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The Details
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Some of my willow varieties can't be bought on the High Street, so to speak. I grow 14 different varieties for that reason. I love the different colours in this variety, combined with the textured lines in some of the bark lower down the rod.
I skeined the weavers for the side of the basket, which means the rods are split in three or four parts, which are then shaved and sometimes pulled through upright blades. Precision work, which takes time, but the process is very enjoyable. This tradition had almost died out, which was flagged up by Heritage Crafts. I learnt this way of preparing willow from a French expert.
The result is a lovely soft surface on the inside of the basket. It also makes the basket much lighter in weight, even though it's very strong.
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Brush with a soft brush if dusty, or hoover the inside with the soft brush attachment. To clear any bugs, leave it out in snow or frost for a few days in winter.
Made with a Respect for the Material
Give every basketmaker the same project and they'll each finish a very different basket. I like to work very neatly, but I also like things to be natural. If a willow rod isn't quite what you'd expect, and it doesn't affect the integrity of the rod, I make a feature of it.
The connection between the material, me as the maker, and you as the person who will love and use it for many years is one of the main reasons I'm a full-time basketmaker.