How to make a basket: EP02 Scraping out the pith

In this episode of ‘How to make a basket’, we’ll look at pithing and stropping of bramble (blackberry) cane. Pithing is the removal of the pithy matter from within the heart of the plant and stropping is the technique by which you take a strip of hard wood and turn it in to a flexible but durable piece of binding cane.
Buy Cræft: An enquiry into the origins and true meaning of traditional crafts (USA) wwnorton.com/b...
Buy Cræft: How traditional crafts are about more than just making (UK) www.faber.co.u...
‘How to make a basket’ is a chance to connect with the world of traditional and heritage crafts but also to see the kinds of things that you can do in your own back shed. The natural world provides a vast range of natural materials that, since primitive times, have been used to make many of the day-to-day objects that we surrounded ourselves with. Many people the world over still use natural materials and craft skills to make stuff and in Britain, up until the early twentieth century, many of these skills still resided amongst the rural community.
If you’ve enjoyed the BBC’s Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm and Wartime Farm, then hopefully you will enjoy my lockdown project: 'How to make a basket'. I am spending so much time in my shed at present, that I thought I might as well film it. So, follow me in this series as I go about showing you how to craft a traditional coil basket. On the way, we’ll look at the different kind of plants that you can use, the skills and techniques, the key tools, and I’ll throw in a few juicy historical facts.

[@sethwarner2540]

Thanks! This is a nice meditative activity!

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I will have to try this out! we have lots of these bushes around here! It looks alot like Bamboo cane once it's had its pith removed.

[@sandravanderschaaf3853]

Along with Episode 1, this was so helpful! Thank you for taking the time to prepare such an informative guide. The summary of the process at the end of each video was especially welcome. You're good at what you do. Thanks for sharing from your skills!

[@pamweeks1269]

Just finished reading your amazing book, Craeft. Thanks for this--so interesting to consider the landscape and how craeft has changed it. I've never written fan mail in my life--I may just.

[@patrickdore2165]

Why have I only just found this brilliant channel?

[@passingthrough777]

Thank you for taking the time to teach us out here what to do. I enjoy hearing your accent.

[@orilianGaming]

Enjoyed you in the farm vids. ever thought about a Georgian Period or Colonial farm here in the States?

[@borderlinejamie]

I love this! And the scraped out pith can be used for mulch....maybe on more blackberry canes. LOL

[@Pastorlinda54]

Tools. What/where knives?

[@riverqueen4561]

Dunno why I just love this...
I studied fine art sculpture in DLIADT Ireland.

[@michelleprimiano4987]

About how long did you soak the cane before scraping the pith out?

[@BlehhItsTu]

Overnight, he said towards the end

[@MelissaElsworth]

Great info. I might have a few weeks before I can get harvesting our brambles.

[@aspenram3885]

Oh gosh your dialog/writing had us dying haha. Thank you for sharing!

[@derickpilky5096]

Brilliant love it enjoy

[@schoolofthegreenwood7449]

Beautiful videos!

[@derickpilky5096]

How long do you soak it please

[@Pastorlinda54]

Book?

[@arcadia1081]

Oh come on now! This is taking the pith!

[@borninthewrongera6888]

ohh this is awesome , i cant wait to pull some canes

[@benwilson1979]

Cool stuff!