Anna A. Gill

“ Basket work is a valuable aid in the character building of the child, for, through it can be given lessons in patience, perseverance and concentration, while truth and honesty can be effectually impressed on the worker, resulting in the gradual though steady developing of the will power. ”

“ With No. 2 weavers, weave three rows in twirl effect around one spoke, until about 41⁄2 inches are woven up on the spokes, then considering both spokes of handle as one, continue the weaving until you are opposite to where the spokes are joined. Now coil the weaver around one spoke to the end of the handle, bringing the weaver each time down under the tray and up on the other side of spoke. Treat the other spoke in the same manner until both spokes are uniform. Hold the weaver tightly throughout the weaving of the handle. A loosely twisted coil makes a very poor handle. ”

“ The child of seven or eight years may make a simple mat and basket and find it play work, while the older child may make beautiful useful baskets and trays for the home.
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Originality in the child has full play and should always be encouraged since the field of work in this ground is abundant; and he should never be discouraged, no matter how loose the weaving may be nor how crude it may look: he will soon be able, through comparison, to discover his mistakes and correct the poor work. ”

“ Draw the weaver first over the handle, then under the handle. About two inches above where the handle is inserted, pass the weaver over the handle and carry it to inside of basket, under the border. Twist the weaver around the handle twenty-one times. Pass it down under the border to the outside of basket; three more twists complete one row of the handle.
Now run the weaver to inside of basket, between the third and fourth rows of triple twist, cross, and bring to outside of basket at the left of handle. The weave is continued around the handle, forming a cross at every twist in the handle. ”

“ Basket making, which handwork the children love best to do, not only develops their judgment, makes keen their observation, makes them discriminating, but it has a stimulating effect upon their minds and awakens in them the desire to put forth their best efforts. Hanging baskets, scrap baskets, trays, etc., mean something more to them than a piece of basket work done merely because of its utility. ”

“ Instinctively they recognize the true intrinsic value of the work and that they are real workers, but also it is the beauty and the surprises in basketry development that has its strong and attractive appeal for them. ”

“ First row of triple should rest on the base of basket, while the other two rows should be slightly upward on the sides. Finish with following border: Holding the under side of basket or bottom of tray toward you and weaving to right, place one group of spokes in front of next group, back of second group to the right, front of third group, back of fourth group, in front of fifth group to the right. Bring115 the spokes out to the front and down through the two rows of triple weave. Each group is worked out in same manner, until all groups are facing the weaver. ”

“ Three ounces165 of alum to one quart of water makes a good mordant for many vegetable dyes.
Beautiful shades of brown, green, blue and red may be obtained by using logwood, indigo, fustic, cutch, madder, cochineal, and copperas. A very pleasing finish is secured by painting or staining the article with Light Oil Finish, combining it with turpentine in whatever proportion desired. Malachite green stain used with turpentine and Light Oil Finish make a very attractive pale green. The alert basket maker, who desires to experiment, must be on the watch in the autumn for natural dyeing material. ”

“ Children, especially boys, find it fascinating and it is a work which appeals to them in all their moods; frequently when they are unable to do any other kind of school work they turn with delight to basketry. ”

“ Our reorganized school systems show what a specific educational value manual training has, not alone in the manual skill which the child attains, but also in the mental, moral and economic values which it gains. ”

“ The holes should be made about one inch apart. Insert the 52 spokes and make foundation stand as described under preceding model. Be careful that the board is perfectly dry before placing the cretonne upon it. Keep the spokes moist by using a wet sponge; be careful not to allow any water to get under the glass while weaving. Best results are obtained by staining the board first and then weaving a dyed reed; good results, however, may be obtained by making the tray in natural reed first and then staining the board and reed. ”

“ No. 4 for the spokes, which form the foundation upon and around which No. 2, as the weaver, is woven.
The weaving of a round mat or basket is begun in the center and woven out toward the end. It is absolutely necessary that beginners master the fundamental steps, for no basket can be well made that has a poor bottom. In order to avoid this, the mat is practised upon until the art of weaving a good center is accomplished. ”

“ The leaves and flowers of plants, the bark of trees, berries, etc., may be used most successfully in obtaining very desirable dye, and with patience and care beautiful and delicate shades may be obtained from vegetable dyes.
The following recipes may be used for vegetable dyeing:
Brown
Dissolve two teaspoonfuls of madder in one quart of water. Allow the reed to soak in it five hours.
Yellow Brown No. 1
Soak the reed for several hours in logwood166 extract—obtained by boiling logwood chips in water twenty minutes. ”

“ Basketry is an important factor in the promotion of education. Its wide influence is felt not only in the class room but in homes, settlement work, blind institutions, asylums, in fact in institutions of allxiii kinds. ”

“ A weaver is placed under the left-hand horizontal group and simple weaving is woven over one group and under another until four rows are completed. The spokes are then separated into groups of twos by bringing the weavers over and under every two spokes instead of four. This may be finished32 either in simple weaving with one weaver, or by inserting another weaver, in pairing. ”

“ Sequence in basketry should be followed carefully with beginners, and although it will be impossible to give in detail all the steps included in the subject, the most essential and important will be given, with many suggestions in models for advanced workers. ”

“ The celebrating of the holiday seasons can be nicely carried out in the manual training period when the making of birthday gifts, Christmas trays, Easter baskets, sewing baskets, hanging baskets and scrap baskets can be appropriately introduced. ”

“ Second row, carry each spoke over the next 3 spokes and down to the outside of basket where it rests under the fourth spoke. Cut off the ends sharply.
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CHAPTER XIII
A FEW WORDS ON DYEING
The art of dyeing has been of interest to the peoples of all nations and in all ages. History shows us that just so soon as man’s covering or clothing, the furs and skins of animals, was discarded for wool, linen or cotton materials, just so soon was the desire or want for colors made manifest. Man began the study of coloring, of staining and dyeing ”

“ These dyestuffs, used of course with a mordant, produce beautiful shades, which are fast to water and light.
Perhaps no greater nor more remarkable changes have been made in any industry than in that of dyeing, for, the saving of labor, energy, time and money by the use of modern chemical agencies is163 of a magnitude not easily appreciable. New ways have completely supplanted the old. ”

“ Yellow Brown No. 2
Mix in a quart of water two tablespoonfuls of cutch extract, adding one and a half tablespoonfuls of fustic. Boil the reed in this solution for two hours, but test.
Olive Brown No. 1
Dissolve two tablespoonfuls of cutch, two tablespoonfuls of fustic, and one-half spoonful of logwood in a quart of water. ”