Judith Olney Basketry

Hello… and thank you for being interested my classes. I’d like to teach you what you’d like to learn! Please look through the suggestions I’ve presented for you and then email me with your choices or any questions you have at gvwsgchoice@gmail.com

Introductory Class: This class will be heavy on technique.

Squashy Basket

This is the first basket for the introductory class. It teaches proper choice of materials, proper weaving technique, basic shaping techniques, and the reasons why.

Plan Ahead

Round bottomed baskets are by far the hardest to shape properly! This one is fairly small (reflecting the fact that it has become easier to find good material in the smaller sizes even though the quality of larger sizes seems to have deteriorated. This basket… minus the colored stakes and weavers… will be the second day basket for the introductory class. The class will begin with a discussion of materials and continue with constant discussion of technique. The rim will be one adapted from the Shaker tradition.

Experienced Class: Enhanced Shaping and Twill Baskets

Denty

This is “advanced level” shaping. The oval version can be completed in one day.

Michelin

This dressed up squashy basket is finished by tucking the existing stakes into the existing weaving and continuing to weave. The shaping is more extreme, but the overall learning experience is similar to a plain old squashy. For this class the reed will not be dyed.

Squashed Pentaped

Without the dye and without the Cinquefoil’s twill, this basket teaches 5 footed base and side shaping. It can easily be finished in one day.

Cinquefoil

It’s a bit hard to tell from any picture, but this basket has 5 feet. It falls into the shaping category and the twill category and is right up there on the difficulty scale in both categories. It’s possible to weave a slightly smaller version (10 stakes per side as opposed to 12 stakes per side) in one long day. This basket requires some twill understanding.

Double Quatrefoil

Both of these baskets fall into the shaping category and the twill category. The twill pattern is very easy to understand so, although printed instructions for these baskets are included, they will not be used in class. Oddly enough, despite the similarity to the Cinquefoil twill pattern, this pattern does not require twill experience. Each of these baskets require 2 days to complete. The shorter basket is finished with a rim technique adapted from the Shaker tradition. The taller basket is finished using a wrapping technique adapted from the Choctaw tradition.

Woven Weaving

This is for someone who wants a twill and shaping challenge! This 16 stake X 16 row design means following the graph every row while simultaneously shaping the basket. I may even have enough Japanese peeled cane if someone actually wants to tackle the two days it takes to weave this basket. (There will be an additional charge for the cane.) The basket is finished using a border adapted from the Shaker tradition.

Twill Cat Head Your Way

For those who’d really like to focus on understanding continuous twills and are interested in designing their own, this is also an option.

Openwork Baskets:

Because of their spaces, these baskets are all related. Both of the bases shown in the following pictures will support tabby weave sides. Both will support open hexagonal weave sides. The open diagonal weave of “Nothing to Hide” can also be used with an open hexagonal weave base. This offering is meant to promote experimentation!

Rinko Based Apple Basket

This is the basic rinko basket. Weaving it involves learning the base weaving technique as well as the shaping techniques necessary to weaving all round bottomed baskets. This basket can be finished in half a day if the weaving stops at fruit basket height. The full height with handle version takes an easy day to complete.

Hanging Rinko

This basket is one of many that start with a rinko base. It presents a noderate shaping challenge and can be completed in half a day.

Nothing to Hide

This basket starts with a rinko base and continues with diagonal weaving up the sides. As with the other rinko baskets, this one presents some shaping challenges. Twining with copper wire substitutes for a rim. It can be completed in one day

Shaker Cheese Basket

Open hexagonal plaiting produces a light-weight, very strong weave, yet uses less material to encompass the same volume as denser weaves. This very versatile technique is worth learning. It combines well with a rinko base.

Shaker Hex Bottomed Basket

Open hexagonal plaiting also combines well with tabby weaving as this basket illustrates. More relaxed shaping techniques produce a lower fruit-style basket using the same length stakes and a larger rim. The basket is finished using an adaptation of a late Shaker technique.