Threads 5: Making a tray, a great opportunity for basket makers

I made my first basket when I was about eight years old in England. It was a wastepaper basket, using round reed, a.k.a, center cane*, and a wooden base.

In Canada basketmakers seldom use wooden bases, but they do make the most wonderful trays, with basketry sides.

Made of plywood, they can be square, round or oval and any size. Using a drill, the holes are made about 3/4 of an inch apart and half an inch in from the edge. They must be made to fit the size of material that is going to be used for the stakes, which can be either round reed or willow.

The length of the stakes is important, you will need sufficient length to make a foot border and the border that you choose for the top. Typically, they must be at least 12”-15” for a foot border, a 2” side and a top border. Be generous rather than mean.

The most exciting part is how to decorate the surface of the tray, which must be done before the weaving. Here there are endless possibilities.

Acrylic paint is ideal for those who paint. Patterned shelf paper can be attractive. You also & can use decoupage - the art of decorating an object by gluing coloured paper cutouts. I happened to be teaching in a medium security women’s prison at one time, and everybody in the class made a tray. I suggested decoupage and took a pile of magazines. Their choice of subjects amused me: motorbikes and wine bottles.
Raised handles can also be made by building up either end with a few beads. Be sure to allow extra stake length.

To start. Make sure your material is really well soaked, and insert each stake and make the foot border, going behind in front behind each stake.

Next, you weave the sides in pairing weave. You have the option to insert beads after 2 rows. The top border can be woven in a variety of ways. If you are a basket maker you can find instructions in most basketry books. You can also find instructions on the Internet. Here is a good YouTube video.

2 trays I made. The round one is for carrying out meals in the garden and is 24” across. The rectangular one is 18” x 12”.

Use of beads: Beads can be used at the handles to assist in holding the tray and to add a visual focus.

Close up of beads and raised handle.

*If you live in North America you talk about round reed. Elsewhere you talk about the center cane. We basket makers have to be bilingual!