Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild started the new year with a bang! Long-time member Martha Sands taught a full house how to twill a tray. Every student learned new techniques and brought home a beautiful woven basket.        

The Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild is proud to present the basketry workshop schedule for 2025. 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 where noted) at the Chatham Cultural Centre. All workshops require pre-registration. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail the Guild at: swobg.treasurer@gmail.com .  Saturday, January 18, 2025 No workshop this month. Saturday, February 15, 2025 No workshop this month. Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Martha Sands - Twill tray (all skill levels)   Students will learn to weave this beautiful tray with a twill pattern. This tray is made of dyed and natural reed and waxed linen or artificial sinew. You will need to bring: small packer, spoke weights, blunt tapestry needle, small...

It is that time of year...time to join (or renew) your membership to the Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild! The planning of the 2025 program is well underway and will be posted as soon as possible. The Guild runs one workshop per month starting in March and ending in November. The membership fee is $50 per person. All workshops are held in a studio space at the Chatham Cultural Centre in Chatham, Ontario. Please note that if there are COVID protocols in place we must adhere to them as a condition of our rental agreement.  Please contact the the Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild's Membership Chair at swobg.treasurer@gmail.com for more information.

Guild member Louise Warner-MacDougall and basketmaker extraordinaire, created a cute little basket with a slotted base and attached handle. The spokes were held in place with twining and the sides were built quickly using a continuous weave. As always, Louise inspired us with her teaching and examples.  We shared a potluck lunch and held the annual general meeting.  Next year should be another year of great basketry instruction with inspiring teachers and new techniques and materials. Hope to see you all in 2025!                            

Guild member Martina Obersat taught students how to weave a large, wide-bottomed Hen Basket. This traditional rib form was challenging but many beautiful baskets were created.  

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.