Harvesting & Buffing Willow for Basket Weaving

I planted basketry willow this year and harvested after the first freeze. I used a steel barrel to boil the willow for 4-6 hours, although I couldn’t hold the heat consistently. The color is nice though-a pretty brown color. I’ll dry them and try to make a basket.

[@Folktopia]

A new harvest has dried and I’m going to steam them this year 🙇🏽‍♂️🤟🏾

[@magicalcuriosities7062]

Soooooo.... you boil them? Why?, makes it softer? I need instruction! 😂

[@Folktopia]

The boiling changes the color of the bark from greenish purple to oaky brown, (which has something to do with tannins). I’m personally not going to boil again because it takes a ton of wood and is pretty dangerous. I’m going to try steaming next time. This video is a good overview: ruclips.net/video/Y5V3Cg0zGOw/видео.html

[@Baziell]

Normally willow is boiled so that the bark will turn the wood underneath a tanned color . The bark is then peeled off. This can be done to fresh and dry willow, just takes more hours of boiling for dry willow. The boiling also makes the bark come off easier, or in the case of boiling dry willow it makes it possible for the skin to come off at all.