How to make a simple willow basket.

Episode two of Ramblers Fare sees Vince Learoyd making a simple basket from the branches of a weeping willow. There are many forms of basket weaving but this easy and concise technique is a good introduction for anyone wanting to give weaving a try.

[@liviawong6928]

Willow trees grow all over the place herein California so, this is absolutely useful.

[@eananrahy4725]

wow, this is actually a really nice tutorial. usually i get a little confused or lost but this was really intuitive to follow, thank you

[@ramblersfare4031]

Eanan Rahy thank you so much for your kind comment

[@lindaliriel]

Near my house there is a really bad infestation of an alien species: virginia creeper. While trying to remove as much as I could from my garden, I have found it to be very pliable and woody. I attempted to make a wreath and it was easily done. Hopefully it will be possible to use it in a similar way as willow, so that uprooting/removing will be akin to harvesting and the plant will have a second life, better suited for the environment. Fingers crossed!

[@ramblersfare4031]

good luck with your project and let me know how it turns out.

[@ralsharp6013]

👌 awesome

[@sentientcharcoal6450]

I've experimented with a Virginia Creeper this year after uprooting mountains of it from a relative's yard where it had invaded. I've had success doing wreaths and a sort of sculptural basket in the "random weave" style, which I find is a style more amenable than traditional weaving styles to varying thicknesses and pliability levels. If I'm not weaving it the very same day I've pulled it, I let it soak in water for at least a night before weaving, ideally somewhere where mosquitos won't breed in the water. Good luck!

[@sentientcharcoal6450]

I've experimented with a Virginia Creeper this year after uprooting mountains of it from a relative's yard where it had invaded. I've had success doing wreaths and a sort of sculptural basket in the "random weave" style, which I find is a style more amenable than traditional weaving styles to varying thicknesses and pliability levels. If I'm not weaving it the very same day I've pulled it, I let it soak in water for at least a night before weaving, ideally somewhere where mosquitos won't breed in the water. Good luck!

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

Baskets are so pretty.

[@ramblersfare4031]

I think so too. thanks 😊

[@ralsharp6013]

Beautiful little basket thank you

[@jokebijsterbosch5996]

Thanks so much Vince, its great to follow your simple instructions, i created a nice little basket, thanks...up for a bigger one👍👋

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

I can't wait to try making a basket but I have to go find a willow tree in NYC .

[@towerbridge04]

This is a wonderful tutorial, really nicely explained. Vince, did you grow up in Thornaby Gardens? I lived at number 71 and went to Raynham School with Wesley. Seem to remember a group called the Gutterats but not sure if you was associated with them. I sometimes popped into your home. Your dad, Leo, was really cool. My mum, Pat, said you was once a park ranger at Pymmes Park.

[@celestee.garcia2571]

Thanks for sharing

[@birdflea876]

i have a willow tree in my backyard so I'm glad this tutorial is a thing.

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

High Flying Wren I wish you luck with your first attempt at making a basket. At least you will have a good resource nearby

[@birdflea876]

@@vincentlearoyd4882 thank you! :)

[@chicksgrowtoo]

I have two weeping willows on my farm. I wish I would have seen this during COVID, I would have been a millionaire by now, (making baskets.) 😂 When is the best time to cut off the branches? I see they didn’t have leaves, but couldn’t figure out if it was spring or fall? Thanks for the video!

[@ramblersfare4031]

Hi and thank you for your feedback. I collected the branches during November here in England as I had just started making these videos and as it was sparse for plant walks I made a basket instead. I’m not entirely sure when the best time to collect would be as l am not and expert on basket making and I’m sure there are some people better qualified to answer that but I did find them easily pliable and without foliage, easier to prepare. Good luck with your own creative work and let me know how you get on. kind regards, Vincent.

[@rachnamathur3395]

Can’t wait to try this !

[@rypo4097]

Lovely and helpful! Just beginning! Blessings!

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Thank you so much. I’m glad you liked it

[@annatoullie4914]

thanks so much for this!

[@jsa-z1722]

A really good, easy to follow tutorial, thank you. ( the music was a bit repetitive though)

[@dustersinternational221]

Thank you ~ I could not hear very well due to the sound being very low, (though much better than too loud background music) ~ your easy step by step video is great to watch with clear instructions means I am able to recognise what you are doing (easy to forget when not making everyday)

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Dusters International Thanks so much for your comment. Apologies for the sound quality but I wasn’t aware of the issue when I filmed it.

