Tutor: Janice Hall
Mondays 10 am to 3:30 pm
Term dates: September 21st, October 5th, 19th, November 2nd, 16th, 30th
This class is suitable for complete beginners to basketry or those who have made a couple of baskets and wish to improve their skills. Over three terms you will learn the basics of basket making and become familiar weaving with willow.
Classes will run from the second floor of the Poldrate Mill Building. Janice will provide prepared basketry willow for the classes and you will be charged at the end of term depending on the amount of willow each individual has used (approx cost £25-£30) depending on the number of baskets made. As willow is the dominant material used some hand strength is required in the weaving process.
In term 1 (6 sessions), students will make two or three small baskets using the ‘stake and strand’ method of basket making. You will learn how to tie in the slath and make bases using the pairing weave, how to insert the uprights and weave the upset, as well as experiment with different side weaves such as waling and English randing. Baskets will normally be finished with simple trac borders and bow handles. The emphasis in term 1 is on learning the basics and repetition so the pace is naturally slow. For the last lesson of term you will use your new skills to make a number of Christmas decorations including willow wreaths.
In term 2, (4 sessions), you will begin to work on medium sized baskets (eg round shopping basket, waste paper basket) and learn some more side weaving techniques (eg french randing, slewing). Different borders and handles will also be taught. All of the techniques learnt in term 1 will be reinforced in term 2 whist creating baskets at a slightly larger scale. The emphasis in term 2 is that of consolidation of previous learning so again the pace is slow.
In term 3 (5 sessions), there will be an introduction to ‘framed basketry’ where students will be able to make a shallow garden trug, flower basket and small fruit platters. There will be scope for the students to add more colour or found materials into their weaving. This term is also suitable for new students who have not attended terms 1 or 2 but who would like to try weaving with willow to make simple framed baskets.
About the tutor: Janice Hall is a basket maker based in Edinburgh and has been making baskets for over 14 years. She weaves a range of traditional and contemporary baskets in willow, rush and other natural fibres. She uses organically grown local willow from Myreside, near Gifford, East Lothian supplemented by Somerset willow. Janice is a member of the Basketmakers Association, the Scottish Basketmakers Circle and the Northumbrian Basketry Group. Her baskets are available to purchase at local craft fairs, exhibitions and direct to customers from her studio at Cockenzie House.
To see more of her work visit Instagram @janicehallbaskets
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To join this class please click HERE which will take you to enrolments on the main PACC website