Harvest Basket in Willow: An Intro to Round Stake and Strand Weaving

With Jes Clark

In this class, students learn and practice traditional weaving techniques while creating beautiful and functional harvesting baskets.

Not scheduled right now. Last taught 2026.

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The workshop

In this class, students learn and practice traditional weaving techniques while creating beautiful and functional harvesting baskets. We will use an innately colorful selection of willows cultivated at Sanborn Mills and Willow Vale and learn about the cultivation and processing of this historically important natural material. Our baskets will be built from a round base with weaves mostly in the European tradition, including pairing, waling, and randing, and woven borders. Every student’s basket will be different! This class is suitable for beginners wanting to learn a base of weaving knowledge or intermediate weavers looking to improve skills and control. Willow is a stronger, more tension-y material than many other basketry materials; strong hands are recommended for this course. Care and use of finished pieces will be discussed in class.

Skills and techniques

An introduction to several weaving techniques/patterns:
Pairing/reverse pairing
Three-rod wale and four-rod wale
A variety of “side weaves” including French randing, English randing, slewing, packing, and zig-zag weave
Woven rod borders
Learning the “feel” of weaving with willow, a unique material in the US
Learning the use of willow weaving specific tools:
Bodkin
Rapping Iron
Fid
Shaping ties and hoops
Clippers in a willow context
Identifying willow in weaving and learning the growth/processing of willow for weaving
Creating functional and beautiful 3D shapes

Before you come

Details for students

Where

One of the farm's studios, confirmed at check-in. See the campus

Staying on the farm

Housing, meals, the daily schedule, and places to stay nearby are on Prepare for your workshop.

Your instructor

Jes Clark

Jes Clark (they/them) is the farmer and weaver at Willow Vale Farm in Stanfordville, NY. Jes weaves traditional and contemporary functional pieces and the basket forms created are a result of their conversation with each stick of willow. All of their willow is grown without pesticides using regenerative practices and with loving care.

Jes has been teaching weaving since 2018 and has taught hundreds of students ranging from absolute beginners to experienced weavers looking to refine their craft. They have taught at the Stowe Basketry Festival, for the Northeast Basketmakers Guild and National Basketry Organization, just to name a few, and also privately in one-on-one tutorials. You can discover more of their work at instagram.com/willowvalefarm and https://www.willowvale.farm/

Questions about this workshop, housing, or meals? Email registrar@sanbornmills.org or call (603) 435-7314. Please read the workshop policies before you register.