Can you make baskets from cattails?

Indian baskets are made of natural materials and woven by hand in any shape, size or pattern. Using dried cattails, you can create your own unique Indian-style baskets.

Which leaves are used to make baskets?

Iris leaves are a very good basket material. Beargrass and reeds have also long been used for this.

What plant is used to weave baskets?

There are many types of natural fibers that can be used to weave a basket, like various kinds of tree bark. For example, grasses, bamboo, vines, oak, willow, reeds, and honeysuckle are all commonly used materials for weaving.

Can I harvest cattails?

Cattail harvesting can be as simple as picking one right off the plant in summer. The lower part of the stem is white and, when eaten raw, tastes like cucumber. In late summer, the green flower heads can be eaten like corn on the cob. In autumn, the roots can be harvested by soaking in water until a gel forms.

What materials can be used to make baskets?

Baskets are made from natural materials, like twigs from trees like willow, vines, and grasses. Other materials include canes, long flat strips made from fibrous plant cores, and reeds, or broad-leafed grasses.

What is needed to start basket weaving?

Only a few simple tools are necessary in basket weaving.

Good strong scissors and a sharp knife are needed for cutting and pointing the osiers.
Side cutters work great for chipping off ends.
A pair of round-nosed pliers are valuable for kinking the stakes before bending them, particularly when the angle has to be sharp.

What are two of the most common methods of basket weaving?

There are three main weaving techniques: coiling, plaiting and twining. Basketry of the Northwest Coast uses numerous variations of these methods.

What is a cattail mat?

Exterior-use cattail mats were used to cover and insulate wigwams. They are probably most well-known in the western Great Lakes region, however such mats were utilized historically all over the Northeastern cultural area.

How do you make a cattail basket?

A basket woven of cattail leaves may be used as a container for gift cookies and candies. Start weaving as one would weave strips of paper into a flat mat. Add weavers until the bottom of the basket is the desired size. Turn the leaves up and with another strip weave under and over the vertical spokes of the basket.

What is cattail used for in weaving?

Cattail leaves and stems have been used in basketry, cordage, braiding, chair seat weaving, thatching, rope making, paper making and matting. The techniques of plaiting, twining and coiling can be used to construct cattail baskets. Cattails have been used to make matting that functions as a building material to provide shelter.

What do you do with dried cattails?

Wrap the dried bundles in a clean sheet to store them. Once dried, the leaves should be re-wetted and then wrapped in a moist towel to mellow before use. Cattail leaves and stems have been used in basketry, cordage, braiding, chair seat weaving, thatching, rope making, paper making and matting.

Where can I buy cattail leaves or bulrush leaves?

If you cannot harvest your own supply of either cattail leaves or bulrush, they are seasonally available for purchase from a couple of supply companies listed on the Cane & Basket Weaving Supplies page.