Melon Basket Weekend Workshop

Turning plant fibres into a useful and attractive basket can provide a sense of pride and  immense satisfaction in being able to use something you have created.

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A melon basket is a structural basket, made by twining soft plant fibre weavers around a rigid framework of two strong circles with ribs to form the base. This workshop will take you through the stages of material preparation, frame construction and weaving over a weekend.
Materials:
The basketry frame is formed with vines such as grapevine, passionfruit, wisteria and jasmine
The weavers can be a mix of flax, red hot poker, iris, tall spike rush and bulrush.
Plant fibres prepared for each stage of the basket making will be supplied. You may however like to use a vine of your choosing for the frame/handle. This element of the basket can certainly add charcater, for instance a quirkily shaped piece of wisteria.

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Experience level: preferably an understanding of the 'Twining' method. My Twined basket or Garlic basket workshops are an ideal introduction, though not essential.
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What to bring:
Large garden scissors, secateurs, pegs, string and an old towel.
Some of your own plant fibres if you wish. If you have some potentially suitable frame materials, you are welcome to contact Caroline for advice on storage and preparation prior to the weekend.

Day 1
Design the size*, shape and depth of your basket, using grapevine or vines that you have sourced yourself.
Construct the frame and make the ‘God’s eye’; the junction which holds the frame together.
Insert the ribs of the basket
Select and prepare your twining weavers for the next day of weaving
Day 2
Twining with a selection of weaving materials over the frame 
Throughout the weekend Caroline includes discussion and information on:

• reference materials and books on traditional and contemporary  basketmaking
• types of plant fibre to collect and their preparation and storage
• books and basketry groups
• the history of traditional and contemporay basketmaking

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* Completing a melon in a weekend is dependant on the size you make the frame. Caroline will offer guidance in how to size your basket. Larger baskets will likely need to be completed at home.

Students work

We made melon baskets in the second half of the Twined Basket course at Be My Keeper Spring 2021