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A guide to willow weaving terms

5 February 2025

For those new to willow and willow weaving, the terminology can seem a little strange. We’ve put together this handy guide to help familiarise you with willow weaving terms and what they mean.

1.    Types of willow

There are hundreds of species of willow and many different processes can be employed to transform this sustainable crop.

Willow can be used when it is green (freshly cut), semi-dry, and brown (dried completely). The bark can be removed or left on. This highly versatile and quick growing crop can then be stripped (producing white willow), steamed and dyed, creating stunning rods in a multitude of colours and finishes.

ANTIQUE BUFF WILLOW

Also known as stripped willow, this is a natural barked or green willow which has been boiled and then stripped of its bark and dried. The special variety of willow used in these natural processes produces a smooth, golden willow rod – without the need for chemicals. The end result is a colour which sits between buff and white willow.

BROWN WILLOW

Brown willow is natural willow which has been dried with its bark on. Suitable for outdoor sculpture work, basketry and hurdles.

BUFF WILLOW

Also known as stripped willow, buff willow is a natural barked or green willow which has been boiled, stripped of its bark and dried. The smooth orangey, brown rod is often used in basketry and crafts.

BUFF NOIR WILLOW

Buff Noir is willow that has been steamed and stripped of its bark. The willow rods have the qualities of buff, with the look of steamed willow. 

Choose the right willow
Buff Noir

DYED WILLOW

We use only natural dyes on our coloured willow. To achieve the best possible finish only white willow is dyed.

GREEN WILLOW (FRESH CUT)

Extremely flexible and requires no soaking. The rods shrink as they dry out. Green willow is suitable for plant climbers, hurdle making and outdoor sculpture projects. Not suitable for living willow projects. This willow is usually available between January and April.

HURDLE WILLOW

Hurdle willow is long willow rods for making willow fence panels and fencing. Dry hurdle wads (half a traditional bundle) require soaking, while green fresh cut wads do not.

LANTERN AND CRAFT WILLOW

Ideal for making lanterns and large outdoor sculptures; not suitable for basketry work. Our lantern kit contains everything you need to make four willow lanterns.

LIVING WILLOW

Fresh cut, disease resistant willow suitable for planting. Living willow can be used in structures, for landscaping and to stop soil erosion. Living willow is usually available from January to April. We also supply DIY living willow kits for creating your own living willow structures.

STEAMED WILLOW

Steamed willow is brown willow that has been boiled for a few hours to colour the willow a chocolate/black colour. Suitable for basketry and sculpture work.

UNSORTED WILLOW

Unsorted willow bundles contain different lengths of willow, and may include some grass and weeds. These bundles are very good value, as the willow is the same quality as our sorted basketry willow. They are not suitable for living willow projects.

WHITE WILLOW

White willow starts off as green willow, which is freshly cut in winter and left to stand in water until the sap rises in the spring. The willow is then stripped of its bark without boiling to leave a whitish rod (not paper white).

WILLOW STICKS (BUFF, BROWN AND GREEN)

Willow sticks are thick diameter willow which can be used as the main frames or uprights in baskets and for plant supports. Also suitable as corner posts or hurdle uprights. Not suitable for weaving.

WILLOW TOPS

Willow tops are the top sections cut from longer lengths of willow. They are around 3 to 4.5ft long and stouter than the corresponding sized willow rods.

2.    Technical terms

Some willow weaving terms are self-explanatory, some require a little more explanation.

BACK

The outward, convex curve of a willow rod.

BASE

The bottom of a basket. In willow basketry, this is most often made separately before the side stakes are attached to it. Different materials can be used.

BASE STICKS

Pieces of willow that are used for the start of the base of the basket. Cut to the required length from the butt ends (thick ends) of willow rods, they are cut slightly longer than the size of the finished base.

BED

A field planted with willows. A willow bed can be harvested for decades. 

