Learning Basket Weaving

Crafts, Research

UdK, Self Initiated Project, 2020

During my 5th semester at university, I embarked on a self-initiated project that turned out to be the beginning of my engagement with the basketry craft.

With the ongoing global pandemic restricting access to university facilities and workshops, I found myself in a unique position to explore a craft that required minimal power tools and could be self-taught. Basket weaving became the perfect choice.

My journey began with extensive research into basket weaving techniques and the search for suitable materials. I delved into online tutorials, absorbing knowledge, and started experimenting. Every step of my weaving practice was documented. As my skills developed, I compiled all my findings and experiences into a comprehensive guide titled "Learning Basket Weaving."

This project marked the inception of my enduring passion for basket weaving. The craft found a special place in my heart, and I continually return to it, seeking inspiration from various materials and techniques. I further enriched my expertise by participating in workshops where I learned new weaving techniques while discovering the wide array of objects that could be created through these methods. Additionally, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the practical application of the craft during an internship at Flechterei of the Stiftung St. Jakob Zürich.

In my bachelor project, I delved into the ancient art of hedge weaving, crafting a 9-meter-long woven hedge in Berlin. The project „the grass is greener on both sides“ highlighted the incredible potential of this age-old craft.

„The first cultural device was probably a recipient […] Many theorizers feel that the earliest cultural inventions must have been a container to hold gathered products and some kind of sling or net carrier.“ (Elizabeth Fisher, The Carrier Bag Theory of Evolution in Woman’s Creation)

Basket weaving, as I discovered, transcends the realm of mere craft. It serves as a low-tech, additive manufacturing method that has been practiced since the dawn of humanity. It opens up the possibilities of three-dimensionality in the most remarkable way. What sets it apart is its accessibility; it can be practiced individually or in a group, requiring very few tools. Basketry not only teaches us about the use of natural, raw resources but also connects us to our ancestral roots in a beautifully tangible way.

A selection of basket weaving related projects

making a basket on a mountain top with straw gathered on the hike

collecting willow rods in winter

sorting the rods by size

sticking willow rods into the earth and starting to weave

weaving a willow hut

broom made from esparto

50 twines experiment with evey kwong

broom workshop with evey kwong

weaving the seating surface of a ticino stool using bulrush (Flechterei Stiftung St.Jakob, Zürich)

weaving a “Kiepe, Hutte, Chräze” using willow (Flechterei Stiftung St.Jakob, Zürich)

baskets made from PLA Filament (Klauser Lienhard Design, Zürich)

© Katharina Sauter 2023
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