In this four-day workshop, you’ll have two 2-day projects. The first project will be Wavy Willow Shopper. The second project will be Textural Technique - an Exploration in Small Willows. Scroll down to read more and register.

Cost: $680 ($460 base price, $220 material 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 Willow Fest Northwest 2026.

Instructor: Margaret Mathewson

Workshop skill level: Advanced beginner through intermediate. Basic twining (pairing) knowledge required (but may be with other material such as reed). Beginner with willow OK but MUST know twining, waling, and basic joining. The Textural Techniques project is especially good for people who love willow, but whose hands may not be up to the larger withies.

List of tools and any additional materials: Small sharp knife, clippers (side nippers or wire cutters are excellent), bodkin, threading tool (hollow awl or fid, optional but helpful), rapping iron. Awl or small bodkin, bark scissors.

Workshop size: 9 students

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Wavy Willow Shopper ~ Project 1

Description: Create a unique patterned handbasket or mini-backpack using tapestry weave and small colorful willows and other withies such as cherry, dogwood, and cedar. Learn an oval base in pairing and randing, invisible joins in a few variations, and rod or corded border. Includes talks on willow varieties and many other plants with compatible weaving ability. Includes growing, harvesting, drying, storing, resoaking, and fresh work. Beginners may need a simpler border. Advanced may choose.

Dimensions: Varies - 12” x 20” average

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Textural Technique - an Exploration in Small Willows ~ Project 2

Create a basket with multiple smaller willows in a fusion of techniques. This project is focused on hand holding for a tight weave. We will practice S and Z twining, randing variations, 3 strand variations including braids, and adding bark strips- all in small colorful willows. Practice controlling a shape and creating textures. Learn a few ways to add and subtract warps and splice wefts with no cut ends. Finish the border in a few different ways, from very basic to braids. Border models will be used to illustrate before the final finish. Small wrapped or corded handle optional. Class is going to evolve from very basic to advanced, and participants may stop at the level at which they are comfortable. The group will determine the path of the class. This session includes talks on willow varieties and many other plants with compatible weaving strands. Includes growing, harvesting, drying, storing, resoaking, and fresh work. Our project, however, will only be made with dried and resoaked materials.

Dimensions: Great variation, but about 10 to 14 inches all dimensions

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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