Wicker Harvesting Baskets: the Round Willow Cob (Hasluck, 1903)

Cut four sticks about 11 in long and shave them along the middle so one pair crosses the other. Lay them under your feet (Fig. 52) and tie them with two rods, one of whose butts forms a half stick, so the bottom has four and a half sticks. Work the tie-rods round to open the sticks into nine parts (Figs. 53-54), keeping a crown in the bottom.

Fill in by working two rods together (slewing), adding a rod now and then, until the bottom is 7 1/2 in across; then pair off with two pointed rods to 8 in. Push the ends in, pick the bottom and cut the sticks off with the shears.

Push in eight and a half pairs of stakes, one each side of eight sticks and one by the ninth. Prick them up and gather them in a hoop several times larger than the bottom, since the cob needs a 3 in spring at the border. Drive them level with the iron. Upset with the tops of four rods (7 to 9 in of tip cut off), each in front of three stakes and behind the fourth; after one round drop to three rods, each in front of two and behind the third, and piece the butts.

Pin the bottom to the board with the small bodkin or weight it, and fill in the stakes with a three-rod slew (Fig. 55), adding a butt inside as each top finishes outside. Let the sides spring gradually to 11 in across at 11 in deep; a round of white rods halfway up brightens it. Level with a two- or one-rod slew and pair off with two rods.

Push two pointed sticks down the slewing at opposite sides to keep the handle place. Lay down five stakes and border as for a square basket (Fig. 56), finishing by cramming. Wet the two sticks with the sponge and pull them out; point, bend and push in a stick for the bow handle and wrap it with twisted rods as for the square basket.