Hand Split White Oak Basketry: The Gingko
Workshop Fee: $420.00
In this three-day course, students will learn the traditional methods of hand-split white oak frame basketry in the Appalachian tradition, and will apply this knowledge as we weave an 11” Ginkgo basket together. This class is suitable to all levels of basket maker, whether you are a complete beginner or have experience in basketry, as much will be learned over this three-day course. We will begin with a lecture and short hands-on demo splitting a white oak log down into basketry material using just an axe and a knife. We will then go step-by-step together as we cut and shave down white oak billets into our frame, and then weave it all in with pre-split white oak weavers. Students will then walk away with a 100% white oak Ginkgo basket to remember their time by.
**This course requires a great deal of hand strength and is as much knife work as it is basket weaving. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns.
Skills and Techniques:
- Understanding of how to select a suitable white oak tree for basketry using sustainable forestry management systems (provided in lecture format)
- Understanding of how to break down a white oak log into workable material for basketry (provided in lecture format & brief hands-on demo)
- Knowledge of the anatomy of a frame basket & rules for how to construct a frame-style basket
- Hand-on experience whittling and preparing both flat & round rib
- Hand-on experience making and joining hoops for use in frame basketry
- Understanding of how white oak weavers are split and processed (lecture format & brief hands-on demo)
- Understanding of how to apply traditional Appalachian frame basketry techniques to modern form
- Comprehensive hands-on experience constructing a frame basket & weaving it in with hand-split white oak weavers
- Filling in the frame with turn backs
- Seamlessly finishing off the basket
Materials Fee: $195 paid directly to the instructor.
Special Tools or Equipment: All tools and materials will be provided. However, if students would like to bring their own tools, they may. Tools we will use include: 3-4” carving knife with a VERY SHARP blade and comfortable handle, sharp garden secateurs, flat head screw driver, scissors, awl, comfortable work gloves that allow for dexterity.
Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our 2025 policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies
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