 | | |
Basketry
ideaWillow starThis
basketry idea is ideal Christmas decoration, but it's looks nice just
on a shelf or on a window ledge.
You will need:- 30 white willows, each 92cm
- Towel
- Pair of sharp secateurs (sharp scissor)
- Bodkin, bradaw or knitting needle
 Put 12 willow rods in a cold water bath for an hour and wrap them into the towel and set aside.
Cut the dry willows into 35 pieces, each 26cm long. Then divide the 35 pieces into 5 piles with 7 sticks in each.
 Take
two piles and put one on the top of the other and hold them at 45
degree. Take a wet willow and bind the 2 piles together by sliding the
tip end through both piles about 2cm from the top.
 Turn
the wet willow three times around the two piles and slide the thick
butt end up through the bind. Use a bradawl to ease it through and pull
tightly to make it secure.
 Using
the scissor trim the ends of the willow carefully, so that the ends are
even. Do not trim too near to the binding, because you can weaken it.
Take a third pile and
place over the other end of the second pile. Hold at 45-degree angle
and bind the ends together and trim them as before.
 Take
a pile bundle, and place over the other end
of the third pile - you should place across, over the first pile
and under the second pile as shown in the picture. Bind and trim
them as before. Bind the fifth pile to the ends of piles one and four,
running over two and under
three.
 Arrange the star to look even. Then bind each
of the cross section - take a wet willow and slide the tip end through
the cross section so that it holds. Bring the butt end up through the hole
in the middle of the star and continue to turn three times. Slide the
butt end through the bind and pull tightly. And finally, trim off all ends nearly.
I hope you enjoyed the preparing of the willow star.
|
|
