Weaving Wild Baskets: Techniques and Projects Using Foraged Leaves, Grasses, Vines and Bark

Artist Grove debuts with an inspiring guide to weaving baskets from foraged plants. Wild basketry, she says, requires crafters to cultivate “awareness of the natural world.” As people start paying attention to the plants growing in their backyard or neighborhood, they begin to “live in sync with the seasons.” Grove explains how to forage for plant material, advising readers on peak times to harvest (barks in late spring through summer; leaves and grasses in early fall), as well as how to dry the materials so they won’t attract mold or shrink once turned into baskets. Chapters on plant identification teach readers to assess what plants are good candidates for basketmaking (invasive ones) and which should be avoided (“leaves of three, let it be”). She then walks readers through different weaving techniques, like coiling, which involves bundling leaves, grasses, or soft stems into a rope and twisting it into spirals, and looping, a technique similar to knitting and crocheting. Instructions are included for 14 projects. The most accessible include a coiled bowl, a bark necklace pouch, and a grapevine market basket. More advanced weavers will want to try the twined treasure basket and wild fibers twined bag. Filled with detailed instructions, helpful photographs, and a deep respect for nature, this is a must-read for nature-minded crafters. (Apr.)