CHAPTER IV

SEPARATE BOTTOM BASKETS

Separate bottom basket: the bottom of the basket is made separate from the sides, the latter being made by inserting spokes between the weaving, after the bottom is finished, and attaching them with an upsetting of three, four, or five rod coils. A bottom with an even number of spokes is woven with two weavers in pairing, or with three in triple twist.

MODEL 10.——FIG. 13

DESK UTILITY BASKET

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 4 reed, 5 inches. 31 spokes No. 2 reed, 10 inches. Weavers No. 2 Natural and No. 2 Green.

Make a bottom five inches. For the sides insert the thirty-one spokes in the bottom, one inch from edge. Place each spoke by the side of a base spoke. Turn up sharply and with three green weavers, make two rows of triple twist in this manner.

Place each of the three weavers back of a consecutive spoke, and beginning with the first weaver to the left, place it in front of the next two spokes to the right, back of the next spoke and then out to the front. Treat the other two weavers the same way, bringing each weaver in front of two spokes, back of one and out to the front. Continue this until two rows are woven.

With No. 2 natural reed weave 2-1/2 inches, holding the spokes so as to get a very slight outward effect, then with thirteen rows of weaving, draw the spokes inward to obtain the rounded effect. Finish the weaving with two rows of triple twist in green, and complete the basket with the following border: First row, each spoke is placed back of the next spoke to the right and out; second row, each spoke is placed in front of three spokes to the right and in back of the next spoke, where it rests.

MODEL 11.——FIG. 14

COVERING FOR SMALL FLOWER POT

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 4 reed, 5 inches. 34 spokes No. 2 reed, 18 inches. No. 2 natural reed used as weavers. No. 3 natural reed used in triple twist.

Over the 8 spoke center weave a base in pairing, 4-1/2 inches in diameter. Separate 34 spokes in groups of twos, and considering each group of spokes as one spoke, insert them in base. One spoke in base will have a group placed each side of it, making 17 spokes. Attach the sides to base with an upset of two rows of rope twist. Work eighteen rows in double weave. The spokes are now flared slightly outward and five more rows complete the weaving.

The basket is finished off with No. 2 Closed Border. Continue the use of the two spokes as one throughout the border.

MODEL 12.——FIG. 15

STRIPED SEWING BASKET

The following three baskets are given to show how colored reed may be introduced and the effective result.

MATERIAL

10 spokes No. 4 brown reed, 5-1/2 inches. 21 spokes No. 4 natural reed, 15 inches. Weavers No. 2 natural reed. Weavers No. 2 brown reed. Weavers No. 4 brown reed. Handle——2 pieces No. 5 brown reed, 8 inches.

Over a 10 spoke center, weave in pairing, six rows in natural color, change to brown and white, and weave four rows in pairing, change the weave to natural and complete the bottom which should be five inches in diameter. After inserting spokes for the sides, weave an upset in two rows of wale weave. Place a natural color weaver back of one spoke and weave one row around, stopping at the spoke where the weaving was begun; back of the spoke, to the right of the one where the first weaver was placed, insert the brown weaver and weave around until the first weaver is reached. Continue this weave, first the natural then the brown, holding the spokes all the time slightly up and outward. Do this until thirty-eight rows of weaving are finished, nineteen of each color, alternating white and brown stripes. Finish the basket with two rows of triple twist and the following border. First row, each spoke is brought back of the one to the right and out, second row each spoke is brought in front of next three to the right and in back of the fourth spoke.

HANDLE

Place one end of an 8 inch spoke well down by the side of one of the spokes in the basket. Place the other end down the basket leaving about a three inch space between the ends. To the left of the handle place a brown weaver by the side of the inserted end of handle, bring it up over the handle on the outside, and weave three twists around the handle about an inch apart; bring the weaver over the handle to the inside of basket, down under the triple and out to the front. Follow the twist around the handle with the weaver until the handle is completely covered. End the weaver by bringing it up from the inside of the basket between the handle and down through the border and triple twist where it is lost amid the weaving.

MODEL 13.——FIG. 16

SEWING BASKET IN DOUBLE WEAVING

MATERIAL

10 spokes No. 4 natural reed, 5-1/2 inches. 21 spokes No. 4 natural reed, 18 inches. Weavers No. 2 natural reed. Weavers No. 2 brown reed. Weavers No. 4 brown reed. Handle——2 pieces No. 5 brown reed, 8 inches. 3 weavers No. 2 brown reed.

Make a five inch base. Fasten the sides with an upset of two rows brown triple. The sides of this basket are woven in double weaving, one weaver of brown, the other of natural color. Eighteen rows of slewing with two rows of brown triple finish the weaving of the basket. Hold the spoke slightly out and up while weaving. Complete the basket with border described in preceding sewing basket. Handle is made as in preceding basket.

MODEL 14.——FIG. 17

SEWING BASKET IN CHECK EFFECT

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 4 reed, 7 inches. 32 spokes No. 4 reed, 17 inches. Weavers No. 4 natural reed. Weavers No. 2 natural reed. Weavers No. 2 blue reed.

