Hello everyone -
There are suppliers of natural materials out there, you just have to
find them. One of the best (in my mind) is Gratiot Lake, in Michigan.
Here is their (meager) website: http://www.weavenet.com/gratiot.html -
call or email for a catalog. You won't be disappointed!

It also depends on what you are looking for. There are a few willow
suppliers out there, the two main ones in my mind are Bonnie Gale
http://www.msu.edu/user/shermanh/galeb/index.htm or Willow Dreams
Farm http://home.earthlink.net/~rharrison62/english.html. Most major
basketry mail order houses also sell willow, but usually get them
from one of these two places.

If you are looking for white oak, it tends to be more difficult to
find. It (and ash) is not the easiest material to create, so it
usually comes at a price. Once again, try checking with the big
suppliers.

As for birch, I'm pretty sure that most of the birch used was the
white birch, but I'm not positive. You could look for archaeological
reports, especially ones that reference plants/woods/pollens to get
an idea of the plant life in the region you are studying, to find out
what plants were available to the population at the time. Gratiot
sells birch, but it's quite pricey. The best time to gather birch is
in the spring, if you wanted to know.

One of the things I found helpful with my basketry was to hook up
with a local basketry group in my area. It's a good way to network to
find suppliers in your area, as well as classes. One of my favorite
websites is http://basketry.about.com/ - it's fairly comprehensive,
and has lots of good topics.

Good luck!
Kathryn/Dore'

--- In SCAbasketry@egroups.com, Denise Jones <jonescd@u...> wrote:
<snipped
> One of many questions I have:  Does anyone have good resources for
> materials?  I have read the Complete Anachronist on the topic and
have the
> list of period materials used.  Now, does anyone know where you can
buy
> natural materials besides reed?
>
> Also, concerning birch - Does anyone know if River Birch in
particular
> would have been available anywhere in Europe and after what time
> period?  Would it have been used for basketry?  How do you go about
to find
> if a particular tree would have been available in the location and
time you
> are looking for?
>
> Thanks for the help.  Looking forward to using this list!
> Caroline

Greetings,
  My name  is Pam Starnes ( SCA - Lady Patricia Matthis ) and I am so
glad Someone forwarded this site to my Household sister - Denise
Jones.
  We are In the Kingdom of Atlantia, in North Carolina , Right on the
Coast. Too bad ,You can't weave sand.

I have been weaving for about a year. I can do the basic stuff,and
have managed to change some patterns for specific use. I have a very
simple Quiver pattern I modifed from a pencil holder,if anyone is
interested.
I have to admitt that the small egg basket I am making is taking
longer than any other style I have tried. Does anyone else have a
style that they have trouble with?

I was just in Williamsburg Virginia ( Old) and I set with the Weavers
there and watched them for a while(,could not stay as long I wanted )
They were weaving with White Oak strips. They go out and cut the
saplins.leave them to dry and then just peel the strips off. The wood
peels in strips, kind of pulls off in layers. It was great! They also
used the outer bark strip for decoration. The wood also smells Great!

Sorry for rambling, but if any of you live where there is White Oak
you might want to give it a try.I am still trying to find a source.
Also It weathers beautifuly and can be left ouside, no stain or
treatment

Hi,
I'm new to the list.  Am SO happy to have had this forwarded to me.  Nice
to have a "support group" for such a difficult to research art.

I'm Caroline.  I reside in the Shire of Seareach on the coast of
Atlantia.  I have been weaving for about a year, but am just getting into
period research and weaving.  My household sister and I displayed a few
items at Kingdom Crusades about a month ago and received some very nice
comments.  Mostly encouragement for doing such an overlooked art form in
the SCA.

One of many questions I have:  Does anyone have good resources for
materials?  I have read the Complete Anachronist on the topic and have the
list of period materials used.  Now, does anyone know where you can buy
natural materials besides reed?

Also, concerning birch - Does anyone know if River Birch in particular
would have been available anywhere in Europe and after what time
period?  Would it have been used for basketry?  How do you go about to find
if a particular tree would have been available in the location and time you
are looking for?

Thanks for the help.  Looking forward to using this list!
Caroline

--- In SCAbasketry@egroups.com, "Mira (Tanya Guptill)"
<tguptill@t...> wrote:
>
>
> Catriona de Brynton wrote:
>
> > Greetings to all!
>
> Welcome to the list! :)
>
> >   I also enjoy waxed linen twined amulet baskets
> > (thanks Hertha!).
> >
>
> Oooooo--what are those?  Sounds really interesting....
>
> Mira
> --

Essentially, you make a small twined basket using waxed linen thread
as both the spokes and the weaver. You then attach a cord to make a
necklace. I have seen kits, and I am sure there are instructions
available.  One thing I like to do is make the necklace part out of
crochet thread using my lucet.  You can get such pretty colors, and
make each necklace complement the basket.

