VI. ELLIPTICAL BASKETS
When one has attained a certain degree of proficiency in making round baskets it is but natural that he should desire to make those which are elliptical in shape. The making of these baskets presents a problem which has been difficult to solve and the solution of which renders their construction practical for school uses. In a circular basket, where an even tension is kept on the weaver during the weaving process, the sides come up with an even flare but the stakes have a tendency to lean. This is due to the constant tension from left to right and works havoc in the construction of elliptical baskets. Unless great care is taken the upper edge of the basket will be shaped like the unfinished one illustrated in Figure II.
This tendency troubled me for a long time until I noticed that this warping commenced in the weaving of the bottoms and increased as the sides of the basket were woven. If the bottoms are woven left-handed or bottom side up, without regard to this warping, and then, after the stakes are inserted, the weaving of the sides proceeds as usual, but little care need be exercised in order to get an even basket as shown in Figure II. The warping tendency produced by weaving the sides offsets that produced by the left-handed weaving of the bottoms.
Since the discovery of this little trick the weaving of elliptical baskets has been a constant pleasure and has been carried on with marked success.
Figure I represents the consecutive steps in the construction of elliptical bottoms. Cut four spokes of No. 4 or No. 5 reed the length of the major diameter of the bottom, and as many as are desired, the length of the minor diameter. By analysis it will be seen that these bottoms are half round at each end and filled in straight between; therefore, each end requires half as manyspokes as would be required in a round bottom, and as many in between these as is necessary in order to get the bottom the required length.
Figure I.
Figure I.
Figure I.
Another important point,—if the spokes on each end are to be one inch apart when the bottom is all woven, the spokes between must be a little more than that distance apart as these side spokes remain parallel during the weaving of the sides while the end ones radiate somewhat with the flare of the basket. Split all the short spokes and string them on the four long ones. Take a pair of theshort spokes and put them near the end of the long ones as shown at A, Fig. I. Place a weaver of No. 2 or No. 3 reed, diagonally behind the group from 1 to 2 and bring it diagonally across the front from 2 to 1, then back of the group of four and to the left from 1 to 3, parallel with the short pair of spokes. Next, diagonally across the face from 3 to 4 and down behind the short pair from 4 to 1. Now the winding of the four long spokes commences as shown. This should continue for about 1³⁄₁₆ inches, if the end spokes are to be one inch apart when the bottom is finished.
Figure II.
Figure II.
Figure II.
Bring in the next spoke and bind it into its place. This binding is so clearly shown as to require no explanation. When all the short single spokes are bound in, bind in the last pair as shown, turn the bottom and insert the second weaver in order that the pairing weave may be started. D, Fig. I, shows just how this weave is inserted.
The weaving process from now on is just the same as for that of round bottoms described in the chapter on Weaving Foundations. E, Fig. I, shows the proper relative position of the spokes at the beginning of the separation of the end ones into singles.If it is thought more desirable to have the sides of the bottom a little curved rather than straight, the straight part may be filled in after all the spokes are separated into singles. This is illustrated, and is done with the colored weavers in order to show it more clearly. This filling in process is done with the single weave, over and under five spokes for the first two pieces, then three, two and one. If this does not round the sides to suit the taste fill in again after one or two rows of regular weaving.
Figure III.
Figure III.
Figure III.
When the bottom is woven, insert one stake each side of each spoke and weave the sides as in the usual way. One can easily figure out the proper number of stakes required, in order to take advantage of the decorative features of triple weaving, in these baskets as in the round ones. Figure III shows some ellipticalbaskets of different designs and proportions as to major and minor diameters and also two kinds of twisted handles, small and large. Basket No. 3 has a bottom with but one single spoke between its ends as shown in Figure I, D and E. Basket No. 2 has two as shown at C. Basket No. 1 has three, and No. 4 and No. 5 have six.
The edge finishes are all as described in chapter III, Fig.II, B, and the twisted handles are all as described in chapter IV. A pleasing decorative feature is shown in the large wastebasket in the left hand foreground of Figure III. Two natural and one colored weaver are used and the stakes are equally divisible by three, the number of weavers. Three rows are woven around, then the green weaver changes places with a white one and three more rows are woven. This process is kept up until the desired height is reached, resulting in a spiral arrangement of spots. Figure III shows progress in working out some simple designs, A showing a large hollow diamond (as easily made solid). Smaller hollow diamonds would look well around an elliptical basket. B also shows hollow diamonds and the Indian “good luck” symbol. This work is done with the single weave on stakes not more than one-half inch apart.
Many fine designs may be “worked up” on plotting paper. Use paper which is lined off about as far apart as the diameter of the weaver to be used and draw vertical lines across this about as far apart as the distance between the stakes.