Primitive basketry 4: Weaving spruce bark strip baskets 🧺

In this video, I continue my exploration of the uses of spruce bark. A recent storm has felled a large spruce tree, providing me with fresh bark to be harvested, cut into strips and woven into primitive baskets.
I tried two techniques, the first using a dense weave of perpendicular strips, the other with a light, hexagonal weave. The latter is more demanding and the results so far are a bit wonky, but I already have some ideas to improve this method.
Unfortunately, forest workers have by now transported away my source of bark, so I will have to wait for the next storm to continue my experiments.
#primitivetechnology #basketweaving

[@CurlyToedShoes]

What patience and artistry! Can't even believe my eyes! New subscriber and happy to have found your channel.

[@FishCakeIsland4928]

Always a good day when Make it Primitive posts a video lol

[@elistyle82]

Thank you! well done

[@airforce9872]

very nice, those bark strips really look like leather when wet!

[@MakeItPrimitive]

Indeed, especially when they have been dried and then soaked. This seems to release the tannins in the bark, coloring the cambium (the light-colored inner layer of the bark) brown. The square baskets were made from freshly harvested strips, this is why they aren't brown on one side.

[@primitive.and.ancient]

Nice basket! you are full of skills my friend👍🏻

[@yoiyomismo]

Great work and very well explained. Thank you very much for sharing

[@robbyjessica84]

Basket making is a beautiful craft

[@carlosalbertopereiradasilv6310]

Excelent pieces! Nice job! Keep doing this videos, me and my wife are enjoying all of the them.

[@awesometape2891]

I can remember myself trying to make something like the first one with paper. You are really patient, and your skills are awesome!

[@MakeItPrimitive]

I started with a paper model, too, to make sure the technique worked in real life, not just in my head. ;-)

[@butterflygroundhog]

Can't wait to get back into ancient crafts!

[@nomadichunter2818]

Looks really fidelly but oh man what nice baskets! The second one looks like leather. If taken care of, those baskets will last a very long time as well.

[@KHbanjo]

I wonder if it’s possible to use tree bark strips for snowshoes instead of rawhide. Could be a fun experiment

[@howtomakestuff226]

I assume you make prototypes for your projects, do you spend a while researching? What goes into this stuff?

[@MakeItPrimitive]

Of the three round baskets in the thumbnail, two were prototypes I had made at home (but also using primitive tools) before filming the making of the third. Same for the square boxes: The first was the prototype, the second one I made on video. As to research, I read and watch a lot about the topic. For example, the design for the round baskets is based on a video on making a shaker cheese basket that I once saw and just had to try out for myself (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqSrnoqEnsqfmdk&ab_channel=JohannahWest).

[@ellewoods4879]

I wonder what an equivalent useful bark would be in Australia?

[@ruiiwastaken_]

Bruh that sell it 600 dollar people say that is like real wood