Dominic Parrette
Dominic is a basketmaker and coppice worker with over ten years experience in teaching his craft.
He makes a woven willow structures, organic forms and frame baskets using a range of traditional and contemporary techniques.
Willow basketry – an oval frame basket with Dominic Parrette
Ref: S2D40615
About this course
Learn to make an attractive and useful willow basket using traditional frame basketry techniques. You will make willow hoops and rims to construct your frame, then set ribs before filling with a willow packing weave.
Course Description
This course will teach you techniques to make an oval basket using a frame basket technique. You will learn all the construction techniques required to make a frame basket: setting hoops and ribs, as well as randing and packing weaves. The ultimate aim is to learn or improve your frame basketry technique, with particular emphasis on frame construction.
You will start with the construction of willow hoops and rims to make the frame and handle, and then you will form the frame by setting these components together. A randing weave will be used throughout the basket, with additional ribs added as the basket builds. You will learn a weaving technique known as packing, as a necessary part of frame basket construction.
The skills learnt will include: materials selection, preparation and use; use of jigs to set frame shape; techniques to set hoops accurately; setting ribs with symmetry and packing as a weaving technique. You will gain an understanding of how to construct a three-dimensional woven form using frame basket techniques.
Course Materials
Included
On this course, the tutor will supply all the materials.
What students need to bring
- Apron
- Sturdy footwear with covered toes
- Sharp secateurs or side cutters (if possible)
- Camera (optional) to record techniques
Additional information
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
Timetable
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
General Information
Tutors
Accommodation
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
Further study options
Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study.
Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.