Dye your reeds, put all the bright colors you like into your baskets, and see if they are not much prettier and more substantial than the so-called “Indian work.” Red, blue, green, yellow, black, purple—a butterfly’s wing need not be gayer nor an old-time work-basket more useful. Large, small, medium-sized, deep or shallow—only one’s desire need determine the question.
Materials for Weaving
A variety of materials are adapted to basket-weaving, but the most substantial baskets are made of reeds. When the principle is mastered you may use anything you choose which will lend itself to the work.
The basket-reeds can be purchased from any reed and rattan manufacturer, and come in various sizes. Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are the ones to use, and as No. 4 is quite heavy you will need that only for large baskets, such as waste-paper baskets, flower-pot cases, etc., and even for such purposes No. 3 will answer. No. 2 is the finest, and of that you will use the most. The prices range from twenty-three cents to thirty-five cents a pound, No. 2 being the most expensive. Beside the reeds you will need a twist of raffia; this is a soft material used by the florist for tying up plants, and may be obtained from him at little cost, probably eighteen or twenty cents a hank.
To Prepare the Reeds
The reeds come in bunches of five pounds each; separate these, and taking each reed wrap it loosely around your hand to form a coil, twisting the ends in and out to hold them in place. This puts your material into a convenient form, and you need unwrap the reeds only as you have use for them, one at a time. Have ready a pan or pail full of water, for the reeds must be soaked awhile before they are used to make them more pliable and to keep them from breaking.
Try a small basket at first—let us say a rather flat, shallow one—and for this one coil of No. 3 and several of No. 2 reeds will be enough. When they have soaked for about five minutes take out the No. 3 reed, unwrap it, and cut six pieces twelve inches long and one piece eight inches long; then untwist your raffia and cut off one strip.
Weaving the Basket
The reeds you have just cut are for the ribs of your basket. Lay the short rib to one side within easy reach, then take three of the ribs in your left hand and cross them with the other three, as in Fig. 382. Be sure the reeds lie flat and side by side; do not bunch them. Hold the ribs where they are crossed between the thumb and first finger
