Читать книгу Basket Essentials: Rib Basket Weaving - Lora S. Irish - Страница 16

Wooden hoops are what give the rib basket its classic round or oval shape. These hoops are used for the handle of the basket (when it has one) as well as the top rim. Hoops typically measure from ½" to 1 ¼" (1.3 to 3.2cm) in width and from 3" to 18" (7.6 to 45cm) in diameter. The diameter of your hoop determines the general diameter of your basket, because the hoop acts as the basket’s opening.

Most basketry hoops are made from oak, but you can also use the inner ring of an embroidery hoop, which can be made of laminated wood layers. Hoops are available in round, oval, rounded square, and rounded rectangle shapes, any of which can be used for either the handle or rim of your rib basket.

Many of the smaller basket designs throughout this book were worked using a 5" to 8" (12 to 20cm) embroidery hoop. While not as sturdy as wider oak hoops designed for basketry, these smaller hoops are very economical for the beginner basket maker.

Sanding Hoops

A light sanding, using 220-grit sandpaper, cleans any loose fibers from your basket hoops. It also rounds over the hard, sharp edges along the top and bottom of the hoop that can, over time, cause your weavers to weaken and break.

Hoop sizes and shapes vary, and the hoop size and shape will partially determine the overall size and shape of your finished basket.

Grapevine, honeysuckle, and wisteria vines can make wonderful natural hoops for your basketwork. Harvest healthy, mature material from your garden. While the vine is freshly cut, wrap it around the bottom of a small planter or bucket that has the diameter and shape that you want for your basket hoop. As you wrap, weave the end of the vine through the wraps that you have already created to interlock the coils. Use twine to tie the coils together in several areas. Let the vine dry on the bucket or planter for several weeks. You can then remove your natural hoop and finish the drying process by hanging the hoop indoors in a dark, dry area. Hoops made from a late summer or early fall harvest will be ready to use in the early spring of the following year.

Try using natural hoops, like grapevine, in your basketwork.

Round Reed Hoops

You can make your own hoops for baskets out of round reeds, a bit like you can use natural materials as hoops.

1 Using #3 round reed or larger, roll your reed into a circular coil. Thread the end of the reed through each coil to entwine each new coil as you go.

2 About 5" (12.7cm) from one end of a long strand of raffia, fold a loop. Hold the loop and loop tail over the end of the coiled reed.

3 Starting 2" (5cm) from the loop fold, wrap the long end of the raffia around your reed coil, covering the loop and the loop tail from step 2. Work the wrap for at least 1" to 1 ½" (2.5 to 3.8cm). At this point, about 1" (2.5cm) of the loop remains unwrapped. Slide the long wrapping end of the raffia strand through the loop.

4 Holding both the wrapping end of the raffia and the loop tail, gently pull on the loop tail. This will pull the excess loop followed by the wrapping strand under the wrap. Pull until you have completely hidden the loop under the wrap.

5 Cut any excess raffia strands and any excess round reed using a craft knife.

Reed is sold in bundles.Most rib baskets will use several shapes and sizes of reed. In this sample, the God’s Eye is worked in ¼" flat reed. The first rows of weaving are worked using 3mm cane, followed by #2 round reed and a single ¼" flat reed. (For more information about the different sizes, see page.)