Finished size 5" wide x 4½" high
How to Make a Piedmont Planter
Materials:    #3 round reed
Supplies Needed:
Container for soaking reed
Tape measure or yard stick
Scissors or cutters
Pencil
Step I:
LAYING OUT THE BASE AND BEGINNING TO WEAVE
Cut 12 pieces of the #3 round reed 20" long.
Make a pencil mark at the half way point (at 10") on each piece.
Soak them, along with a 4' - 5' very flexible piece, in cool water for 2 or 3 minutes.
Place 6 of the 12 pieces on a flat surface, horizontally, with the other 6 on top, vertically.
SEE DIAGRAM 1. Align the center marks.   
With the long soaked weaver, begin to twine around the 12 pieces (henceforth called spokes ) by folding it almost in half around one set of the horizontal spokes as in DIAGRAM 2.   
NOTE: Leave one end about 5" longer than the other so they don't end at the same time.
In twining, the two pieces of the weaver move over and under the spokes in a clockwise direction. Right now, you are treating the groups of 6 pieces as "one spoke". One stroke is a weaver moving over a spoke, and under the next spoke. The weaver that was on top the last row, is under the next, always picking the top piece up first and moving it under the next spoke. Notice how the weavers "twist" between spokes as you alternate "overs" and "unders". Consult DIAGRAMS 3, 4, and 5 for one complete revolution of twining.



DIAGRAM 6 shows 2 complete revolutions made.
STEP II: SPLICING A WEAVER
When one end of a weaver, with which you are twining, runs out, begin a new one by overlapping the end of a new piece beside the old one. Do this ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE YOU ARE WEAVING. The pressure of your hand and the next row of twining will hold the new piece in place. Go back later and cut the 2 ends so they "butt" together.
See DIAGRAM 7.
STEP III: DIVIDING THE SPOKES
At this point, after two rows of twining, divide the spokes into pairs, beginning with the first two in the set with which you began. See DIAGRAM 8.   
From now on every pair of spokes will be referred to as "one".
Continue twining in the same manner as before, using one piece and then the other to move over and under. KEEP A CONSTANT CHECK ON THE SHAPE OF YOUR BASE, MAKING SURE IT IS STAYING ROUND.
See DIAGRAM 9.   
NOTE: THE DRAWINGS ARE SHOWN LOOSELY WOVEN FOR CLARITY ONLY, IN REALITY, THEY SHOULD FIT VERY SNUGLY TOGETHER.
Twine until the base measures approximately 4" across. Wet the whole base again if it has dried. At this point, all the splices of weavers are on the bottom of the base. The bottom of the base will become the inside of the basket. Lift the base off the surface, turn it over and bend all the stakes so they stand upright. You can now hold the basket and continue twining the sides in a clockwise direction FROM THE OUTSIDE.
STEP IV: WEAVING THE SIDES AND BORDER
DIAGRAM 10   
shows the bottom all twined and the sides started to turn upward. Simply continue to weave up the sides in the same manner as you constructed the base. The only difference is that you aren't weaving on a flat surface now.
Remember that the pairs of spokes are treated as "one". Splice new weavers just as before, overlapping ends, on the inside of the basket.

Twine up the sides for 2-1/2" or as high as you want (as long as you have 4" or 5" of the spokes left with which to make the border). NOTE: Make every effort to make the sides stand straight and not flare.

When your desired height is reached, refer to DIAGRAM 11 (a view of the outside of the basket)   
to make the border, and bend each spoke group to the RIGHT, behind the spoke group to IT'S RIGHT and to the OUTSIDE.

Once all the spokes are turned outward, begin anywhere and, looking at DIAGRAM 12   
push each one back to the INSIDE, going under the "bent spoke" to the right. SEE the "cut ends" on the drawing of the finished basket at the top of this page. You must cut the ends of the spokes so they lie comfortably inside the basket.

reprinted with permission
©1987, Commonwealth Mfg., Co.

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The Country Seat, Inc.
Learn to weave a basket
1013 Old Philly Pike
Kempton, Pennsylvania 19529-9321 USA
Phone: 610-756-6124
e-mail: weaving@countryseat.com
Fax: 610-756-0088
web site: www.countryseat.com

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