Over Two, Under One: Weaving a Reed Basket

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Incidentally, while you're doing the triple weave, you may notice that the other ends of your weavers are getting all snarled up! The best way to get rid of such a tangle is to grasp the three weavers together near the basket and gently free one at a time.

ROUND AND ROUND

The next section is done in chasing weave. Begin at a spot several spokes to the right of the end of the triple weave, and mark the first spoke with a twist-tie. Weave in front of the next spoke, behind the one after that, and so on until you come around to the second spoke to the left of your starting point. Then add a second weaver behind the spoke directly to the left of the marked one, and go on to weave in front of the marked spoke, behind the next, and so on, so that the second row alternates with the first.

Be sure to keep the two weavers separate . . . as you come around each time, drop the weaver you're working with and weave a row with the other strand. Each weaver thus "chases" the other. When you've woven 1-3/8 inches, ending over the two beginning spokes, cut off both weavers.

Our basket's midsection is triple weave, the first row in rust, the next five in evening blue, and the final row in rust. Be sure to stagger the beginnings of each color so there won't be a jumble of ends all in one place, and use the step-up (described next) at the end of each row.

STEP TO IT

A step-up is used to make each row look complete in itself. To achieve this effect, end the first row of rust with the weavers coming from behind the three spokes to the left of spoke 1(Fig. 7). Then take the right weaver in front of spokes 1 and 2, behind 3, and out. After that's done, take the middle weaver in front of the two spokes to the right, behind spoke 2, and out. Finally, run the left weaver in front of two spokes, behind spoke 1, and out . . . then cut oft all three weavers.

You'll want to make a step-up at the end of each of the five rows of blue, cutting off the weavers at the end of the fifth row. Go on to weave one more row of rust.

Continue the body of the basket with another inch of chasing weave, ending over the two beginning spokes. Then add a third weaver behind the next spoke to the right, and do seven more rows (one inch) of triple weave before cutting off all weavers.

BORDERING

To make the four-row trac border, soak the spokes for ten minutes, then crimp them close to the weaving so they bend to the right (as in Fig. 8).

Row 1: Working to the right, bend down the first spoke and take it behind the next one, and out. Repeat this procedure with each spoke, interlacing the last with the first and going from the inside to the outside (see Fig. 9 and Photo 3).

Row 2: Bring each spoke in turn in front of the two spokes to its right . . . while holding down the spokes that are sticking out to the front. Then run each spoke to the inside, going under the loop formed by the first row (Fig. 10). You'll want to pull the fast two spokes out about two inches so the last two will be easier to interlace (look at Photo 4).

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