CHAPTER XII

UTILITY BASKETS

MODEL 61.——FIG. 72

ARTISTIC BASKET WITH LID

MATERIAL

10 spokes No. 5 reed, 6 inches. 21 spokes No. 5 reed, 18 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 2 reed. Lid——16 spokes No. 4 reed, 15 inches.

Make a bottom in the ordinary way, 5-1/2 inches. Insert the spokes, pinch, and make an upsetting four rows in 3-rod coil. Hold the spokes in a slightly slanting outward direction during the weaving of the basket. In plain weave, make 2-1/4 inches. Follow this with four rows triple weave and the border described under Model 22.

LID

Arrange the spokes in position. In ribbon weave, work one row No. 00 reed. With No. 1 reed, weave four rows in pairing. Hold the spokes to secure a curved center for lid. Separate the spokes into groups of twos with five rows of pairing. Separate into single spokes with two rows triple twist No. 2 reed. Holding the spokes in an outward position, weave nine rows pairing. Wet the spokes and place the lid on a flat board or table. Press the spokes flat on the board and weave two rows of No. 4 reed in triple twist. In plain weave, work six rows. Complete the weaving with the following border: Turn the lid upside down. Take each spoke back of next spoke to the right, bring it to the front of the lid. Second row, each spoke is passed in front of next two spokes and back of the third spoke, where it is cut off.

HANDLE

Make a ring 1-1/4 inches in diameter. Fasten it to the center of the lid by weaving the ends in and out amid the weaving of lid.

FIG. 73

The base spokes of this “Knitting Basket” are of No. 4 reed. The inserted spokes are of No. 3 reed, twenty-two inches long. The weavers are of No. 2 and No. 3 reed.

MODEL 62.——FIG. 74

MOTHER’S SEWING BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 7 inches. 62 spokes No. 4 reed, 18 inches. Weavers——No. 4 reed.

Weave a base seven inches in pairing. Insert the spokes, pinch, and turn with an upsetting of four rows 3-rod coil. Bend and hold the spokes outward. Work four inches in plain weave No. 4 reed. Wet the spokes, pinch and bend inward. Weave two inches plain weave. Make four rows triple twist. Complete the basket with the following border: First row, each group of spokes is brought back of the next group to the right and passed out to the front. Second row, each group is passed over the next four groups, back of the fifth group where it is cut off.

MODEL 63.——FIG. 75

LILY BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 6-1/2 inches. 62 spokes No. 4 reed, 18 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 4 reed.

With No. 1 reed, fasten the spokes with three rows of pairing. Separate into groups of twos, with two rows of pairing. Separate into single groups, with two rows of pairing. Insert two No. 4 weavers and work ten rows in pairing. This makes a 6-1/2 inch base.

Insert the spokes, two spokes each side of the base spokes. Turn up with an upsetting of four rows of triple twist No. 4 reed. The spokes are double and carried double throughout the basket. Hold the spokes so that the basket will slant outward. Weave four inches in plain weave. Wet the spokes and pinch sharply. Bend the spokes inward. Work one row in 3-rod coil. Follow this with fifteen rows in plain weave. Bending the spokes slightly upward, work five rows in triple weave. Cut off one spoke of each group. Complete the basket with the border described under Model 22.

MODEL 64.——FIG. 76

SMALL BARREL SHAPED RUSH BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 6-1/2 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 20 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 5 reed. Weavers braided rush.

Make a round bottom six inches in diameter. Insert the 31 spokes and make an upsetting of six rows of 3-rod wale No. 5 reed. Throughout the basket, hold the spokes equal distance apart; weave carefully and evenly.

Prepare the rush for weaving by soaking it in water until it is moist, or wet enough to keep it from cracking. Do not try to weave the braided rush dry as it cracks easily. Slant the spokes outward, introduce the rush and weave eight rows of simple weaving. Wet the spokes well and bend them in. Have the rush moistened and weave six rows, drawing the spokes in, to secure the rounded effect. Introduce three weavers of No. 4 reed, and work five rows of 3-rod wale. Complete the basket with the following border:

First row, each spoke is carried back of the next two spokes to the right and out to the front. Second row, each spoke is passed in front of the next two spokes to the right, and back of the third where it is cut off.

MODEL 65.——FIG. 77

LARGE RUSH SCRAP BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 6 reed, 7-1/2 inches. 62 spokes No. 5 reed, 31 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 5 reed.