Make a base 6-1/2 inches. Insert the spokes for sides and weave two rows of triple twist in No. 4 natural reed. The sides of this basket are woven in blue and white in the checker design, in the following way:

With No. 2 light blue reed, weave one row, stopping at the spoke to the left of where the weaver was inserted; back of this spoke, insert a natural color weaver and weave one row around meeting the first weaver. Continue the weaving now with the blue weaver, work in this way, first with blue reed, then with natural color, until eight rows are woven——you now have a striped effect of four rows in blue and four in white. In order to get the checker effect, the weave must now change. Bring each weaver back of two spokes at the end of the eighth row of weaving. If the weaving is correct the ninth row of weaving, which is in blue, will be woven under and over the same spokes as the eighth row, which is white. The ninth row is the beginning of the new group of weaving. Continue this weaving until you make five or six checks. The weaving should now be four rows of blue, four of white, four blue, four white, four blue, which gives a prominence to the blue, and makes a decidedly artistic piece of work.

During the weaving the spokes should be held in an outward direction. Follow this with two rows of triple twist and border described as follows:

PLAITED BORDER

This border is especially appropriate for large baskets and trays. Allow thirteen inches for this border, spokes 3/4 inch apart.

Insert 4 spokes which should be one inch longer than the spokes of the basket. Place each spoke by the side of each of 4 border spokes. This makes four groups of 2 spokes each. Number these groups 1, 2, 3, 4. Bend down towards the outside of basket No. 1, 2, 3 groups. Take No. 1 group pass it over Nos. 2 and 3 groups, in front of No. 4 group, and back of the next spoke which is No. 5 spoke. Bend down No. 4 group towards the outside of basket. Place No. 2 group over No. 3 and 4 groups, and back of No. 6 spoke. Bring No. 1 group, which is back of No. 5 spoke, to the outside of basket, by crossing it over No. 2 group between No. 5 and No. 6 spokes. Now bend down No. 5 spoke by the side of this group. Pass No. 3 group over the two groups on the outside of basket, and up between the two upright spokes. No. 2 group is brought to the outside of basket by crossing it over No. 3 group between No. 6 and No. 7 spokes. Bend down No. 6 spoke by the side of this group. No. 4 group is woven in same manner as No. 2 and 3. After the fourth group is woven, you should have one group of 2 spokes on the inside of basket and three groups of 3 spokes each on the outside of basket. Continue the border by weaving two of each group of 3 spokes, lying on outside of basket, over the next two groups on the outside of basket, in front of the first upright spoke, and back of the second where it rests until next group is woven. The first inside group now is drawn to the outside of the basket by crossing it over this group between the two upright spokes. The first upright spokes are always bent down to the outside of basket by the side of this group. When all the groups are woven in this manner, there should be 1 spoke from each group facing the outside of basket, and four groups of 2 spokes each on the inside of basket where the border is completed. Cut all the spokes closely.

The first three groups of spokes at the beginning of the border should not be drawn tight, enough space should be left to allow the last three groups of the border to pass through them easily. The remainder of border should be woven tightly and close to the basket.

MODEL 15.——FIG. 18

GREEN AND WHITE BASKET

This little basket is a very convenient receptacle for holding loose threads or scraps while sewing.

MATERIAL

8 spokes No. 4 natural reed, 5-1/2 inches. 31 spokes No. 2 natural reed, 10 inches. Weavers No. 3 green reed. Weavers No. 2 green reed. Weavers No. 2 natural reed.

Through an 8 spoke base, five inches wide, insert the 31 spokes. Weave two rows green triple, follow this in double weave using green and natural reed. Weave seven rows. Change to single weaving, using two weavers, and weave fourteen rows in the striped effect showing green and white stripe. Complete the weaving with two rows green in triple effect and the following border:

REVERSED ROPE BORDER

Each spoke of the first row is brought back of the next spoke to the right and out. In the second row each spoke is brought back of the next spoke and out, showing a rope effect with spokes on outside.

MODEL 16.——FIG. 19

FANCY SEWING BASKET, NO. 1

The basket is woven, over a 16 spoke center, entirely of No. 2 reed. The spokes and triple twist are of brown reed while the remainder of the basket is woven in the natural color.

MATERIAL

16 spokes No. 2 brown reed, 26 inches. Weavers No. 2 brown reed. Weavers No. 2 natural reed.

Over the 16 spokes weave a base in pairing four inches in diameter. In the first three rows, consider each group of fours as one spoke, then separate the group of fours into groups of twos with seven rows of pairing. Consider each group of 2 spokes as 1 spoke throughout the base. The base should now be four inches in diameter. Turn the spokes with an upset of three rows of triple twist No. 2 brown reed.

Holding the spokes slightly up and outward, weave the basket two inches high. Now drawing the weaver tightly and pushing spokes inward toward center of basket weave twelve rows of single weaving. Finish with three rows of triple twist No. 2 brown reed. When this is completed take each spoke, and bring it out back of the next spoke to the right and down through the three rows of triple twist. Holding the spoke firmly, pass it through the three rows of triple twist at the base of the basket. Continue this with each group of spokes, which will show the striped effect on outside of basket. When all the spokes have been pulled through the triple twist at bottom of base, turn the basket upside down, and if the open border at the top of the basket is even, you are ready to complete the border at base of the basket. This border serves as a little stand for the basket.

BORDER

Weaving to the right, each spoke is woven in front of the next spoke and back of the second spoke to the right where the end is cut off.