Appalachian White Oak Basketmaking: Handing Down Basket

I’ve not made a rib basket before, so I was interested in learning the techniques.

I learned to weave baskets but wanted to go further and make them from the beginning which involves selecting cutting and splitting a tree. More than half of the work in making a white oak basket is material procurement and modification. The weaving is the easy part, so to speak. This book is well written and easy to understand as someone who has basket making experience. You don’t need to have a lot of experience with hand tools to understand what they are explaining. . . .but it helps.There is also a considerable section of text devoted to different baskets you can weave from white oak. Nicely done with good photos and drawings. If you are interested in learning this time honored craft, then I highly recommend the book.

We used the book to help date some of the unique weaving patterns of the baskets; most of which were northeastern U.S. and the surrounding mountain areas. If you don't know what the baskets were originally designed to do (gathering, carrying, cleaning) then it's harder to determine age and the intent of the weaver.

Highly recommend.

Good

expert information at a great price.

Good job all around

I love this book! There are a couple of pictures of my Great Grandpa Bird Owsley in it.