Catriona

Linda truelove wrote:
>
> Greetings
>
>    I am known as Linda Truelove or SCA Lady Maddelena du Lamour le
> Vrai and I had been interested in basketry before but it had gotten
> lost in a number of mundane and SCA things.
>    I got my interest revived when I traded my unused spinning wheel
> to
> Lady Gwendolen Wold for some of her baket weaving supplies and I am
> definitly interested in learning.
>    Thanks for the resources that been posted so far and I will look
> for more in the future.
>     Gwendolen are you using the spinning wheel yet?\

*laugh* Two nice big skeins of two ply peach/white yarn, spun
very fine. I used up the rest of that bag of peach wool.

Welcome to the list.

Say, does anyone know if pine needle coiled basketry is period?

Gwendolen Wold
(who finished up a flat reed can holder today. Hides the
necessary caffeine fix at events quite nicely...)

Greetings

    I am known as Linda Truelove or SCA Lady Maddelena du Lamour le
Vrai and I had been interested in basketry before but it had gotten
lost in a number of mundane and SCA things.
    I got my interest revived when I traded my unused spinning wheel
to
Lady Gwendolen Wold for some of her baket weaving supplies and I am
definitly interested in learning.
    Thanks for the resources that been posted so far and I will look
for more in the future.
     Gwendolen are you using the spinning wheel yet?

Yours in service
Maddelena

Greetings

My name is Margarita Kofinopoia (Maggie Basketmaker in Greek).  I have been
making baskets for about 7 years.  Mostly I have done shaker cat's head
baskets (of infinite variety in shape and size) using mostly rattan reed.
I've just started expanding the types of baskets.  My next project is coiled
baskets because I have seen a couple of pictures of Norse basket remnants of
that type.

My main interests for historical baskets are Norse, Byzantine and anything
from the north shore of the Black Sea area.

Maggie/Margarita Kofinopoia
If we don't share knowledge, we will share ignorance.
                                    (Medb Duinfeichin / Raeven Ward)
http://whimsical.homepage.com

&

Mark/Yvan Wolvesbane
Pacifist.....with occasional lapses!

Carrie Mooney wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> my name is Catherine and I am quite new to the SCA.  I am in Montengarde, in
> Avacal.  I would be interested in the beginning basketry class (I have some
> experience in basketry but not extensive).  This may seem like a strange
> question, but in terms of the mundane (I am still learning the SCA place
> names), where does the Estrella War take place and when?

Not a strange question at all! Estrella War takes place just outside
of Phoenix, AZ on President's Day weekend in February. This year that
means the dates will be Feb 14-19, 2001. It also happens to be my
all time favorite event. Check out http://www.estrellawar.org/
for more information.

Gwendolen Wold

Greetings,

my name is Catherine and I am quite new to the SCA.  I am in Montengarde, in
Avacal.  I would be interested in the beginning basketry class (I have some
experience in basketry but not extensive).  This may seem like a strange
question, but in terms of the mundane (I am still learning the SCA place
names), where does the Estrella War take place and when?

Thank you for your assistance.  It is greatly appreciated.

Catherine

-----Original Message-----
From: Lissa McCollum [mailto:lissamc@...]
Sent: October 24, 2000 1:18 PM
To: SCA basket list
Subject: [SCAbasketry] basket class at Estrella


I'm thinking of teaching a beginning basketry class at
Estrella War. I've taught the basics of flat reed
basketry before, with the students making a can
holder by the end of the two hours. What other
baskets are a good start for beginners, and can
be taught in that time period?

Gwendolen Wold


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
SCAbasketry-unsubscribe@egroups.com

I'm thinking of teaching a beginning basketry class at
Estrella War. I've taught the basics of flat reed
basketry before, with the students making a can
holder by the end of the two hours. What other
baskets are a good start for beginners, and can
be taught in that time period?

Gwendolen Wold

Catriona de Brynton wrote:

> Greetings to all!

Welcome to the list! :)

>   I also enjoy waxed linen twined amulet baskets
> (thanks Hertha!).
>

Oooooo--what are those?  Sounds really interesting....

Mira
--
http://www.teleport.com/~tguptill/tent.html

Rest not--life is sweeping by
Go and dare before you die
Something noble and sublime
Leave behind to conquer time

Greetings to all!

