What is basketry ?

Basketry is a craft that involves twining and weaving flexible materials together to make a container known as baskets. You can use a wide variety of materials in basket weaving although, plant materials like rushes, wicker, bamboo, grasses and barks are the most common. Wools and thread can also be used in making a basket. Many cultures practices this craft and most of the beautiful examples of basketry can be found in museums.
No one is actually sure how long basketry have been practiced due to the materials used were subject to rot. Archeologists believe that basketry is at least 10,000 years old or longer. A regular basket is very easy to make and can be used to store wide varieties of things, like grains, caught fish, personal belongings, and can do different tasks depending on the design.
You can use spokes and stakes in making the basket’s framework, depending on the desired design and style. The frame’s element are connected firmly before making the basket, this gives the shape and the basic outline and for the finished product’s support. Most of the time, the framework are made of much larger and stronger material than the materials used for weaving to make the basket capable of bearing load.
After finishing the framework, the craftsperson can start twining or weaving materials around it. Simple weaving is commonly use in making a basic basket, but there are different type of style in designing a basket that can create unique woven patterns as well as using materials with different texture or color. The finished product can be a functional household good or a work of art.