Thursday 1 December 2022

Using Nature's Abundance...

 ...to weave a kinder, simpler world
This is the motto of "Norfolk Hedge Baskets" - and on Tuesday evening I went along to the Swanton Morley Gardening Club to listen to Jonathon Carrie talk about his craft. 
He was really interesting. In 45 minutes he explained all about basket weaving in this country, and as he talked, he wove a small basket. 
It is quite a while since I went on my basketweaving course and this has definitely rekindled my interest in the subject.
Apart from anything else, Jonathon was so knowledgeable about the history, and the wonderful old words* still used to describe the techniques. 
He showed us that there are just four basic tools needed - secateurs for cutting, a bodkin for pushing holes through, a weight for keeping things flat [he has an old Victorian flat iron] and a 'heavy tool for rapping down' [he uses an old spanner. Well, we have three of those - so I would only need to find a bodkin.
He did make it all look deceptively simple! 
Here he is with the end product. He had a whole selection of baskets with him for sale. Find his website and shop hereHe runs regular courses.

He says of his work 

Whilst other basket makers and sellers strive for uniformity I look for the individual, the original, the intimate and the exclusive. This is how baskets used to be made: when times were quieter, slower and more peaceful….Weaving is a spiritual activity; it is emotional and I try to weave compassion and kindness into every basket.

As I already knew, all willow baskets have to be woven by hand - they have not managed to produce a machine to do this work. During the coffee break, people went up to look at his display, and I heard one or two mutter about the prices [starting at £30] Yes, you can find similar stuff online at half the price - but it is usually imported. So once you have factored in the carbon footprint of the journey, and the various people along the way who want their cut of the selling price, it is unlikely that the skilled person who made the basket was paid a fair wage. 
Jonathon spoke about the continental baskets, and how the French look for style and aesthetic design - whereas the English have always been more concerned about functionality, and making the basket useful and fit for purpose. Norfolk has a great history of specific baskets for agricultural and fishing use. Creel, and skeps and panniers. Most English willow for baskets is now grown on the Somerset levels, but Jonathon uses locally grown materials.
This is the little fruit basket I made back in 2015 is not perfect, but is in regular use and I love it. 
*On the subject of old words, and weaving, I have been dipping into my "Wordhord" book again recently. I just love the word gongel-wæfre, which means walker-weaver. It is the Old English term for a spider!






17 comments:

  1. This is another traditional craft that impresses me. I have seen skilled demonstrations like this. I'm almost tempted to have a go...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J said you can use other materials than willow - I'm sure you must have suitable things growing on your 'country estate'!

      Delete
  2. Ah, it's such a great craft! My friend Julian, from my old church 's Dad used to do this too. I follow an account called @foragedfibres on insta who posts about this. She weaves out of Crocosmia leaves and other flower fibres- tiny, amazing creations!
    You can understand the costs given the work involved! Kezzie x

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love baskets but sadly there is a limit to how many I have room for!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I ended up giving a load away , pre-retirement, to a lady who filled gift baskets for a baby charity

      Delete
  4. I remember basket making at school and I've just browsed Mr Carrie's website. I'll be having a chat with my sister!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a good idea, just before Christmas!!

      Delete
  5. I have a lovely basket, woven in a French market by an elderly gentleman who was there every week. I could resist having something so very handmade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a lovely memory if your time in France

      Delete
  6. I treasure the two locally (at the time we were living in each area) baskets more than any of the others. There is something much more tactile, individual and beautiful about them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love his take on seeing Weaving as a spiritual activity. It made me think of all the wonderful cathedrals which took decades to build, and how often the craftsmen themselves never lived long enough to see the final magnificent result of their labours. There is no comparison with handcrafted articles and those churned out by machines for the masses.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Basket weaving is an amazing skill to have. I have no idea how to make a basket, but, I do know how to weave coconut palm fronds! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great skill too - please post a picture on your blog (is this a Sri Lankan craft)

      Delete
  9. I bought a willow charger from a willow weaver/artist as a souvenir from his studio near Dumfries. It pleases me every time I look at it. Yes, not cheap, but when you cost it per hour not expensive. And doesn't 'cost the earth ' either

    ReplyDelete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!