Primitive baskets

I'm going to have a go at some baskets when the spring comes, just wondered if you chaps tried any of this?" />

ooo - will look forward to seeing the basket, what are your plans? what materials do you plan to use, I recon our ancestors used loads of baskets and were masters of them just a shame not much evidence exists.

Nope not tried this, but know you mention it, I could do with a few.

Ok, I've already started! I'm using a frame made from Wisteria as there is a load cut in the garden, but any climber will work like Honeysuckle or ivy and finally that Rafia is coming in usefull to bind where they cross over.
At the junction of the handle and the basket I've split a length of Bramble into four and wound that around in a "god's eye" knot to hold the other ribs for the basket.
The Brambles need collecting now before they grow too much but once stripped down they can be stored for years, you just need to soak them for a couple of hours and hey presto! This stuff would look really good as a knife binding.
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" /> I'm not sure what to use for weaving, I could use Cordyline, Yucca, Willow or Lime bark, or Bulrush leaves but they need to grow first!
Depends if I want to go with the native plants or not...

This site was helpful:http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/melonbasket.html
He mentions avoiding poison ivy, this is not to be confused with our regular ivy which is great for this project.

wow that's looking great, I think I would try to stay native with some bark if you can find long enough strands,

That green stuff you have used looks great, is there anything you can use that will stay green with time?

Aha, that's the humble bramble, I guess it'll stay green for a year or two depending on the amount of sun it gets exposed to for any great length of time. Failing that you could always resort to some kind of sealed ink or wood stain to keep the colour!

I seen green baskets that stay green forever, maybe it's banana or palm leaf.

" />Finished this one off a while ago, I just forgot to post some pics! I used willow bark (green) and lime bark (brown) to weave inbetween the framework, I also took out a bit of the central frame as it would get in the way.

" />Not the neatest of baskets but it was fun.

Neat though, you could give up your day job and go into business as a weaver.

thats very smart - i like the detailing on the ends.

He he! I was suprised at the amount of time it took, fiddly but relaxing. The blackberries need to ripen up soon so they can go in the basket, mind you I could get some wild cherries now...Hmm.

Buy some strawberries from Asda and tell everyone you picked them yourself, no-one will ever know.

He he! Now that sounds like a good plan. Using the real hunter-gatherer skills when it's just down the road, closest source and all! I'll try it on the missus.

Grendel wrote:Buy some strawberries from Asda and tell everyone you picked them yourself, no-one will ever know.

but you have to go in with your basket to carry them home - necheeting - ha ha - with pictures (@;

Next you'll have me do it wearing skins and carrying a spear, maybe even dragging a woman by the hair, I may have to put the spear down for that one!

Could be the next step up for your knapping exhibitions, make yourself some prehistoric clothes, a bit of woad on the face and hey presto!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOtM9CObxeY/UTC-OybgJ3I/AAAAAAAACZ0/MuRMybf5A5s/s1600/Will+Lord+flint+knapping+Feb+2013.JPG