A complete guide to steaming willow

7 November 2024

When it comes to willow weaving, using steamed willow is a very popular option. Steaming is usually done with brown willow that still has its bark on; steamed willow then needs to be soaked before it can be used in any weaving project.

But should you buy pre-steamed willow, or have a go at self-steaming your own? Read on to find out more about both options.

Using pre-steamed willow

At Musgrove Willows, we stock steamed willow perfect for use in willow weaving projects. Our steamed willow is a beautiful, rich chocolate brown in colour – difficult to achieve with a home steaming system – and has a lovely, waxy feel when weaving. It is great for adding variation to your weaving, particularly on baskets.

You do not need any specialist equipment to soak this willow for use in weaving, simply soak as directed below.

Pre-steamed willow soaking times

Important to remember: Soaking times will vary according to seasonal variations in temperature. Read our blog on how to soak buff and brown willow for more information.

Why choose to steam your own willow?

There are several reasons why you might choose to steam your own willow:

1. Colour variation

Steaming deepens and darkens the colour of your willow, making your willow basket weaving colour options more varied.

2. Willow becomes ready to weave more quickly

This is especially helpful if:

• You are working to a deadline.
• You have a weaving class and your willow is not quite ready to use.
• It’s winter and your willow is too cold to soak within normal soaking times. Steaming gives it a gentle nudge to speed things up.
• You’re weaving a basket and one type of willow is ready to weave with, whilst the other still isn’t.
  

3. Aids skin retention

Steaming willow aids its skin retention, which is especially useful when twisting the willow during weaving.

4. It’s nice!

Willow smells and feels really nice when it is being steamed.

How to steam your own willow

You can steam your own willow at home. Any of our of brown willow is suitable for steaming. Each variety will give different colour variations once steamed.

You can steam any variety or type of willow which still has its bark on. You shouldn’t really need to steam buff, Buff Noir, or white willow other than to give it an aged finish. Over steaming bark-off willow can make it slimy and lead to it becoming squishy. Purpureas, on the other hand, are a type of willow that love to be steamed and respond well to weaving in a heated environment.

Before steaming, you need to soak your willow for the majority of the soaking time you would usually do for brown (bark on) willow. When steaming you must take care when using boiling hot water and steam, and be mindful of the pressure building up in the steaming chamber. Take care when releasing pressure from and when opening any steaming chamber.

Equipment needed to steam your own willow: Steaming sheet

Steaming sheets are the most versatile option for steaming willow – particularly for those teaching or weaving willow in small batches. We sell our own steaming sheets, which have been tried and tested for years by our tutors and are used on our courses. The plastic used in this sheeting is specifically designed to withstand the temperature of steaming and the pressure.

Untested plastic sheets or similar products – like pond liners and tarpaulin – are not advisable for willow steaming, as they are unlikely to produce good results.

Pros:

• You can steam exactly the right amount of willow, from a handful of rods up to a whole bundle.
• The sheet vents itself and does not distort.
• It can be used mellow willow after steaming, or to transport steamed willow to a class.
• It can be folded after use and is easy to store.
• It comes with adjustable straps so it can transported easily.
• The sheet will last for years.

Cons:

The only real con of using a steaming sheet is the cost to buy one – but once you own one, you can steam willow for many years.

How long should you steam willow for?

How long you should steam willow for depends on four different factors:

1. How long you have already soaked the willow for.
2. How long and thick the willow is.
3. How dark you want the willow to be.
4. Seasonal temperatures causing variations to the conditions of the willow during soaking and steaming.

For a 5 to 6ft rod which has had three-quarters of its usual soaking time, start by steaming the willow for 30 minutes from the boiling point of your steamer. After this, steam until the willow is ready – there is no magic table or formula to work this out. A general rule of thumb is don’t try to steam anything which hasn’t had three-quarters of its normal soaking time first.

The times below are a guide to soaking brown, dried willow in clean, cold water on an average temperature day. Adjust to three-quarters of the advised time to give you your minimum soaking time before steaming willow at home.

TOP TIP: Remember your willow continues to steam after you have turned the steamer off and left it to mellow (the next step) – so turn your steamer off before the full amount of steaming time has elapsed, as your willow will continue to ‘cook’ once it is off. 

Mellowing your willow after soaking

Mellowing is a very important part of the soaking process, as it enables the inner parts of the rod to become fully pliable.

Mellowing pre-steamed willow

Mellow your willow as normal, laying the rods flat in a hessian mellowing sheet or dry mellowing blanket for around 4 hours.

Some willow varieties will be ready to work with straight from steaming; it’s just a case of trialling the thickness and type of willow you wish to use to see what works best.

Mellowing willow steamed at home

Transfer your willow to a hessian mellowing sheet or mellowing blanket, and leave the rods lying down for a few hours before using them. The time the rods will need to mellow for will depend on the type and length of the willow.

Alternatively, if you are weaving your willow that same day, you can leave your willow in a steaming sheet for a couple of hours and use it straight from there.

A few final handy steaming tips

• You cannot steam dry willow or fresh willow; ensure it has had around three-quarters of its usual soaking time before steaming.
• It’s best to used steamed willow straight away, as it doesn’t like being re-soaked or stored damp for long periods. Therefore, ensure you only soak the amount of willow you intend to use within a couple of days.
• If you steam willow for too long, it may end up feeling slimy. It’s best to steam your willow for a shorter time, mellow and then check it, rather than assuming it is ready to weave straight away.
• You will never easily colour match your willow from one steam to the next, so make sure you steam a few spares.

Interested in starting a willow project? Musgrove Willows can help

We grow over 60 different varieties of willow on our Somerset farm. As well as our useful guides on our Help and Advice page, we also offer willow weaving courses where you can find out everything you need to know about seeing a willow project through to completion, guided by our expert tutors.

For more information about our willow weaving courses or any of our products, get in touch with the Musgrove Willows team.