Celtic Knot Basket with Judy Simmonds

Course 1. Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th November

Course 2. Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th November

Cost £240 for one course, includes materials, Suitable for intermediate and advanced students, requires upper body strength. (7 students)

This intriguing Celtic Knot platter is reminiscent of flowing patterns of Victorian carpet beaters, sailor’s knotted rope mats and Celtic stone crosses.  Almost magically, tension and balance are the forces which hold the structure together. You can make one to two platters over two days.

In the construction, tension and balance are paramount, holding the intricate design together. The process requires a keen eye, along with strength in your shoulders and hands to maintain the rotating rhythm strand by strand. As the shape tightens, gentle adjustments can be made to raise the edges, allowing for a bowl rather than a platter profile. For students working with willow, the Celtic Knot provides an accessible introduction to its flexible nature and the importance of rods of ‘nearly exact’ size supporting one another.

During the 2 day course, the logic of the sequence and each movement is thoroughly demonstrated, making progress a straightforward journey with repetition of a single weaving movement. You will begin the course by sorting the 50 rods into groups of similar diameters, followed by trimming and laying out according to the star/pentangle formation. Each rod then follows a specific weaving pattern, guided by one-to-one instruction and ample support for any challenges that may arise. By the end of the workshop, you should have completed your own Celtic Knot platter, with additional bundles of willow available for further practice at home or if time you can weave another basket in the workshop