How to become a basket maker

Are you looking for a job in craft? Find out what skills and experience you'll need

Basket by Lois Walpole

What does a basket maker do?

Basket makers design and make baskets using a variety of techniques, including looping, knotting, plaiting, coiling, weaving, twining and assembly. They might work with traditional materials including reed, cane, grasses and yarns, or newer materials like recycled plastics, paper and textiles.

Basket makers are often self-employed, running their own businesses and selling their work through galleries or online. Many basket makers also run courses and teach others their skills.

Basket makers might make baskets that are functional, or use their skills to create more sculptural pieces.

Basket by Lois Walpole

Key skills:

interest in craft and design
enjoy working with your hands
creative flair
methodical and attention to detail
physically strong, in order to work with more robust materials

If you are dealing with the public, you also need to have customer service skills. If you are designing bespoke pieces, you need to be able to explain your creative ideas to customers.

If you're self-employed, you need business skills too, so you can market your goods and services, deal with finances and develop your business.

How do I become a basket maker?

University

There are currently no specialist basket making degrees, but you could study for a degree in Design Crafts and specialise later. Providers include:

Design Crafts BA Hons at De Montfort University
3D Design and Craft BA Hons at University of Brighton
3D Design Crafts, Plymouth College of Art

Short Courses

Colleges and universities across the UK offer short courses through which you can gain specialist basketry skills. These include:

West Dean College offer courses covering traditional and contemporary basketry techniques
Musgrove Willows offer willow basket courses
City Lit and Morley College

Basket by Lois Walpole

Find out more:

Heritage Crafts
The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
The Bastketmakers' Association
Artist's Information Company a-n

Basket by Lois Walpole

Featured Maker

Lois Walpole was born in London of Anglo Scottish heritage. She graduated from Central Saint Martins, London with a B.A.(Hons.) in Sculpture in 1975 and obtained a City and Guilds qualifications in Basket Making from the London College of Furniture in 1982. In 2003 she completed a Doctorate in the Design department at the Royal College of Art in London. Since 1982 she has worked full time as an artist/ basket maker taking part in and curating national and international exhibitions, working to commission, designing for production, teaching and writing. Find out more here.

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