When one has attained a certain degree of proficiency in making round baskets it is but natural that he should desire to make those which are elliptical in shape. The making of these baskets presents a problem which has been difficult to solve and the solution of which renders their construction practical for school uses. In a circular basket, where an even tension is kept on the weaver during the weaving process, the sides come up with an even flare but the stakes have a tendency to lean. This is due to the constant tension from left to right and works havoc in the construction of elliptical baskets. Unless great care is taken the upper edge of the basket will be shaped like the unfinished one illustrated in Figure II.
This tendency troubled me for a long time until I noticed that this warping commenced in the weaving of the bottoms and increased as the sides of the basket were woven. If the bottoms are woven left-handed or bottom side up, without regard to this warping, and then, after the stakes are inserted, the weaving of the sides proceeds as usual, but little care need be exercised in order to get an even basket as shown in Figure II. The warping tendency produced by weaving the sides offsets that produced by the left-handed weaving of the bottoms.
Since the discovery of this little trick the weaving of elliptical baskets has been a constant pleasure and has been carried on with marked success.
Figure I represents the consecutive steps in the construction of elliptical bottoms. Cut four spokes of No. 4 or No. 5 reed the length of the major diameter of the bottom, and as many as are desired, the length of the minor diameter. By analysis it will be seen that these bottoms are half round at each end and filled in straight between; therefore, each end requires half as many spokes as would be required in a round bottom, and as many in between these as is necessary in order to get the bottom the required length.
Figure I.
Another important point,—if the spokes on each end are to be one inch apart when the bottom is all woven, the spokes between must be a little more than that distance apart as these side spokes remain parallel during the weaving of the sides while the end ones radiate somewhat with the flare of the basket. Split all the short spokes and string them on the four long ones. Take a pair of the short spokes and put them near the end of the long ones as shown at A, Fig. I. Place a weaver of No. 2 or No. 3 reed, diagonally behind the group from 1 to 2 and bring it diagonally across the front from 2 to 1, then back of the group of four and to the left from 1 to 3, parallel with the short pair of spokes. Next, diagonally across the face from 3 to 4 and down behind the short pair from 4 to 1. Now the winding of the four long spokes commences as shown. This should continue for about 1³⁄₁₆ inches, if the end spokes are to be one inch apart when the bottom is finished.
Figure II.
Bring in the next spoke and bind it into its place. This binding is so clearly shown as to require no explanation. When all the short single spokes are bound in, bind in the last pair as shown, turn the bottom and insert the second weaver in order that the pairing weave may be started. D, Fig. I, shows just how this weave is inserted.