Aging
The process of a basket curing after it's been created. The reed darkens.
Ash splints
Strips from an ash tree are cut and thinned to be used as stakes and weavers. Used in split-ash basketry.
Awl
It consists of a handle and a metal rod that comes to a point at the end. Used to open spaces and create holes in reed.
Base
The bottom of the basket.
Bevel
To trim a square edge down to a sloping edge.
Binder cane
This is a cane that has been cut wider than usual.
Bi-spokes
Extra spokes added after the original set of spokes.
Braided handle
A braid that is woven around the handle of a basket.
Brake
A weave brake is when you end one row or weaver and begin a new row or weaver.
Butt
To bring any two ends of material flush against each other.
Cane
Cane is made from the outer layer of the rattan vine. This is another material that can be used in basket weaving.
Chase weave
Chase weave involves two weavers being woven at the same time. The ends of the weavers are trimmed down and woven into the basket on the same side, so as the walls form, they are even. When you get to the end of one or both of the weavers, you add a new length of reed just like you would for a continuous weave.
Closed base
A basket base woven with added weavers between each stake to close the spaces between the stakes.
Continuous weave
Continuous weave is often used in a round basket where the weaver is woven around and around until you reach the end, and then you add in a new weaver.
Cross-stitching
Lashing around the basket's rim going in one direction and then repeatedly going back over the previous work in the other direction creates cross-stitch or 'x' shapes around the rim.
Crow’s feet
Used in closed base baskets to fold the filler stakes into the basket and under stakes in the base, creating 'v' shapes inside the basket.
Cut and tuck
This term refers to folding over stakes and cutting stakes around the top of a basket in preparation for the rim. The stakes in front of the top weaver get folded over the weaver, creating a "lock" holding everything in place as it gets folded into the basket's interior, trimmed down, and then tucked behind weavers in the inner wall of the basket. Stakes that sit behind the top weaver get trimmed off flush with the upper edge of the top weaver. The result is an alternating cut-and-tuck series around the top of the basket.
D handle
A handle with a flat bottom curves around to create a 'd' shape.
Double-bottom
A technique where a basket is woven with two bases. One base is woven and then a second base is woven on top.
Double wall
A basket that has an inner wall and an outer wall. Essentially, two baskets woven into one.
Dyeing
Dyeing is adding color to the reed by soaking it in a pot of boiling dye.
Ear
A point on a basket where the rim and handle intersect- lashing or weaving done around this point to hold it securely.
Frame
A support around which a basket is woven. For shaped baskets.
French randing
This technique is used to create a diagonal weave in the walls of a basket. Great for using up shorter pieces of reed. Weave the base of a basket as normal and then weave the walls up at a forty-five-degree angle.
Hairs
Small fibers that stick up on rattan reed.
Handle
Part of a basket used to carry the basket conveniently.
Hoop
A piece of wood or reed that has been formed into a ring. These can be used in ribbed baskets.
Lasher
The reed used to do lashing.
Lashing
A process of "whip stitching" around the rim to hold it in place.
Losing a lasher
Term refers to hiding the end of the reed in the rim or the weaving.
Metal and plastic clamps
Metal clamps: small spring-loaded clamps made of metal with rubber coating.
Plastic clamps: plastic spring-loaded clamps.
These are used at different stages in the basket weaving process to hold things in place and act as a third hand.
Notch
An indentation in a push-in handle that holds the handle in the wall of the basket and prevents it from coming out.
Oak splints
Strips from an oak tree that are cut and thinned to be used as stakes and weavers.
Open base
A basket base that has been woven in a grid, leaving open spaces between the stakes.
Packing
The process of sliding all layers of weavers towards the base to ensure they are tightly spaced.
Plain weave
Also known as simple weave.
Plain weave is done by following an over-one, under-one pattern of weaving.
The over-one, under-one pattern alternates from row to row so that the stakes are also going over-one, under-one vertically.
Plaited
Another term for woven.
Randing
An over-under weave done with a single weaver over an odd number of stakes.
Rattan
A climbing vine that is used to create reed for basket making. Often found in Indonesia.
Reed
Using rattan (see above), the inner core of the vine is cut into lengths of different shapes to create reed. This can be cut into round, flat, flat-oval, half-round, or oval shapes. This is then used for basket making and furniture.
Flat-oval reed
Reed that has been cut so that both sides are flat.
Flat reed
Reed that has been cut so that one side is flat and the other side has a rounded
surface.
Round reed
Reed cut in a cylinder or cut round.
Half-round reed
Reed looks like a half-moon from the end. One side is flat, and the
other side is rounded, more dramatically than the flat-oval reed.
Reed cutters or reed scissors
Sharp, short bladed scissors for cutting reed.
Rib
Round or oval pieces that form the skeleton of a basket from one side of the basket to the other.
Rim
The upper edge of the basket.
Rim filler
A piece of material placed between the inner and outer rim to fill the gap above the basket walls.
Scarf
A joint where the ends of two pieces of reed are cut so that they meet or overlap firmly.
Scarfing
Trimming down the ends of a rim reed so that the overlap of the layers of reed have less bulk.
Seagrass
A twisted rope of grass.
Sealer
A mixture of products used to seal the reed of a finished basket.
Sealing
Finish the basket with a sealer to protect it from the elements and dirt.
Soaking
Placing pieces of reed in a tub of water. The soaking process makes the reed pliable and easier to handle as you weave so that it doesn't crack or break.
Spoke weight or stake weight
A heavy metal bar used to hold stakes when setting up a basket base.
Staining
Using a stain to finish a basket and change the color of the reed to appear a different shade.
Stains
A mixture of products used to change the color of the basket reed to a desired hue.
Stakes or spokes
The pieces of reed that form the foundation of the basket. They are like the bones of the basket- creating the base and the shape.
The term stakes is typically used for baskets made of flat reed. Spokes generally refer to baskets that have ribs made of thick round reed.
Start-and-stop weave
This is one row at a time weaving. Weave around the basket, all the way around, and then overlap the ends so that they are tucked away out of sight.
Stepping up
A term used in twill weaving. Describing the process of starting a new row, one stake to the right or left of the beginning point on the previous row.
Straight tipped packer
A flat-headed awl is used in rattan basket making to pack the weavers together, assist in lashing the rim, and other techniques.
Stroke
The movement of the weaver. Each time it goes behind or in front of a stake, it is a stroke.
Twill 1-2
This twill is called a one-to-two-twill. This is when the weaver goes under one and over two around the basket and then alternates as you proceed with the rows.
Twill 2-2
This twill, called a two-to-two-twill, is where the weaver goes over two stakes and then under two. The next row alternates that pattern so that a stair-step pattern forms.
Twill weave
This technique is used to create a diagonal weave in the walls of a basket. Great for using up shorter pieces of reed. Weave the base of a basket as normal and then weave the walls up at a forty-five-degree angle.
Twining
A technique used to hold the base in shape after all the stakes have been placed and squared up. It's a process of weaving with a length of round reed that's been folded in half. The loop is placed over a stake, and then the two ends are crossed over between each stake to create a loop around the stake, and a cross between the stakes.
Upsetting
After the base has been woven and twined to hold the stakes in place, you fold the stakes upright to create a crease at the base of the stake. This begins to form the walls of the basket.
Wave
Adding a weaver into the sides of a basket that crosses over the working weavers creating an 'x' shape, called a wave, on the outside of the basket.
Weaver
A piece of reed that you are currently using to weave with. Or the pieces of reed woven into the basket's walls.
