Cane Basket Work: A Practical Manual on Weaving Useful and Fancy Baskets

By Annie Firth

“Cane Work” is a classic guide to weaving baskets, offering the reader simple instructions on how to make a variety of baskets, ranging from the simple and practical to ornate and decorative. With easy-to-follow directions and helpful illustrations, this timeless guide is perfect for anyone with a practical interest in weaving. Contents include: “Materials”, “Terms in Use”, “Directions for Workers”, “Finishing Touches”, “General Instructions”, “Remarks on Borders”, “Fancy Baskets”, “Flower basket, Waste Paper Basket, and Table Basket”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on basket making. Ben TO DO

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: May 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781473383388

Book preview

CANE

BASKET WORK:

A PRACTICAL MANUAL

ON

WEAVING USEFUL AND FANCY BASKETS.

ILLUSTRATED.

BY

ANNIE FIRTH.

FRONTISPIECE.—(See page 74).

FLOWER BASKET, WASTE PAPER BASKET, AND TABLE BASKET.

Contents

PREFACE.

THE aim of this little book is to give the public really practical instruction in a valuable but much neglected handicraft, which it is hoped our English public will be persuaded to take up practically, or support those who do, by purchasing the manufactured articles. Much good must result by the establishment of a new and remunerative industry. Cane Basket Work is making rapid strides, and has become one of the subjects taught in our schools, both private and public, and I trust this little book will materially assist both teachers and taught, as well as self-learners. As a light and agreeable occupation for amateurs, I believe it will become one of the most popular of the future. I can only add that I shall be most happy to give any further information that may be required if those in difficulties will write to me.

ANNIE FIRTH.

21, Doddington Grove,

    Kennington Park, S.E.

CANE BASKET WORK.

INTRODUCTORY.

BASKET-MAKING, in the ordinary acceptation of the word, and Cane Basket Work, are not synonymous terms, though the articles produced may serve identical purposes. This comparatively new industry is now claiming attention in a remarkable way from more than one important class of the community; and if properly worked from a commercial point of view, it may prove of immense value to the country.

Until recently, however, it has had difficulties of no mean kind to hinder its development, the greatest being the price of the canes. But for those who take up cane work as an amusement it is much less expensive than most of the arts which come within the reach of amateur skill, two pounds of cane being enough for the production of several really handsome articles, besides many smaller, which can be made of the short discarded pieces; and instead of the outlay in expensive tools, which is so often the starting-point of the amateur, all that is absolutely necessary may be found in every household.

Capitalists, however, are afraid to risk their money in the development of an industry so closely allied to the willow work, material for which can be obtained at less cost, and as yet no one seems alive to the fact that it is possible to buy it in large quantities for trade purposes. And this is absolutely necessary if a trade is to be established which will provide employment for any fair proportion of the many among the working classes who are endeavouring to earn an honest livelihood by means of our overcrowded labour market.

Various kinds of foreign products find their way into it, and thousands of pounds are annually paid for foreign basket-work only. Coarse heavy articles, such as clothes baskets, hampers, etc., are largely made and sold in England; but large English buyers are unable to procure in their own country the lovely little baskets of