2017 NY Sheep and Wool Festival

Have you ever looked outside and wondered what you could make with the abundant plant materials growing in your own yard? 

In this workshop you will learn how to use grasses, cattails, iris, daylily leaves, and many other common northeastern plants to create coiled baskets. Coiling is an ancient and versatile basketry technique in which a wrapping strand of yarn or fiber is sewn around coils of plant material to build a form. It is used all over the world to create beautiful vessels that can be either decorative or functional. Once you learn the technique there is a lot of room for creativity; your preferences, as well as which materials and type of wrapping strands you choose, will determine the overall look, size, and shape of your basket. What you make can vary anywhere from two small baskets to one larger basket up to 10” in diameter. 

During the workshop we will discuss how to identify, harvest, and prepare local plant materials, all while practicing a variety of coiling stitches and embellishments. If you are excited about learning to make baskets with locally wild harvested natural materials, then this is the class for you! 

Everyone will leave with a completed basket, handouts with information covered during the workshop, and inspiration to explore your local landscape. 

You will be sitting and standing during class and basket weaving means your hands will be in and out of water all day.

Experience Level:  This class is open to all levels, even those who have taken it before and want to take their skills to a new level. 

Materials Provided by Instructor: All locally harvested natural materials, a variety of yarns and wrapping materials, needles, handouts. 

Materials Provided by Student:  Scissors. Optional:   bring yarn for the wrapping material. 

Homework: None

Questions for Katie?  Email her at Katiegroveart@gmail.com 

Students will lay out a checkerboard base over a hickory handle and learn to shape and weave the sides of this useful basket. Baskets can be personalized with dyed weavers. Rim fitting, scarfing and lashing will be taught.Basket dimensions:  9”W x 6”H (w/out handle) x 18”L

Experience level: All levels

Instructor provides: all rattan (stakes, weavers, rims, lashers) purchased, prepped and ready to complete the basket in the time allowed as well as rattan that has been hand-dyed for the appropriate accents.    

Students do not need to bring anything to class unless they would like to have a notebook and pencil.


Students will be primarily sitting throughout this workshop and your hands will be in and out of water.

Wendy can be emailed at wendygj@gmail.com

Do you want to explore the possibilities for creating baskets entirely with wild-harvested plants? 

In this workshop you will weave a sample basket using a variety of natural materials, including barks, kudzu vine, honeysuckle, cattails, iris leaves and more. You will be able to choose the shape and the pattern of your basket and have the choice of either making a functional belt basket or a sculptural piece. The overall size will be approximately 5” x 4” x 6.” 

Over the course of your sample basket you will learn a variety of techniques, including both a simple twill with flat pieces of bark and several methods of twining, in which two strands are alternatively woven around the stakes of the basket. 

During the workshop we will discuss how to identify, harvest, and prepare a variety of materials, as well as have hands on experience processing bark and vines. If you are inspired to create a deeper connection to the materials you use while making a beautiful and completely unique basket then this is the class for you. Everyone will leave with a completed basket, handouts and information on what was covered during the workshop, and inspiration to explore your local natural landscape. 

You will be sitting and standing during class and your hands will be in and out of water throughout the workshop.

This class is open to all levels, even those who have taken it before and want to take their skills to a new level. 

Materials Provided by Instructor: All locally harvested natural materials

Materials Provided by Student:  Scissors, an awl, and a ruler or measuring tape 

Homework: None

Any questions to Katie can be sent to her at Katiegroveart@gmail.com 

Students will lay up a “cathead” base and learn the shaping for a Shaker Style cathead without the use of a mold. Weaving the sides can be accented with a dyed weaver.  Rim fitting, scarfing and lashing will be taught.  Students will have a choice of leather or oak handles. 

Basket dimensions:  13”D x 9”H

Experience:  All levels.  Great for beginners!

You'll do a lot of sitting in this workshop and your hands will be in and out of water.

Instructor provides: all rattan (stakes, weavers, rims, lashers) purchased, prepped and ready to complete the basket in the time allowed as well as rattan that has been hand-dyed for the appropriate accents.    

Students do not need to bring anything to class unless they would like to have a notebook and pencil. 

Need a basket that‘s ideal for carrying all your supplies for your current fiber project… or for stashing lots of yarn for future ones?  Here it is!  Measuring 17”l x 10”w x 9”h, this basket includes a 10”x 14” wooden handle making it an sturdy and attractive way to hold or to take whatever you need with you.  

Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to lay out the base, to weave up the sloped sides and to rim and lash their baskets.

Level of experience:  all levels

Materials Provided by Instructor: All materials and tools needed to complete the basket will be provided.  Written directions will also be given to participants.   

Materials Provided by Student:  none 

Homework:  none   

Mary Ann can be emailed at maryannwms@optonline.net

This utilitarian basket is a great introductory basket making project!  Whatever your workshop or work area looks like, this basket is sure to be a useful and attractive addition.   Measuring approximately 5.5”w x 4.5”h, it is just what you need to hold your tools or contain some of that paper clutter or scraps so much a part of being creative.  

Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to lay out a spoked base, stack weave the sides, and add a decorative touch to the rim.

Level of experience:  all levels

Materials Provided by Instructor: All materials and tools needed to complete the basket will be provided.  Written directions will also be given to participants.   

Materials Provided by Student:  none 

Homework:  none   

Students will be sitting/standing/combination and water is involved: For the most part, the completion of the basket may be done sitting or standing (student preference).  All reed is soaked and needs to be kept wet while weaving the basket.

If you have questions for Mary Ann, please email her at maryannwms@optonline.net