BA Spring School 2026: Weaving with Willow Bark – Joan Carrigan

Tickets available from 10am Saturday 10th January 2026

Spring School at Harrogate Ladies’ College offers four full days to immerse yourself in basketry with top-class tutors. There is also plenty of opportunity to relax and get to know fellow basketmakers from all around the UK and beyond.

Both residential (single-occupancy room, shared bathroom, all meals) and non-residential (includes lunches and Sunday evening meal) options will be available. In 2026 the ticket prices are:

• Residential: £645
• Non-residential: £380

Only one ticket is available per BA member, and material costs are payable directly to tutors at the end of the week.

By purchasing a ticket you are agreeing to the cancellation policy as detailed in the Basketmakers’ Associations Terms and Conditions

The course

The versatility of willow in basket making is well known. In this course, the focus will be on the bark, exploring various ways it can be woven into functional baskets and expanding on the creative potential the material can hold for basket makers. 

Participants will be guided through each stage of working with willow bark, including how to harvest, store, and prepare it for weaving. While the willow bark used in the course is UK-grown, tutor Joan brings over 25 years of experience harvesting and weaving willow bark at her home on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.   

 Students will learn how to select and prepare bark suitable for a range of projects, with discussion on design considerations and the effective use of tools. Projects include a Twill Woven Tray, a Twill Cat’s Head Basket incorporating cedar bark spokes, and a Triple Wall Basket. Time permitting, participants may also explore using a single roll of bark to make a Wall Pouch. 

Suitability: all abilities

Estimated cost of materials:

£10 person for cedar bark spokes, waxed linen thread, yellow cedar twining material plus an additional £4.50 per roll of bark used.  It is anticipated you will use 8 – 10 rolls of bark.  Students are welcome to bring their own willow bark.

Your tutor

Joan Carrigan is a full-time basket maker and basketry teacher who has woven her basketry life on Salt Spring Island, BC for over 30 years. Joan studied Fine Art and Art History at the University of Guelph and attended her first Basketry Conference in Toronto in 1991.

Since then, her passion for this ancient art form has led her to study, travel, and explore many different techniques and materials. Her research into traditional skills inspires her use of plant materials she respectfully harvests from nature, while her background in fine art fuels her enthusiasm for the sculptural and creative potential that the medium offers. Joan teaches extensively and finds this to be a very rewarding aspect of her career.