Make a round base seven inches in diameter. Insert the 62 spokes, placing two spokes each side of the base spokes. Weave two rows of triple twist. Turn the spokes sharply upward, weave four rows of triple weave and eight rows of plain weave. Insert three weavers and work two rows of triple.

Soak the rush a few minutes in cold water and with it work fourteen rows in single weaving. Where any ends of rush are joined sew them carefully with fine raffia.

Insert three weavers and make seven rows in triple twist. Throughout the basket each set of 2 spokes is treated as 1 spoke.

Do not cut any of the spokes off. Make a plaited border with the double spokes. The spokes should be held slantingly outward, while weaving, to obtain the desired shape.

MODEL 66.

OBLONG TRAY

This tray will not only be of use on the dressing table, but will add to its beauty and daintiness; it also serves for an ideal comb and brush tray. Dimensions 9-1/2 inches by 6-1/4 inches.

MATERIAL

9 spokes No. 4 reed, 15 inches. 13 spokes No. 4 reed, 15 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 3 reed.

Place the 9 spokes in a horizontal position, equal distances apart; or if two pieces of wood, nine inches long, are available, make 9 holes in each piece 3/4 inch apart. Through these holes insert the nine 15 inch spokes. This holds the spokes in a firm position and makes the weaving simpler.

Take two pieces of the 15 inch spokes and weave as 1 spoke, one row in simple weaving. Now insert a strand of No. 2 reed and make eleven rows simple weaving, working the first row under and over the same spokes as the two 15 inch spokes are woven.

Weave one 15 inch spoke, weaving from right to left, under the first spoke and over the second. Introduce a No. 2 weaver, and work eleven rows, beginning under the first spoke and over the second. Weave another No. 4 spoke. Continue in this way, first one No. 4 spoke, and then ten or eleven rows of No. 2 reed, until the thirteen pieces of No. 4 reed are woven. Both ends of the tray should have two No. 4 spokes woven as one. The weaving should now measure 9 inches by 6 inches.

Weave one row of triple twist around the tray. Wet and turn both end and side spokes sharply upward. Make an upset of three rows of triple.

With the spokes moist, weave the following border:

First row, each spoke is brought back of the next spoke to the right and out to the front.

Second row, each spoke is passed in front of next three spokes to the right and back of the fourth where it is cut off.

MODEL 67.

UTILITY BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 6-1/2 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 22 inches. Weavers No. 2 reed. Weavers No. 4 reed.

Work a base 6-1/2 inches in the usual way. Insert the 31 spokes and make an upset of three rows of triple twist. Work nine rows of double weaving No. 2 reed. Introduce three weavers and make two rows of triple. With No. 2 reed, work nine rows more in double weaving. Follow this with two rows of No. 4 reed in triple, twelve rows double, three rows triple, twelve rows pairing No. 4 reed and seven rows No. 4 reed in 4-rod coil.

Complete the basket with the border described under Model 22.

The basket is enameled in white and gold and makes a very pretty effect. The base border and the top of the base are painted in gold.

MODEL 68.——FIG. 78

SCRAP BASKET (OPEN WORK)

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 9 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 29 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 15 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 5 reed.

Make a base 8-1/2 inches in double weaving No. 4 reed. Insert the 31 29-inch spokes. Turn sharply upward and make one row of 3-rod coil. Insert the 31 15-inch spokes and work three rows of triple twist. The spokes are now double and should be held straight. Make eight rows double weaving and four rows in triple. Leave one inch space open. Find the middle of a long weaver, place it around one of the double spokes and weave seven rows in pairing.

Now separate the double spokes into single spokes with two rows triple twist. Leave another inch of open space in the basket. Take the middle of another weaver and, holding the spokes double again, weave four rows in pairing.

Leave an open space of two inches. Weave three rows of pairing. Number the groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Hold the second spoke of No. 1 group straight. Cross the first spoke of No. 3 group over the second spoke of No. 2 group, and place it by the side of No. 1 group, where it is held in this position by placing the middle of a weaver around it, and drawing one end of the weaver to the inside of the basket, the other end to the outside of basket. Hold the second spoke of No. 2 group straight, cross the first spoke of No. 4 group over the second spoke of No. 3 group and place it by the side of the second spoke of No. 2 group. This is held in position by another twist of pairing. Take the first spoke of No. 5 group, cross it over second spoke of No. 4 group, and place it in position by the side of second spoke of No. 3 group, where it is held in position by a twist of pairing. Weave one row of pairing around the basket holding the spokes in this position. The second spoke of each group is held straight, while the first spoke of the third group to the right is crossed over the second group and placed by the side of the first group, where it is held in position by pairing. Two more rows of pairing are woven holding the double spokes side by side. Follow this with three rows of 4-rod coil.

