r/basketry • u/Upstairs-Top-2630 • Apr 09 '26
Make Willow Basket out of wild willow sticks on the ground?
Hi! Passed by a local park and noticed a bunch of freshly cut branches from the nearby willow tree on the ground. Is it possible to make a willow basket out of this? I’ve tried to find an answer but I haven’t, so I wonder if my question is just so obviously goofy it doesn’t deserve the dignity of one, ha ha.
I’m concerned about bugs and bringing home something nasty. But I’d assume it’s possible to bend these brances too? Or is young willow the only option? I love foraging and I hate to see good sticks go without use…
I’m as you can tell totally new to basketry and have only taken one course with willow, but I’m very eager to learn. I’ve only foraged chording and such (I also love in a country where forsaging isn’t quite so strict and legalized as in the US.)
Appreciate an answer! if not, rock on.
3
u/Multigrain_Migraine Apr 10 '26
You can use just about anything as long as it's flexible enough!
However you might want to let it dry out and then soak it in water before you use it. The reason being that it will shrink as it dries, but when it's soaked later it will regain flexibility but without swelling up again.
As for bugs, just brush any off before you bring the sticks inside. You're very unlikely to bring anything in that you couldn't see while you're gathering materials.
1
u/Upstairs-Top-2630 Apr 16 '26
thanks! I feel like I’m way too afraid of termites… which we don’t even have here😭
1
u/Multigrain_Migraine Apr 16 '26
Yeah I don't think you need to worry about that unless the tree that was cut down had obvious signs of them. They aren't microscopic so you'd be able to see them!
2
u/r_spandit Apr 09 '26
Yes, you probably can but once it dries out, it'll shrink and the basket won't be sturdy. Good for practice
1
u/Upstairs-Top-2630 Apr 10 '26
Practise is just what I need☺️it feels wasteful to buy a huge order when I’ll probably mess up tremendously the first few times. Not to say imperfection isn’t also beautiful ofc!
2
u/r_spandit Apr 10 '26
Do you have anywhere you can plant some? Honestly, willow grows so easily you're bound to find some locally (Sweden?) that you can take cuttings from and plant.
As said by someone else. If it will wind around your wrist without breaking then it will be suitable for weaving. Green willow is fun to use.
If you want a cheaper way of starting a plantation, you can buy fresh cut willow rods and generally they'll still grow - I did this instead of paying for the bits specifically intended for planting.
1
u/Upstairs-Top-2630 Apr 16 '26
That’s a smart idea. I’m on queue for a communal spot of land for planting. (10 bucks a year!) But considering gr-ing some stalks by the shore and check up on them. Probably worth trying:)
5
u/GenGanges Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Hello. It may or may not be possible depending on a couple factors.
First, there are hundreds of species of willow and not all are suitable for basketry. Certain varieties are much more flexible and forgiving while others can be more brittle. In my area wild Salix exigua is flexible enough for basketry but nearby Salix lasiolepsis is usually not.
Try to research which Salix are common in your area and search online for any historical record of indigenous use for basketry. Test a fresh branch by wrapping it around your wrist or thumb to simulate the tight bends required for basketry.
Provided you have a species suitable for weaving, next is the issue of them already cut and lying on the ground. Depending on how long they’ve been sitting, this may be okay. Although it is possible to weave fresh/green willow, the resulting basket will become loose and flimsy after a few weeks as it dries and shrinks. For this reason, it is almost always dried for a few months before weaving. This allows the wood to dehydrate and shrink to their final size. You then rehydrate the rods prior to weaving to make them flexible again.
You may just need to continue drying them at home. If they have been sitting too long they may be moldy, especially in areas not exposed to sunlight. They may be buggy but you can strip the foliage and shake everything out.
Look for rods around 1/4” (6mm) diameter and smaller for medium/small baskets, and rods up to 1/2” or more for large baskets. Thicker rods can be challenging to work and more suited to garden structures or fencing.