BASKET WEAVING

The tag on this basket says: Basket made by Mrs. Crane's Father, out of native willows and owned by Mrs. Crane.

Basket weaving became quite an art in pioneer days. The following types were made: market baskets, clothes baskets, sewing baskets, hay and chaff baskets. No yard was considered complete without a basket.
These were made from willow saplings gathered in early spring and worked up while they were tough and still pliable If gathered later in the season, soaking in water for several days would be necessary. Yard baskets were made from willows in the rustic or unpeeled state. While the finer baskets, used for marketing or home use, were made from peeled willows, and for fancy light baskets and trimmings the willows were split in two.