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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
The weaving process from now on is just the same as for that of round
bottoms described in the chapter on Weaving Foundations. E, Fig. I,
shows the proper relative position of the spokes at the beginning of the
separation of the end ones into singles. If it is thought more desirable
to have the sides of the bottom a little curved rather than straight,
the straight part may be filled in after all the spokes are separated
into singles. This is illustrated, and is done with the colored weavers
in order to show it more clearly. This filling in process is done with
the single weave, over and under five spokes for the first two pieces,
then three, two and one. If this does not round the sides to suit the
taste fill in again after one or two rows of regular weaving.
[Illustration: Figure III.]
When the bottom is woven, insert one stake each side of each spoke and
weave the sides as in the usual way. One can easily figure out the
proper number of stakes required, in order to take advantage of the
decorative features of triple weaving, in these baskets as in the round
ones. Figure III shows some elliptical baskets of different designs and
proportions as to major and minor diameters and also two kinds of
twisted handles, small and large. Basket No. 3 has a bottom with but one
single spoke between its ends as shown in Figure I, D and E. Basket No.
2 has two as shown at C. Basket No. 1 has three, and No. 4 and No. 5
have six.
The edge finishes are all as described in chapter III, Fig. II, B, and
the twisted handles are all as described in chapter IV. A pleasing
decorative feature is shown in the large wastebasket in the left hand
foreground of Figure III. Two natural and one colored weaver are used
and the stakes are equally divisible by three, the number of weavers.
Three rows are woven around, then the green weaver changes places with a
white one and three more rows are woven. This process is kept up until
the desired height is reached, resulting in a spiral arrangement of
spots. Figure III shows progress in working out some simple designs, A
showing a large hollow diamond (as easily made solid). Smaller hollow
diamonds would look well around an elliptical basket. B also shows
hollow diamonds and the Indian “good luck” symbol. This work is done
with the single weave on stakes not more than one-half inch apart.
Many fine designs may be “worked up” on plotting paper. Use paper which
is lined off about as far apart as the diameter of the weaver to be used
and draw vertical lines across this about as far apart as the distance
between the stakes.