In this four-day workshop, you’ll make two baskets. These are sturdy willow baskets designed for hands completely new to weaving willow, or for those looking to hone their basket making skills. Willow basketry does ask for a good amount of strength in the wrists, hands, and fingers, so do consider this when signing up. All willow for this workshop grown and harvested in Chimacum, WA, by Mo and helping hands!
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Cost: $710 ($460 base price, $250 total materials fee)
Date and time: Thursday, July 23, 2026 - Sunday, July 26, 2026.9 am - 6 pm PT workshop, with a one-hour lunch break each day. (Lunch is included in your registration cost)
Location: Reed College (3203 SE Woodstock Blvd), Portland, OR. This workshop is part of WillowFest Northwest 2026.
Instructor: Mo Hohmann
Workshop skill level: Beginner and beyond. These are great baskets for a beginner, or an intermediate who is looking to repeat techniques to grow their skills as a basket maker.
List of tools and any additional materials: Sharp pruning shears, fixed blade knife (not a folding knife), bodkin, and rapping iron if you have them, weight, and ruler if you have them.
Workshop Size: 9 students
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Round Willow Harvest Basket with Bow Handle ~ Project 1
Description: This is a stake and strand willow basket beginning with a round base and pairing technique. We will focus on choosing and preparing our materials in a way to create intentionality and consistency in the texture and form of our baskets. We will work with a 3-rod wale for the upset of our basket, and chase weaving, French randing, a 5 by 2-rod border. We will finish with a wrapped bow handle.
Dimensions: H 16” with handle W 16” at border; 11” at base x D 16” at border; 11” at base
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Curvy Round Willow Harvest/Storage Basket with Inset Handles ~ Project 2
Description: This is a stake and strand willow basket beginning with a round base and pairing technique. We will expand our skills from a straight-walled basket towards shaping with a bit more of a curve, working with willow’s innate form as it grows. We will weave a ‘false foot’, work with a 3-rod wale for the upset of our basket, and chase weaving with a 4-rod wale, double French randing, packing to build up parts of the basket to create a beautiful swooping inset handle. We will finish with a 5 by 2-rod border.
Dimensions: H 10” x W 13” at border; 11” at base x D 13” at border; 11” at base
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Important note: Be sure to select your housing vs. commuter option (link here), when you register. Everyone must make a housing selection even if you intend to commute.
Registration closes May 20, 2026. The last day to cancel to get a refund (minus a $35 processing fee) is May 20, 2026. All cancellations initiated by the attendee require a written notification by the attendee and acknowledgement by the event Registrar. Email is an acceptable means of notification. Cancellations after May 20 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will incur a $100 fee. They will only be possible where the cancellation does not cause the workshop size to drop below the minimum.
Workshop spots are not transferable; if you cannot attend please cancel as soon as possible so that we can do our best to fill your spot from our wait list.
If the workshop you would like has filled, you may be added to our wait list; click here, and complete the ‘check out’ process, to be added to the wait list.
Split sessions, i.e., one class rather than two or two days rather than four, are not available.
Questions? Email WillowFestNW@gmail.com