should now be almost two inches.

Insert the 9 spokes, placing a single spoke by the side of every other spoke. Soak all the spokes well, pinch with pliers and bend the spokes straight outward. Hold them in this position until three rows of pairing, three rows of triple twist No. 2 reed and five rows of single weaving are completed.

Bend the spokes in a curved effect, hold them slightly outward and upward. In this position weave ten rows double weaving. Holding the spokes now in a pronounced upward curve, weave five rows of triple twist in No. 4 reed.

The following border completes the tray: Turn down three spokes——No. 1 spoke back of No. 2, No. 2 spoke back of No. 3, No. 3 spoke back of No. 4. Now place No. 1 spoke in front of the third and fourth spokes and back of the fifth spoke; likewise place No. 2 spoke in front of the fourth and fifth spokes and back of the sixth spoke. Continue this around the basket until all the spokes are woven in the border.

MODEL 50.

DESK TRAY

MATERIAL

Board 12 inches by 10 inches. 45 spokes No. 5 reed, 19 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 4 reed.

A desk tray is a very useful article and is made as follows:

Bore 45 holes through the board about 3/8 inch in from the edge of the board. Insert the 45 spokes through these holes allowing 3-1/2 inches for the bottom. Make a foundation stand by weaving these end spokes in front of 2 spokes and back of the third spoke.

The sides are woven with two rows of three rod coil, then in double weaving until the tray is 2-1/2 inches high. Follow this with two rows of triple twist and the plaited border.

MODEL 51.——FIG. 67

SMALL SERVING TRAY

MATERIAL

Board 9-1/2 inches by 6-1/4 inches. Glass 8-3/4 inches by 5-3/4 inches. Cretonne 8-3/4 inches by 5-3/4 inches. 60 spokes No. 2 reed, 15 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed.

Bore 60 holes through the board large enough for No. 2 reed to slip through easily. The holes should be one-half inch apart——19 holes on each of the lengthwise sides and 12 on each end.

Pass the spokes through each hole. Allow 1-1/2 inches for the bottom of tray. For the base border weave one row of pairing and the following border: Each spoke is passed in front of the first spoke to right and back of the second spoke. When all the spokes are woven in this way, place the tray on a flat surface and make sure the base border is perfectly even and level.

The cretonne and glass should be identical in size. Lay the cretonne on the board flat and even, and place the glass over it. The glass must fit snugly and tightly to make a perfect tray. Keep the spokes moist to allow easy weaving. The weavers must be soaked until very pliable. Weave 1/2 inch of pairing with No. 2 reed or nine rows. Follow this with one row of triple twist in No. 3 reed. The plaited border completes the tray.

A very pretty effect may be obtained by having a pale pink flowered cretonne and natural color reed. The cretonne and color of reed should always harmonize.

MODEL 52.

OBLONG SERVING TRAY

MATERIAL

Board 17 inches by 12 inches. Cretonne 16-1/4 inches by 11-1/2 inches. Glass 16-1/4 inches by 11-1/2 inches. 99 spokes No. 5 brown reed, 19 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Brown stain.

Bore 99 holes through board equal distance apart. Stain the board brown. Insert the spokes and allow 3-1/2 inches for the bottom stand. Make a border for this stand in the following manner:

First row, each spoke is brought back of next spoke to right.

Second row, each spoke is passed in front of the next spoke and in back of the next where the end is cut off.

The sides are now woven. A 4-rod coil No. 4 reed holds the glass firmly in place. Follow this with seven rows double weaving No. 2 brown reed and one row No. 4 reed in 4-rod coil. Complete the tray with the plaited border.

After the tray is finished, singe it to get rid of all the loose bits of reed——then polish the board with two or three coats of wax. The cretonne, reed and stain should harmonize in color. A soft brush produces best results in polishing the basket.

MODEL 53.

OVAL SERVING TRAY

MATERIAL

Board 20 inches by 14 inches. Glass 19 inches by 13 inches. Cretonne 19 inches by 13 inches. 52 spokes No. 5 brown reed, 20 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed.

The holes should be made about one inch apart. Insert the 52 spokes and make foundation stand as described under preceding model. Be careful that the board is perfectly dry before placing the cretonne upon it. Keep the spokes moist by using a wet sponge; be careful not to allow any water to get under the glass while weaving. Best results are obtained by staining the board first and then weaving a dyed reed; good results, however, may be obtained by making the tray in natural reed first and then staining the board and reed. Great care must be exercised in painting the tray after it is made.

The sides of the oval tray are woven two inches high. First weave one row of 4-rod coil then seven rows of double weaving in pairing. One row of 4-rod coil and the plaited border completes the tray. Polish as described under preceding model.

MODEL 54.

ROUND SERVING TRAY

MATERIAL

Diameter of board 10 inches. Diameter of glass 9-1/4 inches. Diameter of cretonne 9-1/4 inches. 39 spokes No. 4 reed, 20 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed.

Prepare the board by making 39 holes 5/8 of an inch from edge of board, 3/4 inch spacing between each hole. Insert the 39 spokes. Weave an under base stand in the following manner: First row, each spoke is brought back of next spoke to right and out in front. Second row, each spoke is passed in front of next spoke to right and in back of second spoke where it is cut off.

This base weaving should be uniform throughout so that the tray base may be perfectly even. Stand the tray on a flat desk and see that each spoke touches the desk. For the side of the tray weave one row of 4-rod wale and finish the ends in the usual way.

Insert one No. 4 weaver and weave nine rows around the tray. Introduce four weavers and work one row of 4-rod coil. Finish the tray with the plaited border.