Weave a Country Basket

You will be using English willow and historic basketry methods to create a wonderfully rustic basket. You will weave willow into a traditional round basket, learning about the tools and materials commonly used in basketry and acquiring the skills you need to try your hand at home. You can choose between a basket without a handle, great for storing fruit, kindling or craft supplies or, if time permits, add a handle and fashion a unique basket for carrying your bits and bobs home with you.

Juliet Shelton

I have always enjoyed dabbling in different crafts but, having tried basket making several years ago, quickly became hooked. It is a hobby which complements my fascination in tradition and social history, two interests which happily collided when I discovered historic re-enacting. I now demonstrate this lovely ancient, and ageless, craft at events across East Anglia, appearing as a basket maker from Medieval times through to WWII. My rustic baskets are made from English willow and provide a tangible connection with the natural world and the rural traditions of our ancestors. My workshops developed in response to a demand from like-minded people who were interested in traditional ways and who just wanted to have a go, stepping back from the busy pace of modern life and using natural materials to create something truly unique.

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  Expert Tuition
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  Free Wi-Fi
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  Hot and Cold Drinks

This is a practical course involving movement around the workshop and working willow with your hands. It is a good idea to wear old clothes and practical shoes. You will be handling damp willow and, whilst every attempt will be made to keep the venue safe, the floor may become wet and slippery.