Note: For clarity of demonstration I have used a combination of different willows: unstripped willow and two types of stripped willow. You do not need to do this...

6 thick rods – The ‘base sticks’. These should be the thickest rods in the basket (the ones which radiate out from the centre of the base)

Materials listed are exact amounts. Add in a good amount of extras just to be sure you have enough and to provide yourself with a good selection of rods for use. You could even double the amounts, any leftovers can always be dried off and used later for other projects.

Sort the listed materials into separate piles. Then tie the stake material into one bunch and the weaving material into another. Soak for about 4 or 5 days.

As mentioned before, it is advisable to use willow which is somewhere between 3 foot and 4 foot in length for this project. Naturally, within the bundle, the willow rods will range in thickness, different thicknesses are suitable for different parts of the basket. The thicker rods are good for ‘stake’ material, and the weavers should always be of thinner material.

The Project A simple round basket - Step by step The following tutorial is one of many diverse projects w hich feature in my book 'Willow Basketry: A How-To Guide', available to purchase from Amazon, or in eBook form on this website, see here for either .