Wild Basketry: Making Baskets and Natural Cordage from Foraged Plants

This soulful debut explores basket weaving as a spiritual and artistic practice. Profiling fiber artists who inspire “reflection [on] our place in the landscape as humans,” Taylor details how Caroline Dear twined bog myrtle into a “coat of good luck” that she invited attendees of the 2013 Cupar Arts Festival in Scotland to wear as a commentary on nature’s place in modern life. After brief overviews of nest weaving in nature and the history of basketry in ancient human cultures, Taylor walks readers through how to create six baskets, each using different foliage and weaving techniques. For instance, the simple bramble basket involves harvesting bramble stems between September and April, stripping them of leaves, and using a stake and strand technique to weave the stems together, while the grass basket requires collecting long grass in early autumn, using string to tie the blades into thin bundles, and coiling the bundles around each other in ovals of increasing size. Throughout, Taylor presents basket weaving as an opportunity to commune with nature, suggesting that “sourcing craft materials direct from the natural world brings more appreciation for their true value.” Informative tips on ethical harvesting practices urge readers to “balance what you harvest with what you leave” by making sure a plant species is “healthy and plentiful” before taking some of it. Environmentally minded crafters will cherish this. (May)