THE FIRST LESSON
Reed is a brittle material, therefore it must be soaked in water before
using. The time required depends on the number of the reed used. No. 00
merely dipped in water can be used successfully. Nos. 1 and 2 can be used
after soaking in water ten minutes; Nos. 4 and 5 after fifteen or twenty
minutes. Either cold or hot water may be used, the hot water consuming
less time to soak the reed than the cold.
No. 4 and No. 2 reeds are commonly used together in ordinary sized
baskets. No. 4 for the spokes, which form the foundation upon and around
which No. 2, as the weaver, is woven.
The weaving of a round mat or basket is begun in the center and woven out
toward the end. It is absolutely necessary that beginners master the
fundamental steps, for no basket can be well made that has a poor bottom.
In order to avoid this, the mat is practised upon until the art of weaving
a good center is accomplished.
The following are the commonest weaves used.
SIMPLE WEAVING is the commonest of all and is the continuation of under
one spoke and over the next.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 1.--SIMPLE WEAVING]
DOUBLE WEAVING, the same as simple weaving only that two weavers are woven
together as one.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 2.--DOUBLE WEAVING]
PAIRING.--Two weavers are inserted back of two successive spokes and
crossed between, then under weave brought forward each time and made the
upper weave. This may be used on an even as well as odd number of spokes.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 3.--PAIRING]
DOUBLE PAIRING.--The weave is the same as pairing but two weavers are
woven together as one.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 4.--DOUBLE PAIRING]
TWO AND ONE WEAVE.--Simply a weaver woven in front of two spokes and back
of one spoke. This makes a pretty effect in oval reed.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 5.--TWO AND ONE WEAVE]
THREE AND TWO WEAVE.--One weaver woven in front of three spokes and back
of two. This weave is used with oval reed and rush, in making scrap
baskets.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 6.--THREE AND TWO WEAVE]
TRIPLE TWIST OR THREE-ROD COIL, sometimes called the "Wale" Weave.--Three
weavers start back of three consecutive spokes. Beginning with the first
spoke to the left and weaving to the right bring the left-hand weaver out
in front of the next two spokes, back of the next and out in front. The
second and third weavers are treated in the same way, always bringing each
weaver in front of 2 spokes and back of the next one. This weave is used
mostly in beginning the sides of separate bottom baskets where the spokes
are inserted, and in the ending of baskets. It is a strong foundation for
borders and handles.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 7.--TRIPLE TWIST OR THREE-ROD COIL]
FOUR-ROD COIL OR ROPE TWIST.--Is woven in a similar manner to the three
coil weave except that the weavers are brought in front of 3 spokes and
back of one.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 8.--FOUR-ROD COIL]
FIVE-ROD COIL.--The weavers are brought in front of 4 spokes and back of 1
spoke.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 9.--FIVE-ROD COIL]
UPSETTING.--Simply a strong weave used in turning up a basket. Three rows
of a three or four coil weave are usually used in making an upsetting on
a scrap basket.
SLEWING.--Two or more weavers used as one in single weaving.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 10.--SLEWING]
THE SIXTEEN-SPOKE CENTER means sixteen spokes arranged in groups of fours
in the following manner: first, four spokes are placed in a vertical
position, the next four in a horizontal position over the first four, the
remaining eight spokes arranged in diagonal positions, one diagonal four
laid over the other diagonal four in an opposite direction. A weaver is
placed under the left-hand horizontal group and simple weaving is woven
over one group and under another until four rows are completed. The spokes
are then separated into groups of twos by bringing the weavers over and
under every two spokes instead of four. This may be finished either in
simple weaving with one weaver, or by inserting another weaver, in
pairing.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 11.--SIXTEEN-SPOKE CENTER]
In cutting the ends of spokes always cut obliquely to prevent the reed
from splitting.
In splitting spokes, the incision must be made carefully in the center of
the spoke. Do not make the incision larger than is necessary.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 12.--A SPLIT SPOKE]
Half of the number of spokes needed should be split in center, and the
other half inserted through the incision.
In beginning a new weaver join it to the other weaver by crossing both
ends back of a spoke.
[Illustration: DIAGRAM NO. 13.--JOINING WEAVERS]