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NESTING SET OF SHAKER CAT HEAD BOWLS This set of nesting bowls is great for gifts as well as being very useful around the house. All three are woven with 1/2" flat reed for spokes and 1/4" flat oval for weavers. The length of your spokes, the base size and the number of rows woven on the sides is the only difference for each basket. Your shaping is very important to achieve the cat head design. From the very first row of weaving you must pull the spokes out toward you as you weave the sides. Keep the base flat on the work surface for the first three rows. Starting with the completion of row three, you will start to shape the basket bottom. Pick the basket up off the table and with the spokes pointed away from you place your thumbs on the bottom center of the basket and your fingers between the spokes on the sides, gently push the base of the basket away from you. You are pushing the base of the basket up and pulling the sides out. Now turn the basket and place your hands on the opposite sides of the basket and repeat the pushing in the base and pulling out on the sides. You will need to do this after each row of weaving for the first 2" on the small and medium size basket and for the first 3" on the large basket. After completing 2" of weaving, (3" on the large basket) you will begin pulling the weaving tighter and pushing the spokes in as you weave. You will not need to continue the shaping of the bottom. Be sure to bring the spokes in gradually. You have several rows of weaving to accomplish this. If you begin by pulling too tight at the start you will create "bubbles" in the previous rows of weaving. Below you will find the base sizes and the finished size for each basket. Enjoy!! Materials: 1/2" flat reed for spokes, 3/16" flat oval for weavers, 3/8" flat reed for last row of weaving, 1/2" flat oval for the rims, seagrass for rim filler or #6 round reed dyed. Lash the rim in place with medium binder cane or flexible 1/4" flat oval. These baskets are beautiful all natural or with a few rows of color at the very top of the basket. (The last three rows of 1/4") Base: For the small basket, cut 10 spokes 18" long and mark the centers of the spokes on the rough side. Lay out your base weaving 5 spokes over 5 spokes. It will measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". Finished height of the basket is 4 1/2". For the medium basket, cut 14 spokes 22" long and mark the center on the rough side. Lay out your base weaving 7 spokes over 7 spokes. The base will measure 5" x 5". The finished height of the basket is 5 3/4" . For the large basket cut 18 spokes 26" long and mark the center on the rough side. Lay out your base weaving 9 spokes over 9 spokes. The base will measure 6 1/2" x 6 1/2". The finished height of the basket is 7". Remember to do the shaping after each row of weaving. Keep the spokes damp, but not soaking, to help with the shaping. ©Monica Impellizzeri 2000 |
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