Learn which willow species produce flexible rods for baskets, hurdles and sculptures, and how soil and cutting time affect their quality.
Discover the best time to cut willow, how to sort rods by length, and simple storage methods that keep them supple for weaving.
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Follow a simple guide to selecting rods, preparing a workspace and weaving your first small round base without expensive equipment.
Build a sturdy round basket using a slath, upsett and wale, with clear steps for shaping the sides and finishing the rim.
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Create a rustic obelisk or teepee that supports sweet peas and beans, using garden cuttings and a few basic weaving techniques.
Plant and weave living willow rods into a sturdy arch that leafs up in spring and provides a natural garden focal point.
Explore common plants that yield reliable colour on wool and cotton, including onion skins, madder, weld and nettle.
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Scour, mordant and rinse your fibres properly before dyeing to achieve even, lightfast colours from natural plant materials.
Select compact willow varieties, choose a damp sunny spot and manage coppicing to produce useful rods in limited space.
Use leaf shape, catkins and habitat to tell crack willow, white willow, goat willow and osier apart on a country walk.
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Weave a flexible hazel or willow hurdle to edge beds, screen compost heaps or divide areas of an informal garden.
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Keep baskets, trays and garden structures in good condition with drying, cleaning and occasional oiling throughout the seasons.
Plant willow for early pollen, shelter and habitat, and use woven structures to support insects, birds and small mammals.
Turn leafy willow trimmings and bark into valuable compost with the right balance of greens, browns, air and moisture.
Gather a sharp knife, secateurs, bodkin, rapping iron and weights to start weaving without buying unnecessary specialist equipment.
Soak dry rods until pliable, then wrap them to mellow so they weave smoothly without cracking or losing strength.
Make a shallow, strong tray for gathering produce, drying herbs or storing craft materials using simple stake-and-strand weaving.