[@dustersinternational221]

@@vincentlearoyd4882 :-) at least you can record a video (mine are so bad I have to warn people!!) though I realise I often put my finger over the speaker, or turn my camera around, lol!) going to go out and cut a bit of willow soon

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Dusters International Ha ha! Thanks again, I shall have a look at your stuff. We are all novices on here so you are not alone

[@rileystar2245]

I feel the directions could be clearer as to what thickness/length of branches you need to have for this, but other then that I really liked this. My first attempt is a bit wonky and somewhat fragile, but for my first time ever making a basket it went really well, and the directions were really easy to follow.

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Thank you so much

[@sailman9454]

Use your eyes. You canbclearly see the willow in the video

[@justicebixel5260]

I cant wait to begin this trade. I hope to make a bunch of baskets for a new ETSY Store that I want to open

[@ramblersfare4031]

Justice Bixel good luck with your project

[@jsmith3980]

Thanks for posting.

[@paxtian9944]

😊

[@vilderavarer2147]

Cool video! What time of year is best to collect the branches?

[@matematicaespirituyarte1740]

Gracias.

[@lindalaunius6081]

Thank you for your tutorial

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Thank you for your comment Linda

[@Echosinfireify]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ramblersfare4031]

My pleasure, thanks for your kind comment

[@jandon64]

i have an abundance of grape vines and bittersweet whips. Would these be a good substitute for the willow? Thanks D

[@theiceislandd6486]

And there you just got a subscriber from me

[@laurendolding849]

could you try this with hazel or would it be too stiff?

[@sailman9454]

If you use two weavers the number of spokes dont matter. And it looks better.

[@benn7639]

Can you explain what you mean by two weavers?

[@xoxjaydenkayxox1563]

This is cool. I will definitely be making this

[@Violasax]

Apart from the obvious (no leaves to strip) is there a particular reason for selecting winter/early spring branches? Are they more pliable?

[@vincentlearoyd4882]

Violasax The reason I done this video was because I was trying to find some bulbs to film for the next episode and drew a blank so decided to do some weaving instead as I was out that day and saw a weeping willow. I know it's not the answer you were seeking but it's what really happened. There are probably some more in depth videos on here that could answer your question. Let me know how you get on. Many thanks.

[@asuka813]

Violasax The sap flows in the spring.

[@lailamckinney9810]

that was cool

[@loadapish]

I dunno what i collected today but im beginning to think it wasnt willow. Im so confused. Can you help me identify i send u pics somehow? I think it is white willow but looked different from what u got

[@artandcraft5231]

Lovely

[@general5104]

Very nice video, but my sound was turned up wide open and I could barely hear you. Thanks though.

[@artwithkhumtiya]

🤣

[@CallicarpaCrafts]

Making this rn with tiny green willow twigs

[@eveannekelly6832]

can I harvest the willow in July or August?

[@ramblersfare4031]

I collected the willow branches in winter as there weren’t any leaves on them but I’m sure as long as they are not brittle they should be fine

[@ludouglas1]

why didn't you insert each of the spokes at the end into the rim as just doing it to one isn't a secure enough basket

[@parvanehpazandeh4048]

😍😍😍🙇🙇🙇

[@veronicacorwin8585]

I cant find a tutorial on how to make a hat with willow branches😫

[@trailcattoffee]

Wish he explained the way to secure the beginnings and ends of the twine pieces.

[@ramblersfare4031]

apologies if the video wasn’t very clear but I have seen some that may be of better use. thanks for your comment.

[@user-ng6ik2yu9z]

Гнездо, но познавательно

[@tehanu3]

How about the bushes?

[@edixasanchezpacheco3692]

0:24 it looks like someone is having a bad hair day 😂.. it looks like a face is within

[@dorothymccarthy4376]

Good video but think the music wasn't needed. It was difficult to hear the dialogue due to the music. No music next time, please!

[@ramblersfare4031]

Apologies about the music, I wasn’t aware of the levels once it had uploaded but I hope you can ignore it and hopefully let the visuals override the annoyance. Thank for the feedback.

[@JC-hv6gq]

Be a whole lot cooler if he used decent microphone

[@GhettoRanger01]

Looks like shit, don't quit your day job.

[@samseerp4397]

Sorry bro, very bad