Willow to Weave

Willow to Weave is a practical, richly illustrated guide to willow, written by Raye Hutton in collaboration with Musgrove Willows.

At its heart is the idea that making a basket begins long before the first rod is woven. The growing conditions, variety and season of harvest, how willow is stored, sorted, soaked and prepared, and the tools used to work it all influence how the material behaves in the maker’s hands and, ultimately, the finished basket.

The book follows that journey from growing and harvesting through preparation to tools, techniques and basketry, connecting each stage rather than treating them as separate skills. Traditional knowledge, practical experience and the science behind the material are brought together to explain not simply how to work with willow, but why it behaves as it does.

The tools chapter includes contributions from traditional toolmaker Dave Budd, while the wider book draws on the knowledge and experience of Musgrove Willows and features a foreword by renowned basketmaker Mary Butcher MBE.

At nearly 300 pages and with hundreds of photographs, Willow to Weave is intended for newcomers and experienced basketmakers alike, and for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the relationship between the material, the tools, the maker and the basket.