08/17/2026
A few weeks ago I extracted some thin fibres from the lower sections of cattail (Typhus x glauca) leaves, and twined them into a tiny basket.
I snipped the bottoms off some cattail leaves and set the tops aside for other projects. Then I separated long, thin fibres from the edges of the bottoms of the cattail leaves, selecting some even, flat ones for the spokes.
After spritzing the 8” spokes and long weavers with water and letting them mellow in a damp tea towel for about 10 minutes, I fastened the spokes to a clipboard and plaited them (can you spot the mistake I didn’t notice until I finished the basket?!)
I folded a long weaver almost in half and started twining around the spokes while still on the clipboard, removing the spokes when they were stabilized. Twisting the weavers while I twined gave them more tensile strength.
When a weaver ran short I paired it with a new one for a few twines before dropping the old one.
When the base was big enough it was time to turn up the sides. I turned the top of the base towards me, and the spokes away from me, so they were 90° from the base. This allowed me to continue twining around the outside of the basket, where there was room for my fingers to work.
I twined around the sides, using even tension to keep the spokes upright, until the sides were tall enough. Then I folded each spoke towards the outside of the basket, and twined around it to secure it (I did this for three rows).
Then I threaded the weavers through the spoke loops to prevent the spokes from pulling out of the three rows of twining when they were snugged down. This also served to secure the weavers, and stabilize the rim 💕🌿
