John White, making a stake and strand basket, 1959. School of Scottish Studies, Kissling archive,1959

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 techniques on the one basket. As such a description of  what is involved would be very extensive. The following is a brief version of the form.

Firstly the base is woven. Then ‘stakes’ are pushed in or attached to that base, to create the structure of the side. Once the sides are woven, these stakes are then used to create the border at the top. It is the material that is used to weave the side that is the ‘strand’.                                

This method is usually used with willow, although sometimes other materials are used for the side with willow being the base and structure.

For more detailed instructions on how to make these kind of baskets see the many books available including ‘Basketmaking’ by Georgia Crook.

We do not know how the technique came to Scotland. The traditional baskets that were constructed using stake and strand are the crans and the great line baskets. There seem to be very few baskets actually made in Scotland that used this form before the 19th century.

Lise Bech has documented her method of weaving a curling basket, which is a stake and strand technique. See How to make a curling basket