Crediton Community Basket

As part of the 2025 EcoCrafternoon and EcoCraftland Crediton, Artisan Basket Weaver Jane Welsh has led people in learning skills and patterns of basketweaving, resulting in the creation of the (first?) Crediton Community Basket.

The lovely co-created object has a ‘standing base:’ it is made whilst standing on the willow rods. The initial buff rods are eventually bent upwards to provide the uprights for the sides.

This is where the community weaving begins. In the lower portion, which developed during the EcoCrafternoon, a weave using three buff rods in each round – was used. Then Jane added naturally green canes to create an even boundary to mark the dividing point between the events.

At the Bookery on Saturday 17 January 2026, 16 people joined in. They created a further section, another divider in green, then a round with a selection of willow that had been steamed to a dark chocolate colour. They then wove over an arch over clothes pegs to create handles, then finally used a 5-3 pattern weave to finish the top to the basket.

Significant Seams now will look after the basket, making it available for symbolic usage at community events, along with the late Harriet Hammel; soft sculpture wishing well, the ‘Softer Side of Regeneration’ Cushion Covers, and various patchwork objects.