BELLY

The inward, concave curve of a willow rod.

BOLT

Another name for a traditional bundle (see description below).

BORDER

A border is the top edge of a basket, woven using the stakes/uprights from the body of the basket. These are kinked and then woven down. Different borders create different patterns.

BUTT

The thick end of the willow rod which grows closest to the ground.

CHASING

Two sets of weavers (see description below) that are used simultaneously and follow each other around the weaving work without ever overtaking each other. This creates an even, level weave.

CRAMMING OFF

A method used for completing the border of a basket, generally used for speed and ease.

FITCH

An open weave.

FRENCH RANDING

Equal numbers of weavers and stakes are required for this weave. A rod is inserted and woven in each space between the uprights (also known as stakes). This is done by inserting each rod to the left of the previous one and then working one stroke (see description below) to the right.

HURDLE

Another name for a fence panel made from willow.

MELLOWING

After willow is soaked, it needs to mellow before being used to weave with. A hessian mellowing sheet is ideal to wrap your willow in.

PAIRING

This weave is done with two matched weavers that twist over and under the sticks (or stakes) of the basket in an alternating pattern. It is a very stable weave that grips the rods, so it’s useful for making bases. 

PICKING OFF

Once completed, a willow basket is ‘picked off’. Any excess, unwanted willow is cut off close to the existing weave to give a smooth finish. A picking knife was used for this, but now secateurs are usually the tool of choice.

PRICKING DOWN

Pricking down is when the upright stakes are kinked down at the correct height to make the border. It is usually done with the thumbnail or the point of a knife.

PRICKING UP

Pricking up is when the stakes that have been inserted into the basket base are turned up vertically. It is done by pressing down with a bodkin or knife at the point at which the rod is to bend – as close as possible to the base.

RANDING

A willow weaving technique where rods are woven vertically around the base, intersecting with the waling (see description below) to give strength and height. Randing is most commonly used to create the sides and walls of baskets.

ROD

One stick or piece of willow, spanning one year’s growth, cut from the willow plant.

ROD/PLAIN BORDER

The most commonly used border, as it creates a strong top edge to a basket. It involves trimming down a number of stakes behind one stick. It may vary in width depending how many rods are used in the pattern; three for a three rod border, four for a four rod border etc. Generally, anywhere from three to six are used.

ROSE KNOT

A knot made from willow which was traditionally used to tie willow bundles. Watch our video on how to tie a willow rose knot to see one in action.

SETT

Willow cuttings that around eight inches long, which are pushed into the soil to propagate new plants.

SIDING/SIDING WEAVE

The weaves that create the sides of the basket, usually French or English randing or slewing.

SLATH

‘Tying in the slath’ is the first part of the process when making a basket. This is the part of the basket base where the sticks are held in place by the first few rows of pairing weave.

SLEWING

The art of working with two or more willow rods together.

SLYPE

A slanting cut made on the butt end of the willow rod. It can be done with a single stroke of a knife, or two strokes to make a cut with two angles. It has many uses. When inserting the rods into a woven base, a slype makes it quicker and easier to do.

SOAKING

Brownbuffsteamed and white willow needs to be soaked before it can be used to weave with. (Green willow does not require soaking.) Soaking times will vary and are influenced by factors such as the length, variety and type of willow. The temperature of the water also makes a difference; soaking willow in cold weather is again different.

We stock heavy duty soaking bags in a variety of sizes. Troughs and old baths can also be used to immerse willow in water.

SORTING WILLOW

The age-old tradition of grading willow rods by their length into foot sizes is still done today. Bundles of willow taken straight from the fields are placed into a barrel and pulled out by hand to separate the rods into different sizes.

SPILING

The act of weaving green willow into a river bank to help prevent soil erosion.

STAKES/UPRIGHTS

The long rods that are inserted into the base and turn up to form the sides. They are later bent down at the top to make the border.