The basket is finished with border described under Model 22.

Make ring handles and place in position on opposite sides of basket.

MODEL 69.——FIG. 79

FANCY SCRAP BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 7-1/2 inches. 62 spokes No. 4 reed, 27 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed.

Work a base 6-1/2 inches. Insert the spokes and make an upset of four rows 3-rod coil. The basket is worked with double side spokes. Hold the spokes straight and weave twenty-nine rows in plain weave. Bend the spokes slightly outward. Weave two rows 3-rod coil, seventeen rows single, two rows 3-rod coil, sixteen rows single and five rows triple twist.

The plaited border completes the weaving of the basket.

Make ring handles and fasten on opposite sides of basket.

MODEL 70.——FIG. 80

ARTISTIC SCRAP BASKET

This basket is first made, then enameled in white with suggestions of gold.

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 7-1/2 inches. 33 spokes No. 5 reed, 29 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 5 reed.

In the ordinary way work a round base seven inches in diameter. Insert the 33 spokes. Make an upset of four rows 3-rod coil. Weave ten rows plain weave, eight rows double, and twelve rows pairing. Introduce three weavers and work three rows 3-rod coil. The following design is worked in the basket on opposite sides: Number the spokes 1 to 33. The design is inserted between the spokes Nos. 11 to 17 (eleven to seventeen) inclusive, and between the spokes Nos. 27 to 33 (twenty-seven to thirty-three) inclusive. Insert a weaver back of any spoke, which may be called No. 1 spoke, and work one row around the basket in plain weave. In the second and third rows, between the spokes Nos. 11 to 17 (eleven to seventeen) and Nos. 27 to 33 (twenty-seven to thirty-three) the weaver should pass back and in front of the same spokes as in No. 1 row. That is, in the first three rows the weaver should pass back of Nos. 11, 13, 15, 17 spokes, in front of Nos. 12, 14, 16 spokes, back of Nos. 27, 29, 31, 33 spokes, in front of Nos. 28, 30, 32 spokes. In the fourth, fifth and sixth rows the weaver passes back of Nos. 12, 14, 16 spokes, front of Nos. 13, 15 spokes, back of Nos. 28, 30, 32 spokes, in front of Nos. 29, 31 spokes. In the seventh, eighth and ninth rows the weaver passes back of Nos. 13, 15 spokes, in front of No. 14 spoke, back of Nos. 29, 31 spokes, in front of No. 30 spoke. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth rows of weaving pass over and under the same spokes as the fourth, fifth and sixth rows. Likewise the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth rows correspond to first, second and third rows, which complete the design.

Between Nos. 1 to 10 spokes and Nos. 18 to 26 spokes, the weaving is the simple over and under weave. Owing to insertion of design it is sometimes necessary to pass the weaver back of two spokes to get the correct weave. Follow the fifteen rows of weaving with three rows of triple twist. Bend the spokes inward while making the triple twist. Holding the spokes in the same position work twenty rows plain weave. Follow this with five rows triple twist. Complete the basket with the border under Model 14.

MODEL 71.——FIG. 81

FATHER’S WASTE PAPER BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 5 reed, 8 inches. 31 spokes No. 5 reed, 28 inches. Weavers No. 4 reed. Weavers No. 5 reed.

Make a seven inch base No. 4 reed. Insert the 31 spokes and turn up with five rows of upsetting No. 5 reed. Weave fifteen rows single weaving. Insert four weavers and work four rows, each weaver passing in front of three spokes and back of one spoke. From the beginning hold the spokes outward. In plain weave, work twenty-six rows. Wet the spokes well now and bend them in. Introduce three weavers and work three rows of triple twist. Drop two weavers and work eleven rows in plain weaving. The weaver should be drawn tightly from now on. Weave two rows in 3-rod coil. Drop two weavers and work sixteen rows in plain weaving. Wet the spokes again and with the plier press the spokes well and bend them outward for a slight flare. Work seventeen rows in plain weave. Bend the spokes down and make three rows of triple twist No. 5 reed. Finish with the following border:

First row, place each spoke back of the next spoke to the right.

Second row, carry each spoke over the next 3 spokes and down to the outside of basket where it rests under the fourth spoke. Cut off the ends sharply.