The oldest known baskets have been unearthed in Upper Egypt where radiocarbon dating have shown them to be between 10,000 and 12,000 years old. Our ancestors needed and made baskets as carrying vessels and containers. Basket making survives in many parts of the world today continuing this ancient of arts. It has undergone a contemporary revival of interest among craftspeople. Sewers too have embraced the art of basketry, translating the use of traditional natural plant materials, like reeds, vines and pliable woods into fabric, threads and a kaleidoscope of colors. Fabric coiled baskets are counted among the textile arts today.
Natural basketry is generally known by five types - coiled basketry using grasses and rushes, plaiting uses materials ribbon-like plants, such as palms or yucca, twining uses materials from roots and tree bark and wicker and splint baskets use reed, cane, willow, oak and ash.
The Anasazi, ancient peoples who lived in the American Southwest from 6,000 B.C. to 1350 A.D., made beautiful intricately patterned close-coiled baskets. Their baskets were woven so tightly they could even hold water.
The Native American collection at the Oregon Historical Society has on exhibit several Native basket motifs: flat twined bags, parfleches (flat, envelope type suitcase), beaded bags, coiled baskets, and round twined bags.
Fabric or rag baskets easily lend themselves to coiling and are fun any time of the year as well as a great way to make use of fabric scraps. All that is needed is a yard or two of fabric torn into 1 1/2" - 2" long strips, some craft coiling cord (also called cotton cord piping) or even cotton or synthetic clothesline and a large-eye plastic yarn needle. For a more 'finished' looking basket, scissor cut your fabric into bias strips. Fabric covered cords can even be purchased pre-wrapped to use for baskets or rug making.
For project instructions and tutorials on this textile art visit:
Coiled-Rag Basket from DIY Network
Coiled Fabric Basket from HGTV’s The Carol Duvall Show
How-to Make Fabric Baskets by Bead Kits Plus
Coiled Basket by FamilyFun.com
Trait-tex Baskets (Coiling) project submitted by Darinda Teeling
It is generally thought that fabric weaving may have evolved from rope making and mat or basket weaving from ancient times. For more history on basketry, view a presentation by NativeTech: Native American Technology and Art as the website follows a Weaving Life, Coiling History and Background, Coiling Techniques and much more.
Sew happy, sew well.
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