Willow Archives - Hanna Van Aelst

How to start growing willow for basket making.

by Hannah Van Aelst | Jan 4, 2023 | Willow

How to start growing willow for basket making. A question I get asked a lot is how do I get started growing willow? How much area do I need to plant? What varieties would you recommend? Let’s dive into all of that here. But firstly I want to say I do not have...

Coppicing vs. pollarding willow for basket making

by Hannah Van Aelst | May 12, 2022 | Uncategorized, Willow

I often get asked about why we leave some of our willow on higher stems (pollarding). In this video I dive a little deeper into that question....

A love letter to willow

by Hannah Van Aelst | Jan 10, 2022 | Willow

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A walk through the willow beds (September 2021)

by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow

Come along as I walk through my willow beds and point out some issues with pests and diseases now visible, my thoughts on how to manage willow and willow...

How to prepare willow for basket making

by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow

The one question I get asked the most is on how to prepare willow. Does it need to be dry before weaving, how to make it flexible again, how to soak, and what about steaming? In this video I go deep into all of those questions. Time stamps are provided in the video...

Grading willow (sorting willow by size)

by Hannah Van Aelst | Sep 10, 2021 | Willow

Once willow is cut and brought home the work is not finished. As each stool produces willow of different lengths and thickness I will go through each bundle to grade them by size. This means I put a bundle in a barrel, with a measuring stick beside it. First I take...