About the Workshop

Basket Options: A member of the Shenandoah CREATES team will contact you after you register to determine your basket selections.

Choose at least 4 projects. The maximum number of baskets is up to the student and what they think they can accomplish. Please be aware of the suggested weaving level of each project.

1. Gail’s Tribute Basket: Material Fee $60, Size: 3” tall x 5” diameter, Skill Level Intermediate-Advanced

This lovely basket is twill woven on a mold with Hamburg cane on dyed spokes. A very unique rim application is woven over a pair of round reed pieces that lay on top of the rim as it is double lashed. For people who want to learn a very classy rim to match a very classy basket! Time to complete: 8 hours

(The original creator of this lovely basket is my friend, Gail Hutchinson of Milton, WV. She was a master basket weaver and basketry teacher and a dear friend of mine. Her specialty was twills and unique rim techniques. Before she passed away, I purchased her molds and this pattern, originally entitled ‘Joanne’s Herringbone Twill’, named for a mutual friend, Joanne Howard. Gail was glad that I would continue teaching others this basket. )

2. Fleecy Egg Basket: Material Fee $65, Size: 12” X 8” approx., Skill Level All

This fun Egg Basket is great for weavers on any level. Learn the basics of making an Egg Basket, then dress it up with your choice of dyed weavers and nobbly hand-spun yarns. Students will be using 6” hoops, dyed ribs and learning (or reinforcing) some ribbed basket techniques.

3. Stonewashed Denim Basket: Material Fee: $75. Size: 14” wide x 14” high, Skill Level Intermediate

Are you one of those people who just can’t bear to throw something out if it can serve another purpose? Well, Anne is, too! When husband Danny came home one day with yet another knee torn out of his work jeans, Anne confiscated them. Off came the pockets, and onto a basket they went! The basket is woven on a D handle, all in natural except the dyed rim filler and lasher. Then students will go outside and ‘wash’ their baskets with blue denim dye, then sew a pocket on the outside to hold your tools. You can choose from one of the pockets Anne brings OR you could “BYOP” – bring your own pocket! The basket is 14” wide and 14” to the top of the handle.

4. Appalachian Potato Basket: Material Fee $95, Size 15” long, 13” wide, 7” deep, Skill Intermediate This traditional basket will start on an oval hoop. Students will learn how to notch initial ribs, weave a 5-point lashing, sight, whittle and insert primary and secondary ribs, wrap hand grips and weave to a successful conclusion. Ribs are dyed, as are some of the weavers. Students may want to include seagrass in the weaving. Estimated time to complete: 8 hours

5. Elegant Eggplant Basket: Material Fee $115, Size 18” tall x 10” wide x 4 “ deep, Skill Intermediate

Fourth in Anne’s ‘Vegetable Series’, this basket is woven with many shades of purple reed, seagrass and yarn. Frame is shaped and dyed before class. Students will learn how to work with primary and secondary ribs to create this tray shaped basket. Upon completion, sepals will be woven to add to the completed basket. Estimated time to complete: 8 hours

6. Labyrinth Baskets: Material Fees and Sizes - Jumbo 25” square, $105; Large 22” square, $95;  Medium 18” square, $85; Small – 15” square, $75

These low, flat baskets feature a technique that Anne has never seen in another basket except for the one she saw in an antique store many years ago. Now this technique, which allows one to weave a solid base (without holes between spokes), is featured prominently in this nesting set of baskets. Students may choose to make all 4 baskets, one or two, or make one in class and the rest at home. Base features dyed fillers, natural spokes, while sides have several colors. Rim is single lashed with a dyed rim filler. The largest one would fit on top of your refrigerator – all baskets are 3” deep.

7. Independent Study - Egg Baskets:

What an opportunity! The purpose of this two-day study is to help YOU learn what you need to know about ribbed egg basket construction. Anne would like to give her students the opportunity to choose basket size, type of attachments (eye, ear, bowtie, etc.), handle treatment, colors, materials, etc. Expand your proficiency in shaping and basic planning principles for egg basket construction. After registration, Anne will follow up with you to help determine what you want to learn. Here are some questions to consider:

• What size? Size would be determined by the hoops chosen - 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16” round hoops.

• Dyed or natural ribs? Dyed gives a pop of color, but all natural is beautiful as well.

• A fancy handle? There are many kinds of braids, twills, or knots you could choose to make.

• What kind of attachments to start the basket with? God’s eyes? Ears? Bow tie?

• What are the issues or problems you have had with ribbed baskets in the past? Shaping? Adding ribs? Making the basket sit well?

• This will not be a class where the entire basket will be woven in a variety of colors, but would you like to incorporate some color into your basket?

Prices will range from $50 - $150, depending on size and materials used. Anne will give you a cost estimate based on those factors. Everyone’s baskets will look different!

Tools needed for all projects - Sharpened knife, a long awl, basket shears, towel, pencil/paper, side cutters, spoke weight.