Making coiled bowls and baskets

Making coiled bowls and baskets

David and Bron Wright keep bees and use skeps (baskets made of coiled straw) to catch swarms.
Traditionally skeps are made from a continuous bundle of straw, bound together with bramble or cane.
The technique, known as lip work, can be used to make bowls or simple baskets, with straw or other foraged materials, such as birch twigs or pine needles

• When: Saturday 29 August 2026
• Times: 10:00 am – 4:00pm
• Where: Walkerburn Village Hall, Galashiels Road, EH43 6AF
• Places available: 8 (min 4)
• Cost: £50
• Materials provided: We will supply, straw, cane, sisal string and fids (the tool used for making stitches). The fids can be bought at the end of the day, by those wishing to do so. A book on making skeps and coiled baskets will be available for sale.

Approximate timings

09:45: Registration and Coffee. Workshop starts at 1000
10:00 – 11:30: Introduction and starting a basket
11:30 – 13:00: Adding new binder, placing stitches, shaping
13:00 – 14:30: Further details of technique, review of progress
1430 – 1600: Making handles, finishing off, checklist
16:00: workshop finishes

Coffee and tea available.

Bring your own lunch and fit it in when appropriate.

Around lunchtime, we will consider the collection and preparation of naturally foraged materials, such as bramble, grasses and pine needles
Handouts will be provided on technique, materials and on points to consider in a checklist.

The cost of a fid, if you wish to take home the one you’ve been using, is £10. A book on making bowls, baskets and skeps will be available for sale at £15. If you intend to buy a fid or a book, please bring cash!