Sometimes the learning time for new equipment is a PITA. 😁 It can be frustrating, but I know you'll figure it out and you'll have way too many canes. HAH!

Best of luck!

Kate

Thanks, Kate! I hope you’re right and I do figure it out. My BIL never sent the package so I had to get creative with my steamer wrapping. :)

I'm cheered to know that you are doing this! There is that phrase "underwater basket weaving" used to make fun of learning supposedly useless skills. That has always irked me. Basketry is an art, a craft, and a renewable, ecological way to carry things about! Hurray for your keeping basket-making alive!

I have stacks of plastic dish tubs that I use for harvesting, mostly tree fruit, but also tomatoes and green beans when we have a lot. However, I pick up sturdy big baskets at thrift stores every now and then. A really good garden basket is hard to find nowadays, as I'm sure you know. So many are made just for decoration and light indoor use.

Here is one that I happen to have a photo of.

It is ordinary looking, but very strong and big.

I wish I could show you my "back saver" basket. It probably has a specific purpose, but I use it for catching pole beans more than anything else. Its rattan (or bamboo--something with nodes) handle loops all the way around the bottom and back up three times, a giving secure lift. The handle stands 28 inches tall so that I only have to bend down a little bit to pick it up and move down the line to the next bean tower. It is 6 inches deep and 11+ inches in diameter. It's a strong one, too. No wimpy baskets for me!

matthias_lang, I agree on all counts! And here in NY, now that the use of plastic grocery bags are being phased out, I'm wondering why baskets aren't becoming popular for use again.

The basket you show in your photo is made from peeled willow.... by a left-handed weaver! which is quite unusual :) Believe it or not, you can find baskets of that same size/shape/style/material being used for floral arrangements that go to the cemetery. They use a clear plastic liner in the basket to hold the floral foam and contain water. When my father ran the local cemetery, he would collect baskets like that, as well as useful pots/trays/etc, and store them in a shed in case anyone wanted them -- rather than throw them away!

I'd like to see photos of your back-saver basket... I may not be imagining it quite right.

How cool that you can tell the weaver was left handed!

I'll get someone to take a photo of the back saver. I have just a crap little cell phone and no camera.

yes, Matthias, since learning how to weave, when I look at a basket I can see exactly how it's been constructed. It's odd, but it's like a super power. lol! I look forward to seeing a photo of your back saver basket!