My name is Catriona de Brynton (mundanely Kathy Randall).  I live in
the Barony of Vatavia (Wichita KS) in the Kingdom of Calontir.  My
presence is due to the lovely person who posted this list's address
on the Calonlist.  Thank you!

I have been doing basketry for a few years now.  I, too, started with
commercial reed and the Lynn Siler books.  I am slowly branching out
into other materials.  I also enjoy waxed linen twined amulet baskets
(thanks Hertha!).

Also thanks to Hertha, lately I have been playing with naalbinding
(knotless netting), and so have had less time to do basketry.
However, since baskets make great Christmas presents, I will
certainly be putting in quite a few hours in the next couple of
months.

Looking forward to sharing with all of you.

Catriona

I have a scanner if you would like to mail them to me I could post them

Timorra

Kathryn Gomm wrote:

> Hi Yana -
> I don't know too much about Russian basketry, but what I know is that
> it depends on what part of Russia your personna is from. In the area
> around Novgorod, they mainly used birch bark for their baskets, and
> made both plaited baskets and birch bark containers. The museum in
> Novgorod apparently has some wonderful 12-14th century artifacts that
> they've excavated from the city, but I don't know if they have a
> website.
>
> I've heard of lapti being woven out of birch bark strips, and that it
> is not an easy process. I'll see if I can get some of my pictures of
> modern Russian baskets (which were based on some of the finds)
> scanned in and posted here.
>
> Kathryn/Dore'
>
> --- In SCAbasketry@egroups.com, "Yana Barsova" <jdmiller2@s...> wrote:
> > My turn...
> >
> <snipped>
> > My SCA speciality is Russia, and hence I am interested in
> > Russian/other Slavic basketry techniques.  I am currently trying to
> > figure out how to make a pair of <lapti>, which are period
> > Russian shoes woven out of bast.  If anyone has experience with
> > making
> > woven garmets, please share info!
> >
> > --Yana
> > Slavic Interest Group <http://slavic.freeservers.com>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> SCAbasketry-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Ok it seems we have a wealth of knowledge on basketmaking
does anyone have some basic instructions about how to start?
what to look for in materials?
if you need to use the materials green or would it be ok if they were dry?

for those of us who want to start it would be helpfull

Thank you
Timorra

Kathryn Gomm wrote:

> Greetings!
> It's about time I introduced myself. My name is Kathryn Gomm, and in
> the SCA I'm known as Dore' van der Zee. I live in the Barony of Caer
> Anterth Mawr (Milwaukee, WI) in the Midrealm. Hertha/Bert informed me
> about the list, and I joined a few weeks ago. I just have not had
> time to introduce myself properly, but it's high time I did so.
>
> I've been weaving baskets for a while, but in 1994 I focussed on
> working with willow. Unfortunately, as many of you know, there are
> not many people in the SCA who make baskets, much less willow
> baskets, so I looked outside for assistance.
>
> There are lots of basketry guilds out there, just about every state
> has one. Within the basketry community there are not many willow
> weavers, but I think I've found most of the ones that teach at the
> conventions and have had classes with them. It's really wonderful to
> be able to take a class and see what it is that you are doing wrong
> and to learn new techniques.
>
> Willow is a wonderful material, and is very period. Most of my
> research focuses on paintings and manuscripts for documentation. I've
> found representations of most all basket styles there, from a variety
> of periods. In my opinion, willow was the most commonly used material
> in Western Europe during the SCA timeframe.
>
> Anyways, that's a start. Comments?
> Kathryn/Dore'
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> SCAbasketry-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Hi Yana -
I don't know too much about Russian basketry, but what I know is that
it depends on what part of Russia your personna is from. In the area
around Novgorod, they mainly used birch bark for their baskets, and
made both plaited baskets and birch bark containers. The museum in
Novgorod apparently has some wonderful 12-14th century artifacts that
they've excavated from the city, but I don't know if they have a
website.

I've heard of lapti being woven out of birch bark strips, and that it
is not an easy process. I'll see if I can get some of my pictures of
modern Russian baskets (which were based on some of the finds)
scanned in and posted here.

Kathryn/Dore'

--- In SCAbasketry@egroups.com, "Yana Barsova" <jdmiller2@s...> wrote:
> My turn...
>
<snipped>
> My SCA speciality is Russia, and hence I am interested in
> Russian/other Slavic basketry techniques.  I am currently trying to
> figure out how to make a pair of <lapti>, which are period
> Russian shoes woven out of bast.  If anyone has experience with
> making
> woven garmets, please share info!
>
> --Yana
> Slavic Interest Group <http://slavic.freeservers.com>

Greetings!
It's about time I introduced myself. My name is Kathryn Gomm, and in
the SCA I'm known as Dore' van der Zee. I live in the Barony of Caer
Anterth Mawr (Milwaukee, WI) in the Midrealm. Hertha/Bert informed me
about the list, and I joined a few weeks ago. I just have not had
time to introduce myself properly, but it's high time I did so.

