Whether in a book or a video – braiding instructions can be found everywhere on the Internet. Well-intentioned and sometimes nice to look at. But are these instructions really any good?
Foto: Pixabay
All of these instructions have one thing in common: the viewer is missing the third dimension. And conveying this in text or speech is usually more difficult than possible. For simple two-dimensional woven objects, this may still be within the realm of possibility. But as soon as it becomes spatial, you quickly reach your limits when it comes to explanations. Then pleasure quickly turns into frustration. And in such cases you can’t ask anyone questions. Beginners in particular run the risk of losing the fun of the thing if the failed attempts do not lead to the desired or hoped-for result.
You simply have to feel the braiding and handling of the braiding material and develop a feeling for how the material behaves during braiding. You don’t learn this from a book or a video. One of the reasons why training to become a basket maker or now a wickerwork designer still takes three years.
Obtaining suitable braiding material also poses challenges. I am constantly asked whether you can braid freshly cut willow branches.
My answer to that is: In principle, yes.
However, you usually won’t be able to enjoy what you want to braid with it for long. For more information, see my FAQ: Can freshly cut willow branches be braided immediately?
Braiding instructions in words and/or pictures may be able to convey the theory, but are far from practical. If you really want to try braiding seriously, the best option is to take a course. Here, course participants can always be addressed depending on the situation, small tips and tricks on how to use the material are given and questions are answered directly. This may be more expensive than a book or free videos on the Internet. But in a small group it’s not nearly as frustrating as throwing everything away alone in a quiet little room after the umpteenth failed attempt.
So my conclusion to such braiding instructions: Everything is well-intentioned, but not suitable for beginners to implement the braiding craft well and achieve a satisfactory result. For advanced people it may be inspiration for new braiding projects – but nothing more.
And if you ask if I offer braiding courses: No, not at the moment.
However – using the search engines on the Internet, you can find enough good braiding courses, even those lasting several days, from Denmark to Spain. Always an experience for those who are seriously interested and maybe the lichen bug will bite you. The braiding techniques of the respective regions can also differ greatly from one another.
Something I was able to experience in 2013 at the German-French weaving meeting in Ludwigsburg. Over two days I learned a technique that presented me with new challenges, even though I am a trained basket maker. Combined with a camping holiday, an unforgettable experience.
Another tip for recommended courses is the annual basket market in September in Lichtenfels, the basket town with the only basket school in Germany.
Further information about the courses at https://www.flechtworkshops.de/
But in France, more precisely Bouxurulles, there is also the opportunity to be taught something by international basket makers every May. Various weaving courses always take place at the festival around the pasture.