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Willow Bark Basket Class 2025

By

Thaïs the Weaver

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I taught several classes at the local “Hunter’s Moon” event on Labor Day Weekend this year. The last one was a make-and-take small willow bark basket class.

Picture of the author wearing a purple tunic and striped linen head covering. She is standing at a table that is covered with various tools, plant materials, and a completed example basket.

This was the first time I did this kind of basketry class. (I usually focus on teaching one element or technique because doing the whole thing can take so long.) There were a couple of snags due to only having cold water and some of my size assumptions being off, but I brought enough extra contingency material that we were able to work it out.

A table where students are working on making small baskets. The work surface is covered with a towel, and there is a small bin containing water and submerged pieces of willow bark in the center.

I had three students, and they each put their own personal spin on the basket design. It was a lot of fun to see what they decided to use!

One student's basket: the bark strips all have the gray outer surface facing the basket exterior, and a band around the top is secured by criss-crossed sweetgrass cordage.
One student with their basket and the author: the basket sides are vertical bark strips secured with horizontal bands of grass, and the top band is secured with a thin strip of inner willow bark used like thread to whip stitch the top.
One student's basket: the willow strips vary between facing the interior and exterior, and a band at the top is being bound into place around the interior with sweetgrass cordage.

I am glad this was a leisurely Sunday class that had a 3-hour window to work with. I was able to learn from the snags so I can improve the next time around, but I still had time to adapt on the fly for this group.

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