Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild

Guild member and SWOBG programme organizer Martha Sands taught members to weave a small basket around a glass jar using locally-gathered materials. Martha discussed how to harvest, dry, prepare and weave with willow and birch bark, sweetgrass, rush, sedges and iris and lily leaves. The everyone completed a beautiful and natural container.     

  Guild member Martina Obersat taught students how to weave a tool basket with a divider and a beautiful swing handle. Many techniques were learned. It took all day but everyone completed a basic basket.  

Guild member Louise Warner-MacDougall taught the basic technique of coiling using long pine needles and artificial sinew. We spent the day wrapping needles into lovely small baskets. Louise inspired us with the many examples of her beautiful work.   

Guild members Jane and Will taught us how to make a small whisk broom using broomcorn. This material was a first most students and it was great fun. A hand full of broomcorn is tied together with tarred twine and the handle was covered with reed. This traditional form is both functional and decorative.       

The 2024 basketry workshop season has started! Guild member Martha Sands taught the importance of embellishment. The beauty of a basket can be greatly enhanced with the perfect colour or pattern. Students took home a charming basket with their choice of colour and embellishment. Fun way to spend a Saturday.    

Please join us for an exciting year of weaving in 2024. We offer basket-weaving workshops every third Saturday from March through November with experienced instructors teaching a different techniques in a variety of materials.  Your $50.00 (CAD) helps to pay for the rental of the beautiful Studio Two in the Chatham Cultural Centre. Contact Jane at SWOGB.treasurer@gmail.com to become a member or to renew your membership.  

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild is proud to present the basketry workshop schedule for 2024. We have a great lineup of instructors this year that will teach students of all skill levels new materials, processes and techniques. The blog will be updated as teachers, descriptions and photos become available. The workshops are help every third Saturday of the year (except January, February and December) at the Chatham Cultural Centre. All workshops require pre-registration. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail ( SWOBG.TREASURER@gmail.com ) or message us through Facebook.  Saturday, January 20, 2024 No workshop this month. Saturday, February 17, 2024 No workshop this month. Saturday, March 16, 2024 - Martha Sands - Focus on Embellishment (beginner)   This simple basket will focus on three different embellishments. Students will have a choice of colour and embellishment. Basket size: base = 6" x 5"; height = 7". Saturday,  April 20