A basket maker's toolkit is surprisingly simple and inexpensive to acquire. It contains no complicated tools that require particular skill to operate; just a little care as a lot of them are sharp and easily draw blood. I’ve accidentally poked myself a number of times and it hurts! Here, I’ll let you have a virtual rummage through my tool basket and take a look at some of the tools that I can’t do without. I’ll run through these with you in the order that I use them in making a basket.
First of all we have snips. Used, as you would imagine, for cutting willow rods. I just love these snips that spring open again after every cut. The first snips I used weren’t sprung and I had to manually open them again for each cut. You’d be amazed at the difference a tiny piece of coiled metal can make! A pair of secateurs would do the same job but might be a bit tricky when trimming ends in tight corners of your work.
Alongside snips, I have a couple of knives that I sometimes use for cutting slanted cuts or slypes on willow rods so that they can be easily inserted into the weave. This is done particularly when adding side stakes and handle bows. I also use my knives when preparing willow rods for more complicated square work.
The next tool in my kit is called a bodkin, which is essentially a sharp piece of metal with a handle. I have 4 bodkins of different sizes and shapes. My favourite is the small curved bodkin - it does the same job as all the others, but for some reason it is the one I choose to work with most. We use a bodkin to split willow rods when creating bases for round and oval as well as to open the weave when we need to insert a side stake or handle bows. They’re also useful for levering objects out of jigs if they need a bit of persuasion.
Traditionally, bodkins are kept in a grease horn, which is the next item in my list of tools. This is a horn that is filled with tallow or other lubricant that keeps the bodkins’ sharp points safely hidden when not being used as well as ensuring that the bodkin is greased making it easier to insert into a tight weave. Mine is a cow’s horn (my former vegan self forgives me) and I love it. It cost more than some of my bodkins - ooops!
Our next tool isn’t really a tool - it is just a piece of rubber inner tube or ball of string. I use these to tie together the upright stakes of a basket whilst I weave up the sides of the basket.
Next, we have rapping irons. These are metal (although they can be wooden) tools that we use to hit the weave to ensure that it is tightly packed down and not gappy. I use the larger rapping iron when making larger log baskets.
I also always keep some pegs in my toolkit. These are useful for place marking when I need to take a break so that I know where I’m up to. No further explanation is really required!
I also have a cleave and shave in my tool kit. I’ll admit that I’ve used these precisely once since I bought them and that was only to see how they worked. A basket maker would use a cleave to split a willow rod into three pieces evenly down its length. The cleave I have is brass tipped and sharp. I don’t like using it; it scares me! You can also get wooden cleaves. The shave is used to remove the pith or inside part of the willow rod once it has been cleaved to make it thinner and easier to use. Again, I used it once and can’t see an occasion when I’ll use it again. But I keep it with me in case anyone wants a demo on how to use it.
The most important tool is, of course, our hands. Surprisingly, given that we’ve been using them all of our lives, our hands are the tool that takes the most mastering when making baskets. Knowing how firm you can be with the willow and how to manipulate the shape really takes some practice. Many of my early baskets, and a lot of my current ones, show the scars of the battle I’ve had with the willow. For a damp twig, willow certainly has a mind of its own. The skill of a willow weaver lies in imposing our will on the material and not allowing the willow to dominate us.
Every basket maker has a house full of slightly misshapen, wonky & uneven baskets with rods kinked in the wrong place that tell the story of their development as weavers. But no matter, they are all perfectly functional baskets and serve as a reminder that, in craft, you can always find room for improvement. After completing every project, I always give it a look to find the flaws. Not by way of being overly self-critical (although I’m often guilty of that) but as a way of noting where I can do better next time.
And that’s about it. Pretty simple tools and fairly easy to use. I demonstrate their use on my workshops and it is great to see beginner basket weavers become familiar with how to use them. By far the most popular tool with my customers is the rapping iron and everyone is keen to get to the point in the basket when they can give it a good whack!
As a craftsman, delving into my toolkit is akin to embarking on a journey through my professional evolution. Each tool holds a story, a memory of triumphs, and challenges conquered. From the trusty hammer, echoing the rhythm of countless nails driven home, to the delicate precision of the screwdriver, every instrument serves a purpose in my daily endeavors. But beyond the tangible implements lies a wealth of knowledge and experience, cultivated through years of practice and dedication. So, when you read this article, you'll uncover not just a mere collection of tools, but my explanation of how they intertwine with my craft, shaping my identity as a skilled artisan.