STAKE AND STRAND

A specific type of basket construction; a series of stakes/uprights woven over by a lighter set of weavers (the strands).

STOOL

The name for the shape a willow plant takes as it is coppiced for basketry over several years.

STRIPPING WILLOW

To produce the characteristic smooth, pine coloured rod that is known as buff willow, the bark has to be removed after the boiling process. To achieve this, boiled willow rods are placed into a machine or pulled through a brake by hand (see under ‘Willow tools’ below for the definition of a brake).

STROKE

One movement of the rod when weaving. It indicates direction and how the weave builds up – e.g. one or two strokes to the right.

TIP

The fine, thin end of the willow rod.

TRADITIONAL BUNDLE

A traditional Somerset bundle is 1 foot in diameter, and 3 foot 1-2 inch in circumference. Willow is sold by weight. A traditional bundle is also known as a bolt. We also sell ½ traditional bundles and 1kg bundles.

UPSETT

The rows of weaving found where the stakes are turned up into the sides of the basket. They establish the flow. This is generally done with a waling weave (see description below).

WAD

Around half a traditional bundle. For simplicity, we sell most willow in a traditional bundle and ½ traditional bundles.

WALING

A weave that uses three rods at a time. They twist over and under the stakes to form a strong band. Rows of waling are usually found in the upsett and just before the border. When joining a new set of weavers, they are usually added tips-to-tips or butt-ends-to-butt-ends to ensure an even weave.

WAND

A willow rod cut from the stump.

WEAVERS

The rods used to create the side of the basket, or base – in essence the rods/withies that you are weaving with.

WICKER

Wicker is a term used to describe the technique of plaiting, twisting or folding natural materials – including willow – to make items such as furniture, fencing, and baskets.

WITHIE/WITHY

Another name for a willow rod.

3.    Willow tools and equipment

We supply a range of willow tools and equipment. Enter the world of willow weaving and you may well need a bodkin, a bar commander and a rapping iron. Confused? Take a look at the handy guide below.

BAR COMMANDER

A bar commander is a metal tool used to straighten bent willow rods.

BODKIN

Used to pierce willow rods and to make room in a weave to insert another rod. Bodkins are made in a variety of sizes.

BRAKE

A piece of equipment designed to strip the bark from a willow rod. Most of our willow is now stripped with the help of specialist machinery.

CLEAVE

A cleave is used to split willow rods. We stock 4 way cleaves, available with a brass tip or wooden tip. Watch our video explaining how to use a cleave for more tips.

GREASE HORN

Often used to hold tallow. Old cows horns are suitable. Vegetarian and vegan tallow substitutes are available.

HOOK

A tool for cutting willow by hand. On our farm, specialist machinery has replaced this backbreaking task.

PICKING KNIFE

A picking knife is a traditional knife used to tidy up baskets.

RAPPING IRON

Also known as a beating iron. This is used for tapping down willows in a weave.

SHAVE

A shave is used to reduce the thickness of a willow rod. It also removes the pith. A shave is often used in conjunction with a skeining tool.

SKEINING TOOL

A skeining tool is used to narrow a willow rod (i.e. reduce its width). It is often used in conjunction with a shave.

SOAKING BAG

Used for soaking willow. We supply heavy duty 1000 gauge soaking bags which, if used carefully, can be re-used many times.

STEAMING SHEET

Used in conjunction with a wallpaper stripper to steam brown (bark on) willow. Our steaming sheets comes in two sizes and a how to use guide.

TALLOW

Used to lubricate a bodkin. We supply handmade vegetarian tallow containing a blend of oils, waxes and soay sheep fleece, and handmade vegan tallow containing only oils and waxes.

tallowsub

Musgrove Willows can help you get started with willow weaving

From our wide range of willow products, made using willow grown right here on our Somerset farm, to our willow weaving courses, we have been helping people get started with willow weaving for many decades. Contact us if you have any questions about our willow or courses.

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