Woven Willow Garden Features

In this class, students will learn traditional weaving techniques while creating garden supports and focal pieces. We will use a combination of willow grown at Sanborn Mills and other northeast willow growers to weave the student’s choice of plant supports obelisks, peony crowns, and trellises, through a modern cosmopolitan combination of traditional weaves: Irish mouth wale, French randing, three-rod wale, pairing, Japanese eye knot, and god’s eye. This class is suitable for students at all levels wanting to learn a base of weaving knowledge while making impactful pieces relatively quickly. Strong hands are a must as we will be working with larger willow. Care and use of finished pieces will be discussed in class.

Skills and Techniques:

• An introduction to several weaving techniques/patterns: Pairing, Irish mouth wale, French randing, Three-rod wale, Japanese eye knot, God’s eye
• Learning the “feel” of weaving with willow, a unique material in the US
• Learning the use of willow weaving specific tools: Bodkin, Rapping Iron, Jigs/Screwblocks, and Clippers in a willow context
• Identifying willow in weaving and learning the growth/processing of willow for weaving
• Creating functional and beautiful 3D shapes

Materials Fee: $80-200 depending on materials used. Paid directly to the instructor

Special Tools or Equipment: The instructor will bring all the tools required. Students may bring these tools if they already have: bodkin, high-quality sharp pruners (Felco or similar), rapping iron, fid, conditioning tool (I call it the “Very Important Tool”, a perfect cylinder with no seams, appx 3” in diameter, usually a reusable water bottle/thermos or spray can), 2-4lb weights

Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our 2025 policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies