Posts

Determining Lasher Length

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When I first started weaving someone told me that the length of the lasher needed to be two and a half times the circumference of the basket. So I would wrap the lasher around the basket two and a half times; if it was at least that long, I would start lashing. Unfortunately, I often found the lasher was too short. So I assumed that I had heard wrong, maybe it should be three times around, but that didn’t work consistently either. It was so frustrating to have my lasher run out one or two stakes from being finished!!

So, being me, I started to analyze when I ran out and when I didn’t. Which was correct – two and a half times around the basket or three times around the basket or …?? I took notes, lots of notes. I know, I know, you are thinking this lady is crazy and you are probably right, but I did learn a lot! Read more

Double X Basket Lashing with Waxed Linen

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Today I am posting a tutorial on another way to double lash your basket. Last month, I posted ‘Lashing a Basket with Waxed Linen‘ and, in that post, I showed how to lash with waxed linen and how to do a V lash. This tutorial will show you how to lash a basket going around the basket once and creating a double lash with a double X on each lash. If you are new to lashing with waxed linen you may want to read  ‘Lashing your Basket a Waxed Linen‘ to learn how to start the lasher, add on, and end the lasher.

The Double X Lashing

Starting just to the right of the overlaps (to the left, if you weave left handed), secure the waxed linen and thread it from outside to inside in the next space.
Double X Lashing 1 Read more

Lashing a Basket with Waxed Linen

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I lash a lot of baskets with waxed linen; I weave tight, I weave small, I weave with stakes close together – waxed linen works for me. And I like the way it looks. Lashing a basket with waxed linen is much like lashing with a length of reed, but there are some key differences.

What you need:  

Waxed linen – I typically use 4-ply for regular sized baskets.

Tapestry Needle – use a size that is easy to thread and not to large or to small for the basket you are lashing.

Starting the lasher:

Cut a three – four foot length of waxed linen, thread your needle and, going from outside to inside, insert it into a space just to the left of your rim overlap (to the right if you are left handed and will be lashing from left to right). Pull the needle and waxed linen through until you have a tail of about four (4) inches on the outside of your basket.

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