Basketry

Best beginner's book
• Great book for beginners
• Pictures and illustrations mark each step of the way
• Descriptions for preparing plants are over simplified

I got this book when it first came out and studied it like mad. I highly recommend it for anyone, from beginner to advanced. It gives step-by-step instruction for wickerwork, splintwork, plaiting, twining, coiling, rib baskets and more. Each chapter covers one technique, with both drawings and pictures. Different starts, finishes and weaves are illustrated and then you are led through sample projects. This design allows for both freeform and/or structured learning, your choice. This book also offers a "harvest calendar" that shows you what part to use, the type of weave it can be used for, the season to collect it, and its range and habitat. Preparation notes on stored materials are a little vague but other books or teachers can fill that void.

• Step-by-step how to guide for European randing techniques
• Incredibly thorough history of the use of willow and its preparation
• Recommended for beginner to advanced weaver
• Over-simplifies some of the steps (which in actuality are harder to accomplish)

An incredible book on and of willow. It covers every question imaginable: harvesting, storage, peeling, making tools for peeling, preparing and much, much more. The one draw back for me is that the how-to-make-a-basket section is step-by-step for each basket. To really understand all the different options available you need to hop scotch around from project to project, look at the pictures, read through the description to figure if you have the right number of implements and then remember where you were. the projects in and of themselves are very complete though some of the steps are over simplified and actually harder to accomplish than indicated. Despite this, you want to get this book if you're interested in working with willows.

• Good basic book for a beginner
• Step-by-step, easy instructions
• Most of the plants mentioned are commercial (available through most craft stores) or located in the Eastern U.S.

This book gives simple and clear instructions for making wicker, splint, coiled and twined baskets. It is not comprehensive on any one of these topics but does give good general directions for the projects it contains. Projects are demonstrated using ready made materials like rattan, raffia, sea grass, etc.. There is also information on using and processing wild and garden materials, including wooden splints. Another plus is the step-by-step instructions for making dyes from natural materials.

• Thorough anthropological study of Columbia River Basketry
• The how-to instructions are present but scattered throughout the text (I've written down all my bookmarks inside the front page)
• Photos and illustrations are extremely detailed
• Recommended for intermediate to advanced weavers but a determined beginner could pull it off.

  A wonderful book on Columbia River basketry techniques. It covers twined basket hats & root-digging bags, plus coiled cedar root, folded cedar bark containers, and the flat twined bag. This book reads as an historical account of a people's material culture. The draw back is that the instructions for weaving are woven into each chapter. This makes it a bit confusing to find what you want, when you want it. On the other hand, when the techniques are explained, they are very clearly shown with photos and illustrations. This gives the reader a three dimensional representation so it is easy to understand whats going on. The book is also loaded with inspirational pictures of the different baskets.

• Incredibly detailed how-to book and anthropological guide to Yurok-Karok basketry
• Recommended for intermediate to advanced weavers (techniques are so involved you should have a few baskets under your belt before trying these)
• Filled with history, stories, charts, tables and photographs for easy cross-referencing and clarity.

This book is an historical tribute to the people who virtually wove its pages into being. Every detail that could possibly be hoped for is in there: collecting, starts, adding, splicing, finishes, designs, and dyeing. This book is so loaded with interesting information that it is hard to put down and get started on your basket!

• Shows techniques, but is not intended to be a how-to-make-a-basket guide
• Incredibly hard to decipher their 'code' for explaining techniques
• Recommended for the experienced weaver only (a conceptual understanding of baskets and how they are woven is needed)

This book is inspiring! It covers more weaving techniques than I ever imagined existed. The author has unfortunately developed his own language for describing techniques (i.e. F03BU2, FU2BOL = biweft wrapping). But if you can labor over the pictures and diagrams long enough, you'll get it. . . and its worth getting. For the serious weaver only.