Willow grows everywhere on the banks of rivers, ponds, swamps. A wide variety of things are made from this cheap material: trays, vases, baskets, baskets and even stylish garden furniture.
It is necessary
- - willow twigs;
- - knife;
- - nippers;
- - beater;
- - a cleaver;
- - template (pan or bucket).
Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the weaving material. Willow can be harvested all year round, but the best vine is in the spring before flowering. At this time, the branches are flexible and pliable, it is easy to remove the bark from them. Also, very good material grows by August, by which time the willow grows long and even shoots.
Step 2
The best twigs for weaving are annual shoots with a diameter of 10-12 mm. Cut off the willow branches with a sharp knife. Remove the bark from them immediately. Then leave the peeled rods in the air for 5-7 days to dry.
Step 3
If you are harvesting material in the fall, or the branches are dry before you are going to remove the bark, the branches should be soaked for a few days and then steamed in hot water. After that, dip the willow branches into cold water and peel off the bark.
Step 4
You can weave from solid rods or from the so-called ribbons, that is, willow branches, split into strips. This can be done with a simple sharp knife or a special device - a spike. The thickness of the bands depends on the product and how you intend to use it. For small baskets intended for storing various things, ribbons 2-3 mm thick are suitable, and products for collecting berries, fruits, mushrooms or storage need to be woven from strips 5-7 mm thick, or from whole rods.
Step 5
To weave a basket, take 8 twigs. Make cuts at 4 in the middle, fold them together and insert 4 rods into the cleft. Thus, you get a base cross.
Step 6
Take 2 thinner rods and start braiding the cross with an eight, that is, one rod is on top of the base, the second is on the bottom. Make 2-3 rows.
Step 7
Move all the rods of the base. You will have 16 rays. Add another branch so that the number of rays of the base is odd. Continue to make the bottom, braiding each beam with two rods of eight. When you get the bottom of the required diameter, add one more to the 16 rods of the base (you do not need to add to the 17th), fix them in the bottom. There should be 33 rods in total.
Step 8
Choose a pattern to weave. This can be an ordinary saucepan or bucket. Place it on the bottom and bend the branches of the base up. Bundle them over the template and tie them up.
Step 9
Then the racks need to be braided with a double or triple rope (eight) in the same way as the bottom was woven. Try to place the rods as close to each other as possible. Fit them to each other with a special device - a mallet. It should be massive enough and at the same time narrow so that it can fit freely between the posts. If the working branch ends, substitute the next one, and hide the ends inside the product.
Step 10
After you finish the basket walls to the required size, remove the template and seal the side of the product. To do this, wind up the rack for 2 subsequent ones and push it between the bars of the basket wall. Then do the same with all the other racks. Cut off the excess protruding tips of the vine with a knife.
Step 11
Attach a handle to the basket. Take a rod, sharpen it on both sides. Insert it into the sides of the basket. Now take a bunch of thin twigs and insert them next to the base for the pen. Wrap a bundle of willow twigs around the base twig, trying to keep them as flat as possible. Tie to the end of the handle and tie it in a knot. Cut off the excess parts of the twigs with wire cutters or a knife.
