WILLOW BASKET WEAVING: IRISH CREEL

Students will learn all the steps involved in the manufacture of an Irish Creel style willow basket. The weaving is a ground up process where the upright structural members are pushed into the ground and the basket is woven upside down and finished at the bottom. If students have time, handles can be added after the basket is removed from the ground.

The Irish creel is a uniquely Irish and Scottish basket style. It is unique for its “upside down” construction where sticks are shoved into the ground in the shape of the desired basket, woven around into the desired height is reached, and then finished at the bottom of the basket!