About

BARN Members: $195

Non-BARN Members: $254

All the native plant materials for use by students have all been respectfully gathered and prepared by Jo and George Hart, of Wilderness Basketry in Seabeck, Washington.  This is an intermediate class for those who have had some prior experience with twining, or weaving with cedar.  

Using natural and dyed Western Red Cedar inner bark, Bear Grass, waxed linen, or yarn; students will learn to set-up, weave, and control the shape of a pouch basket using a mold provided by the instructor for use in class.  

Depending on prior experience, students may design their own pattern on the sides of their baskets using a 2/2 twill; or learning techniques such as half-turn and full-turn twinning, arrow stitch with “z” and “s” twinning, 3-strand twinning, and woven and/or crossed “x’s”.  Students can learn a simple folded rim, or more complex braided rim.  

Jo Hart is a generous teacher who will guide students through all the steps of making a beautiful cedar pouch which can be hung from the shoulder, or around the neck, for holding whatever is treasured.  Jo will provide a leather cord for everyone as well as beads for embellishment.

Instructor Bio:  Jo Ann Hart grew up in the Appalachian Mountains near Berea, Kentucky.  When school was out, she would go out to play after breakfast and would be gone for the day exploring the flora and fauna.  There were no neighbor children to play with, so she usually entertained herself by studying nature and playing with native plants.  Her first basket was made from cockleburs and dyed with poke berries, and she often wove homes and bridges for insects from weed stems.  With the help of her Cherokee Appalachian grandmother, from an early age she learned to identify native plants and trees, and edible and medicinal plants.  Her family life brought her to the Pacific NW, where her love making baskets with native plants was rekindled.  Her first structured class was with instructor Melinda West in the mid 1980’s.  Once she started weaving, she couldn’t stop!  She has since studied with many contemporary fiber artists and pacific NW Native American Basket Weavers, apprenticing with Suquamish elder, Ed Carriere.  Jo teaches and shows her work locally and throughout the US.  Weaving gives her great pleasure, and she is happy to share her knowledge of plants and basketry, hoping others may also experience the spiritual and physical connection that working with natural materials offers.    

Materials Fee: An additional $85. Please bring a check or cash the first day of class.