Tree barks provide one of nature’s most beautiful materials for basket making. This course will begin with a hands-on discussion covering the harvesting and preparation of local tree barks.  With a selection of willow barks and red cedar bark participants will explore techniques such as plaiting, twill and twining. Principles of designing a basket and variations in weaving patterns will be covered. Sample baskets will be on hand for inspiration. To Register: email Joan at mailto:workshops@joancarrigan.com Time: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm…

This 5-Day course is being offered through forestART: Art in Nature at Ness Creek 2018, Saskatchewan  Course Description: Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures. Within the world of basketry there exists a wide variety of construction techniques which employ a vast array of plant materials. This course will offer a broad introduction to techniques such as twining, cordage, coiling and random weave construction. An emphasis will be on the sculptural potentials of each of these techniques.…

I am very excited to be offering a Series of Mini Basketry Workshops held one Sunday Morning a Month from January to April on Salt Spring Island. These workshops offer a fun introduction to several different basketry techniques. Great for beginners but also a fun atmosphere to come and hang and weave together. Sun. January 13 – Open Weave Twined Basket  $45 Sun. March 10 – Covered Core Coiling with Yarn  $45 (rescheduled to this date) Sun. March 17 –…

This Course is being offered at the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts. Register on their website. Soft natural plant fibres such as rush, sedge, cattail and flower leaves offer the basket maker a beautiful material for weaving fine twined vessels. Participants will have the opportunity to weave with these materials exploring various methods of starting round and square bases. The focus will be on twining techniques but within this there are many variations. Other weaving patterns such as…

Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures in a wide variety of forms. In this course we will be exploring weaving techniques associated with Round Materials such as round reed and willow. A variety of weaving techniques will be covered including open weave twining, waling variations, rib construction and random weave. These techniques offer a solid frame work allowing us to focus on shaping and pattern design. Demonstration and discussion will cover how to harvest and prepare…

Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures in a wide variety of forms. In this course we will be exploring weaving techniques associated with Flat Materials such as tree barks, wood/reed splints, cane and paper. A variety of techniques will be covered including plaiting, twills, diagonal plaiting and single sheet free form construction. These techniques offer a broad exposure to weaving with flat material and we will finish several projects of diverse approach and material. Demonstration and…

This is a variation of an oval Rib basket which has 2 built-in side handles often called a potato basket. We will be using willow for the hoop and a combination of dyed reed and seagrass for the weaving. This is a lovely storage and display basket perfect for the kitchen or holding craft supplies etc. This workshop is being held at my studio on Salt Spring Island. To register: email Joan at info@joancarrigan.com  

Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures in a wide variety of forms. In this course we will be exploring weaving techniques and variations associated with Soft Materials such as rush, sedges, iris/daylily leaves, yarn and threads. A variety of techniques will be covered including twining, coiling, cordage, knotless netting and knotting. These techniques offer a broad exposure to weaving with soft material and we will finish several projects of diverse approach and material. Demonstration and discussion…

Weave this lovely carrying basket for everyday use or keep as a decorative storage basket. This basket is woven with a twill weave using natural and dyed reed and has a sturdy swing handle. A great project for beginner weavers. This workshop is being offered at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific in Victoria, BC To Register: Call HCP at 250-479-6162

Explore the sculptural design possibilities of the Wicker Basketry technique when starting with a wood base. Bases will be provided along with dyed round reed and a selection of natural materials to incorporate into this sculptural basket. In the process of weaving this basket, participants will learn control of shaping as well as a variety of weaving patterns. The rich variety of colour and design options makes for a fun and creative experience. This workshop is being offered at the…

This is a 4-day course being offered through Maiwa School of Textiles in Vancouver, BC. To Register follow the link to their website: Maiwa School of Textiles Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures in a wide variety of forms. In this course students will explore weaving techniques associated with flat materials, such as plaiting twill, flat and three-dimensional diagonal plaiting, and single sheet free-form construction. These techniques offer a broad exposure to basketry construction. Participants will…

Come weave a beautiful individualized small pouch with plant materials harvested from the Pacific Northwest. I use my pouch to hold my cell phone so make sure you bring yours with you. We will begin with a discussion on how to respectfully harvest materials followed by a hands-on demonstration of how to prepare the materials including cedar bark, willow bark and sedge. Participants can design their pouch using different weave patterns presented which include a variety of plaiting, twining and…

Willow bark is a lovely material for basket weaving and this project is a perfect way to show it off. We will be weaving this unique shaped pouch/purse which is also beautiful to hang on the wall. We will incorporate other locally harvested materials such as sedges and Cedar bark and explore techniques such as plaiting and twining variations. Discussion and demonstrations will cover how to harvest and prepare these locally foraged materials. This workshop is being offered at the Horticultural Centre of the…

This is a 4-day course being offered through Maiwa School of Textiles in Vancouver, BC. To Register follow the link to their website: Maiwa School of Textiles Basket weaving is an ancient skill found in all cultures in a wide variety of forms. In this course students will explore weaving techniques associated with round materials, such as open weave twining, wicker/wailing variations, rib construction, and random weave. These four techniques offer a broad-based exposure to basketry and permit experimentation with shaping…

Joan will be taking us on a visual journey, touching down on some of the highlights of her 30 years of exploring Basket Weaving. Along the way she will share her story of how she got swept up in the world of baskets; spotlight some of her influential teachers; take us on a few of her journeys of discovery; illustrate the diversity of basketry by sharing some of her favourite basket materials and how they are harvested and prepared; and…

This is a traditional Rib Style Basket often called a Potato Basket constructed with a willow hoop and woven with a selection of materials including dyed reed and seagrass. This style of basket originates in Europe and is ideal for harvesting and storage. This is a great basket for beginners. Online via Zoom. Material Kits to make the basket will be provided and will be available for pick up at HCP at a confirmed date. If you do not live…

Random weave is one of Joan’s favorite styles of baskets. The structure is beautiful, reminding one of birds’ nests. It is strong, durable and lends itself to sculptural forms in both small and large scale. We will discuss several ways of approaching this technique. A materials kit will be provided consisting of dyed round reed for the construction of this basket. Discussion will cover how to harvest and forage for other plant material suitable for this technique. Online via Zoom.…

We will explore weaving baskets with soft materials such as rush, sedge and flower leaves such as iris and daylily leaves. These materials are lovely to weave with and offer the opportunity to explore various twining patterns. Shaping soft twined baskets can be done with or without molds and both options will be presented. The ancient skill of making cordage will also be explored. Discussion will cover the identification of useful plants you might find in the garden, sustainable harvest…