[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmcCJj5U4faREyYZ5ayP7CrtkqaMujiab9MT5djae2Uybj/ebec6137_0c72_45f6_b0a6_0db57959c841.png]

Over the last couple of years, I’ve become very keen on basket craftsmanship, so much so that I found myself getting a little hooked on it. I kept buying baskets in different designs, and before I knew it, I had quite a collection, Lol! Although they’re much more affordable than the designer bags I used to buy, :) it still adds up over time.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmZVgggPh3acsFqN1nwB8YAxx2gw95qHKkxFeSei83evHw/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89adea7wowgrbbgnrp7jzy27bcckrwbdas1vd5pipguds7xbmsc3mmzgwexu1tthufhicpkugwxtgrctgpil7mn7dmqmzgrbv59ddg5teu23hkc9k2s56n.png]

Here are some of them!

I had always wanted to try making one, but just looking at them, I thought it would be too difficult, so I kept putting it off. Although I did try to repair a few and made some tension trays out of twigs, I had never made a basket!

But this week, something changed. I became interested in learning how baskets are actually made.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmRm1E3MyHZYUwF5n7nrN7bj3oU23kcKC5RNLkAuiMbg8v/17bc824c_7081_49a3_92dc_60db240cf226.png]

The red twigs in the distance, which I spotted from my window, sparked my creativity. I’ve always loved the colour red, and the idea of making a basket from them really excited me. It could be one of my collection, a red basket!

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmPHqiqKh457mRHcEoS8nFZXvrHNU2Lyk68ebijDwwFcQt/4b1ba836_b372_42f7_b310_1400c7c68d5f.jpg]

I managed to reach the twigs and found out that this plant is called dogwood, growing along a quiet public footpath that hardly anyone uses.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmb6HqGwTEjCHZ8WFTQB96dRPxsPXSDMo3tNgCpxQQWXfW/51de71c5_3a57_41d0_80b5_f3f0e14969b8.jpg]

I collected the longer twigs and gave the plant some nice trims too, as it was crowded.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmbtQfg4jQ2fZE132i8WK6MYFRwyFAvTYV9A8ab2GK5YFt/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89ct1bhjgekjisfnznntpnkqetxnkmab1jbzgdqukjt8pc2fja3kowrfhn5met4aws7wwuxeiod4pgckupeu9tzx6xhfmnzqkfz3vxigiw3jhyftdg8jir.png]

I gathered what I thought would be enough for a small basket, thinking this was just practice and that I might not succeed, but I wanted to try anyway.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmTqVhzbbBSSLfsyN3FXyLrY4sAdwySrfsb8c2ckpW87C7/98d883f7_b6d3_49a2_b422_86f124cb0bf1.jpg]

I began with six rods and used a thinner one to wrap around the centre to stabilise them.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmZ1VkdhKTvELvsHWNXSGUJRs8FUW4Dzrxdrf8wAHEbWkS/43307fc0_a59a_4d5e_8f54_c5218ee8d90e.png]

Then I started weaving over and under each rod, gradually spreading them into a circular shape.

I tried to keep the spacing even, like the spokes of a wheel. As a first-timer, I found it quite tricky and had a few moments of trial and error. But slowly, it began to come together.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmcgSd8tD2oTRbSW8bNos6qJU9ATr7tJ2u3dQFwyeNERBL/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89bxnfmtdzvtmthc5dhmwdfke5n4bdvqmlcsbw8qqlsvc3eck8b8kudhbdh7hpsxv3nlkzszeca25j53jxf1umlzykwcwfrqctuszebhqjd3bjuy8sdttj.png]

Once I found a rhythm, the weaving became very enjoyable, and I worked my way up, shaping it as a basket.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmNQPAeUHXN2ZtPaukwJgG2a1ee5uGByxzmEjMDEoULvvC/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89bckohpnhvsghtiitfh2o3n7dsbhsbqmkgcf3dmlhqnu53l3tvucsaobfvq5j175arvxoba1dqqgmrptyv1ccdfx6vse65ejdtbbgwcdqitpjf71twvw4.png]

When I was happy with the height, I gently bent each rod over the next and tucked it into the weave.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmcwGKPPGr8z44Jr8sB3Exct1uStrAJSTLoMNeTX3u5wjX/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89buoyhopubngmv4cwbrvktf4jwjtacn8wbchqqespxygwsnrwfdhexq5eqpzacfzbuvn1wqb668oz8b9hqpbwzaajusobprygkgt1bs38kgxmrucnouvv.png]

Then I tidied and trimmed the ends.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmZgHHxkA5MjfitmT851nWtBVA3f9uJJZS5hHxfbpx2WWv/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89fhzq9gi2fyomp4mm3g5xr2dtza7gayq1ndigdbf1uduwretahualrubbvwensf3qb5mzvtstke1s1v7gtuntpwvrke9zgxiv3jvhar6wl14cd8lj5nvr.png]

Using two long rods inserted securely each side, I made the handle by twisting them.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmWKtPgDBFJPRRKEaAh9FLtMVzj8BWHP28mRewUGGzdXBc/d60b1cf1_1fea_4e3c_ba4f_b2b07b4d8655.jpg]

and secured the ends.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmR87x4P2Ht8qZcBTwfMVVc3cWrc1wDe7T5XpKzAMp87Bs/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89cqiav4ahactfhl4o5hfgbtwhanm67xdg5y1hpsprmajysd8xn27mfyib33a7amzvkdjctb8ogu3bbcwrpzjhgvuuk6udrrgdvnf6rxpeezlhgpcidq9c_1_.png]

I am amazed how sturdy it turned out.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmaWYhnJhqHV5LuQ5RhfWz2n2mggyNzNDiDBQ8XnmbERGA/6c2489c5_b2ff_4a8a_ae97_2a42a1c81a85.png]

Not perfect, but it is an actual basket. I was so pleased with the final result; the open, rustic look is exactly what I love.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmQywdJWFYq5cuwtCBAQziHJ8NAuFtQ2ZtPSjaxetFX6iP/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89gujdqcqb9jr5z5ftehp8tjpcjxxxusnjrtovchqseccc2xf1rfq4sgfqt9fvlwfvq46f6fjvckmdvnx6vrmuzgm5gp9qnw3uiz2q4fwbzfevhsxvtxen.png]

We can really learn anything if we decide to.

And how amazing nature is to provide everything we need to create something useful and beautiful with our own hands.

[IMAGE: https://images.ecency.com/DQmbdeGhBkEEwpagVmUJbMfbj5qz5duWYup5DmoS4RjmNft/7b4bio5hobgtgqketeq5jmbsn2ut8rlyxjcfdu89fyglfhbdhqhq4zugcdbkyh81bqbqhf3jfsbx3xdlcf7y6qptjxqk8inxthtcyncm1pfavxccmg3t2argpc5rsfw4ucsnxaovpfeyaw46rvbu7btjqvz2_1_.png]

My First Red basket!

Have a lovely day!
Mariah ❤️