I've been weaving baskets for a while, but in 1994 I focussed on
working with willow. Unfortunately, as many of you know, there are
not many people in the SCA who make baskets, much less willow
baskets, so I looked outside for assistance.

There are lots of basketry guilds out there, just about every state
has one. Within the basketry community there are not many willow
weavers, but I think I've found most of the ones that teach at the
conventions and have had classes with them. It's really wonderful to
be able to take a class and see what it is that you are doing wrong
and to learn new techniques.

Willow is a wonderful material, and is very period. Most of my
research focuses on paintings and manuscripts for documentation. I've
found representations of most all basket styles there, from a variety
of periods. In my opinion, willow was the most commonly used material
in Western Europe during the SCA timeframe.

Anyways, that's a start. Comments?
Kathryn/Dore'

Greetings, Noble friends,

Mary Jo Baylor brought it to my attention that I had inadvertently set up the
new SCA Basketry list incorrectly.  I have changed the settings, so now
non-members can view the message archives.

Thank you to Mary Jo, and my apologies to the list! :)
Mira

Mary Jo Baylor wrote:

> Your message about the SCAbasketry list was passed along to me by a
> friend who knew of my interest in basketweaving.  I understood from the
> message that the archive would be open to the public.  But when I went to
> the web site, I found that the archive was restricted to members only.
> Could you clarify?
> Thanks,
> M. J. Baylor

--
http://www.teleport.com/~tguptill/tent.html

Rest not--life is sweeping by
Go and dare before you die
Something noble and sublime
Leave behind to conquer time

Hello, fellow basket enthusiasts!  :)

My name is Baroness Mira Silverlock, and I'm from Barony of Three Mountains in
An Tir.  I am just beginning to learn about basketry, and it seems to be a
natural progression from my long-term interest in period encampments.  I am
looking forward to any and all info, and seeing what I can learn.

Please take a moment to consider sharing an invitation to this email list with
your local or kingdom A&S people, newsletter, or publication, so we can gather
together people with the same interest we all share.

Mira

Hi I'm Mel & I'm in England, I weave with most things  ! But mainly willow.
I tend to basket weave in my 5th C or 13th C personas.

There are some good UK books on basket weaving.

As for period tequniques there is very little surviving archaeological
evidence due to the nature of the materials, most information can be gained
from studying contampory ms, a rather long & tedious task I admit ! There is
some evidence from secondary prints ie  ceramic. Illustrations of building
often have good pics as baskets as often used to haul stuff up & around.

A rule of thumb on materials is study the vegetation for the periood & place
you are specifically interested in and use something common & Flexible then
, also use the material suitable for the task, ie willow is not very good at
holding flour :0)

Mel

Tanwen Glyn Helfarch wrote:
>
> Thank you VERY MUCH.... do you mind if I move the above links to the
> links section of this list?  I'm sure I'm not the only one who will
> benefit from them.  : )

By all means!

Gwendolen Wold

-- In SCAbasketry@egroups.com, Lissa McCollum <lissamc@p...> wrote:
> Tanwen Glyn Helfarch wrote:
> >
> > 1.  How does one get started on learning to weave baskets, if
there
> > are no gentles around to teach.
>
> I taught myself basketry with store-bought reed out of
> the books by Lyn Siler. Check your library. The latest
> basket I made out of willow (which was period), and
> used the books "Willow Basketry" by Bernard and
> Regula Verdet-Fierz, and "Willow Basketry of the
> Amana Colonies" by Joanna Schanz.
>
> My library also had a couple of videos on the subject,
> and there used to be a tv show on PBS. I don't know
> if it is shown anymore. Check http://www.sandyatkinson.com/
>
> Some links I find useful:
> http://www.msu.edu/user/shermanh/galeb/index.htm
> http://www.bright.net/~basketc/
> http://basketry.about.com/hobbies/basketry/
>
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Community/basketry
.html
> http://home3.inet.tele.dk/johansso/splint.htm
>
>
> Gwendolen Wold
> Atenveldt

Thank you VERY MUCH.... do you mind if I move the above links to the
links section of this list?  I'm sure I'm not the only one who will
benefit from them.  : )

thanks again,

tanwen

Tanwen Glyn Helfarch wrote:
>
> 1.  How does one get started on learning to weave baskets, if there
> are no gentles around to teach.

