What are different types of baskets made in Basket weaving?
Here at Joy Farms, we currently offer workshops to make 3 different types of baskets using willow. We offer a “Berry Basket”, a “Frame Basket” and an “Asymmetric Basket” making workshop experiences. To help you decide what kind of basket you may like to make, here are some images and a high level description of the differences between the different types of baskets.
A Berry basket make by one of our beginners - filled with redcurrants.
Berry Baskets
A Berry Basket is defined as "a small nesting container usually in standard sizes of ¹/₂ pint, 1 pint, or 1 quart used for berries or other small fruit". They usually are tapered at the top.
Unlike a frame basket which usually started with the making of the hoop that is the top of the basket, you start by making the base (see image gallery from one of our workshops below).
The Berry basket is probably one of the easier baskets to make.
Here is a nice video showing how a berry basket is made & a wiki step by step willow basket how to gives a flavour.
See our upcoming basket weaving courses
Frame Basket
Frame basket by Ellie Morgan
Frame baskets are a really useful basket as they have a larger opening. This is sometimes what you see shoppers or gardeners use (unless it’s a trug which is more open and more oblong shaped like a marrow).
Frame baskets are usually started with the making of the hoop that is found at the top of the basket. This hoop can be of any shape and round or oval. For our workshops, the hoops are made in advance and then dried so that its shape is not distorted by the pressures of the rest of the construction.
Below are a few images of a frame basket weaving workshop at Joy Farms.
Asymmetric basket
Asymmetric willow basket
Asymmetric ‘Polish’ style willow basket are lovely, the beginning of the making process is similar to a Berry Basket, but larger and the top has the distinctive Asymmetrical gradient & the handle is often a piece of foraged wood. A variety of willow can be used to create patterns.
You’ll see in the photo they’re unlike a Berry or Frame basket, as they have an asymmetrical border top.
Our basket weaving tutor Ellie is Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, in our workshops she guides students step by step to make these beautiful baskets.
We have a number of basket weaving workshops at our farm in Surrey including:
Berry Basket
Frame Basket
Asymmetric Basket
If there’s another type of basket you’d like to make and you have a group of you or we can muster interest, we’ll happily put on a date for you, please email us with your enquiry.
Other types of willow basket weaving basket types
Other types of baskets other than Berry, Frame and Asymmetric
Examples of other types of baskets weaved using willow
There are many other styles of basket that can be woven from Willow. The Woven Communities website in Scotland detail the differences between a Frame Baskets, including an Ose/hen/Skye basket, Muirlags baskets, Mudag baskets (that look like rugby balls with a hole), potato scull basket and gods eyes. They also have a link to how to attach the first ribs.
The woven communities site also has some nice pictures of different basket types.
Want to try making your own basket usin willow on our farm in the Surrey Hills? See our upcoming basket weaving courses.
6 examples of berry baskets made by beginner students at a Joy Farms basket making workshop
Finally, a completely different type of basket weaving
Willow sculpture weaving
Did you know it’s not just baskets that are made out of willow. At Joy Farms we offer a number of willow sculpture weaving workshops. Make organic shapes with a more freestyle approach to weaving.
The sculpture process involves weaving pliable willow into forms to create a contemporary twist on timeless basketry techniques. Students create beautiful nature-inspired sculptures made from English-grown rods of willow to make 4ft hare or deers out of willow.
See our upcoming workshops and photos of examples.