The Weekend Crafter: Basketry: 17 Great Weekend Projects Paperback – August 2, 2011

I'm a retired codger that hasn't woven a basket or caned a stool seat since Boy Scouts when I got the merit badge. Now, for a fine-art sculptural project that required a small basket, I needed help fast. After all the searching on the web and the videos, what I needed was pretty much RIGHT HERE. It's well photographed and clearly described so that I can now hit the ground running with my project. My first several pages are instantly full of highlighted text and notes in the margins for just how I'll approach my project. After over half a decade since Boy Scouts, I'd say I have to classify myself as a beginner in basketry again. Granted, a lifetime in arts and crafts in other media does inform my ability to grasp creative ideas quickly, but still, I think this is a great book for novice and others looking for ideas.

I had taken a beginners basketry class, but the quality of the teaching left something to be desired, and would have done much better starting out using this book as it describes each step with detail and the photos are great. The baskets progress from the easiest to the more challenging and the book notes, for each basket, what skills you should already know from previous baskets and which you will learn making the next one. It also covers the basics regarding what tools you will need and the various types of reed. The baskets themselves are practical; you won't find any knick-knack patterns that no one would use. Once you get the basics down, the author encourages the reader to vary the materials, colors and weaves to express your own individuality. Highly recommended for the beginner or advanced beginner.

This is my all time favorite book for basket weaving. There is a section specifically for setting up various size market baskets and I use it all the time. From there I can make my own designs. Because these books are so valuable to new students of basketry, I've purchased several to have for a small basketry lending library. This one was in good condition and was in my mailbox very quickly. Thanks!

This book has great explanations of how to do the different weaves. Very good for beginners and others too. Good reference with all of the steps needed to do to make some beautiful baskets. I especially liked the section on the market basket which explains how to figure out what size of reed and how much to use, along with the size of handle needed, for different sized baskets. I have other patterns for market baskets, but each pattern is only for one size. This is great!

I have weaved baskets off and on forever so it seems. I am always adding basket making books to my collection. This is a beautiful book with lots of illustrations and easy to follow directions. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to learn about making baskets and just for looking at if you love baskets. Enjoy

Good book with very nice patterns and instruction. Easy to follow and understand.

I really like this book. Easy to read. Many projects that seem easy enough. I haven't attempted all of them yet but I AM looking forward to completing them all

Even as an advanced basket weaver and teacher, I often go to this book for inspiration. I recommend it to all of my beginning students as an excellent reference. I especially like the section on designing your own market basket. Totally takes the guesswork out of cutting materials no matter what handle size you have on hand.

Very beautiful book. Easy to read and understand. Came early and packaged perfect. Thanks BJ Crawford and Amazon for having this wonderful book available for me to order at such a perfect price.

This book has a lot of interesting projects.

I note that this book is manufactured in China and is chiefly for the American market. This is noteworthy only because the priciple material for the basket projects is flat reed, meaning you will have to substitute this material for flat band cane, which comes in more limited widths, as far as I can tell. Nevertheless, the projects are good, as are the instructions and illustrations: this book is definitely an aid to learning how to weave baskets. As a beginner, myself, the biggest issue is how to source the materials: in the UK, the principle material is willow, so a book on weaving this material is probably worth getting in the first instance. In spite of this, the book does provide projects that look do-able and are attractive, so I intend to persevere and work around some of the limitations in the supply of materials in the UK. This book is a step-by-step guide to using basketry techniques, with good instructions and plenty of quality photographs, listing tools that are needed: sourcing things like handles, rather than making them, might prove more difficult. All-in-all a good book for the beginner and those thinking about basket weaving, but sourcing materials would have been a good section to include along with something specifically for the UK customer.

As described

brilliant