It is undeniable that basket weaving is considered to be one of the oldest handicrafts. It is a must that you have the knowledge on how to find the right materials so that you can make the best baskets ever. However, we cannot deny that choosing the right materials and tools is not an easy thing to do. To give you a bit of help, here are some useful tips that will answer your dilemma.
The usual things that you see in a basket weaving kits include bamboo, reeds, grasses, rushes, and wickers. Aside from these natural materials, you can also make use of numerous synthetic materials. Actually, you can make use of any material that you wish to use, provided that such material can be bend and weave into a basket.
If you are making a list of the tools that you will need on the project that you are about to begin, it is advised that you make your basket design as the basis. The tools that you will need are dependent on the kind and design of basket masterpiece(s) that you will make. A material called the waxed basket thread has the primary purpose of serving as edges for the basket. This material is used to put closes on the edges of the basket.
Another material, called “fid”, is also useful in the weaving process because it is used for round weaving.
One of the basic materials that you must have is called “awls”. These awls allow you to insert weavers. Also, these tools can be inserted into the holes too small for a human finger.
Clamps and clips are considered to be miscellaneous tools that are used to hold the basket in place while you’re doing the finishing touches such as glue drying.
Pliers are helpful especially when you need to bend strong and thick reeds.
Lashing Tools, as the name implies, serve as a tool to lash the edges of the reeds.
The tools that helped in weaving and lashing are called the packing tools.
Other tools that you will surely need in weaving basket are the cutting tools. Simple scissors will only work well for cutting thin and small reeds; if you are to cut thick reeds, a pruning shear will be needed. It is advised that you have a variety of cutting tools to make sure that you can properly cut your supplies.
Rulers and measuring tapes are also used in the weaving process, for they are used to make sure that the reeds are all a uniform size.
There are already a lot of related websites today that can provide you with instructions on how to make a basket. If you already have a simple background regarding basket weaving, following instructions online will not be a hard thing to do. But if you are just a beginner, it is advised that you follow the step-by-step procedure to make sure that everything will work out fine.