I taught myself basketry with store-bought reed out of
the books by Lyn Siler. Check your library. The latest
basket I made out of willow (which was period), and
used the books "Willow Basketry" by Bernard and
Regula Verdet-Fierz, and "Willow Basketry of the
Amana Colonies" by Joanna Schanz.

My library also had a couple of videos on the subject,
and there used to be a tv show on PBS. I don't know
if it is shown anymore. Check http://www.sandyatkinson.com/

Some links I find useful:
http://www.msu.edu/user/shermanh/galeb/index.htm
http://www.bright.net/~basketc/
http://basketry.about.com/hobbies/basketry/
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/Community/basketry.html
http://home3.inet.tele.dk/johansso/splint.htm


Gwendolen Wold
Atenveldt

Greetings All,

I am Lady Tanwen Glyn Helfarch of the Barony of Stromard in the
Kingdom of An Tir.

I have never made a basket so this is very new to me... I'll need all
the help I can get...like

1.  How does one get started on learning to weave baskets, if there
are no gentles around to teach.

2.  Are there any good reference books out there?  (Bad ones to
avoid?)

3.  What kind of materials are used and what were used in period?

Okay...I'll take a deep breath now. : )

Tanwen <waiting with bated breathe>

My turn...

My name is Yana (I'm in the process of reregistering my name, so I'll
only give you that part) and I live in Northshield (Wisconsin).  I am
a novice basketmaker, but interested in learning more.

My SCA speciality is Russia, and hence I am interested in
Russian/other Slavic basketry techniques.  I am currently trying to
figure out how to make a pair of <lapti>, which are period
Russian shoes woven out of bast.  If anyone has experience with
making
woven garmets, please share info!

--Yana
Slavic Interest Group <http://slavic.freeservers.com>

Ok I will introduce myself,
Hi, I am mickey,  SKA as Timorra
I have been in the SCA for about 2 years Basket waeving is something that
has always interested me..but I havent learned so I am new to basket weaving
(the process)
I would be interested to learn everything I can from everyone

Timorra

>I know there is more info out there and am looking forward to hearing from
others about any documentation and techiniques that would have been used.


Have you looked at Bobarts History of Basketry ?

Mel

Greetings all!

Mairi MacKhinnon here.  (mundanely known as Alana McGee)  Kingdom of AnTir,
Barony of Madrone, canton of Wyewood (Maple Valley, WA).  whew...

I was so excited to see the posting about this list and joined right away.
I've been making baskets for about 8 years.  (taught myself from books...)
Was making quite a few a year for craft fairs and a demo for 7 weekends at a
local medieval fair one summer.  The biggest problem I am having is too many
baskets and materials and not enough space!  I work with mostly commercial
reed and dyes but am trying to branch out into making my own dyes.  I have
also spent an afternoon in the woods with a pair of pruners and made a
basket with what I found.  I've searched for as much documentation I can
find and it's been a pretty sparse task.  I do have a copy somewhere from
the Compleat Anachronist about medieval basketry that was pretty good(I'll
have to dig it up again, just moved so everything is in boxes).

I know there is more info out there and am looking forward to hearing from
others about any documentation and techiniques that would have been used.

This is going to be fun!

Mairi

I guess it is intro time...

Hi! I'm Lissa McCollum, or in the SCA Lady
Gwendolen Wold. I'm over here in the
Barony of SunDragon in Atenveldt, otherwise
known as west valley Phoenix, Arizona.

I've been playing with baskets for about
7 years now, making two or three a year. I've
mostly played with commercial reed, though
the last one I did was out of willow. If
any of you saw the royalty gift baskets
coming back from Estrella War two Estrellas
ago, those were my work.

So...how may of us are there?

And, always my favorite question...what sources
do you all use for documentation?


Gwen

Greetings Mira and other basketmakers!

A member of the SCA household to which I belong forwarded the message
about this list to me.  So here I am.

My modern name is Roberta Comstock Lauderdale.  I live in
Independence, MO.  In the SCA I am Hertha Blair of Froggestow (OL,
OP,
etc...).  I am in the Canton of Aston Tor, Barony of Forgotten Sea,
Kingdom of Calontir.  I have taught basketweaving in the SCA off and
on for about 10 years.

Several years ago (spring of 1997) I learned that there are modern
basket guilds, and joined the Woven Circle chapter of the Missouri
Basketweavers Guild.  I also belong to Handweavers Guild of America
and subscribe to several other basket lists via email.  I have
recently begun writing basket patterns and teaching basketry in the
modern world.

I look forward to hearing from each of you and sharing information
about historic basketry on this list.


Hertha