Author Archives: Dawn Susan
Curling Baskets

In order to give this basket the strength required to carry approx. 40lbs the slath sticks also form the stakes and the border! My attempt to make the basket in the late 1990’ies was not entirely successful partly due to …Continue reading “Curling Baskets”
Strathnaver Museum

Here is the basket collection at Strathnaver Museum, Sutherland from Joanne B Kaar.
Fruit Picking Gallery

See also Crown Point fruit box makers
The Great Bernera Ciosan

This ciosan is of particular significance because of it having a handle. It is made of marram grass and we know that this marram grass was harvested off the north side of Great Bernera on the Isle of Kealasay. There was …Continue reading “The Great Bernera Ciosan”
Coiled Baskets

These baskets are made by stitching around a wad of material that is constantly being added to. This addition is to maintain an even coil. The basket starts with the base and then pushing the coils upwards creates the sides. …Continue reading “Coiled Baskets”
Stake and Strand Basketry

This is a more complicated construction than coiling or frame basketry. According to Willeke Wendrich, Professor of Egyptian Archealogy and Digital Humanities, University of California, this basketry form was originally developed by the Romans. It does involve several different …Continue reading “Stake and Strand Basketry”
A visit to Bernera Museum, Isle of Great Bernera, Western Isles

19 February 2013 Today I visited my local museum, a couple of miles away from my croft. It is a very small museum with only 4 baskets. Three of these are fishing baskets, two small line frame baskets and a …Continue reading “A visit to Bernera Museum, Isle of Great Bernera, Western Isles”