Twining the Last Weaver Tutorial

Posted by Joanna on 03/18/14 – 2 Comments

On a basket, the last weaver is an important row. It’s the one sandwiched between the two rims. This is the row that will be held in place by the tucked stakes and the row that acts as the anchor for the rim and lasher. On many patterns (those with a rim filler), the last row is normally a final row of 3/8” woven into the side in the same way you wove the rest of the sides.

But in some patterns (those with an open or antique reproduction rim), the last weaver is twined from #3 round. Here’s how you can do that step.

Step 1: Soak the pieces of #3 round for several minutes until pliable. You don’t want these to be too crispy, or they’ll snap.

Step 2: Once the side weavers are all completed (but before you clip or tuck anything), begin by selecting one piece of #3 round and positioning the end behind a stake where the weaver is in front. You can start on either the front or back of the basket. Simply hold or clamp the #3 in place.

Step 2: Start the second piece of #3 round by placing the end of that piece behind the next stake to the right.

Step 3: Twining is a long game of leapfrog. Begin by twining the first piece of #3 round behind the third stake and out the hole.

Then take the second piece, which is now the piece furthest to the left, and do the same thing – behind the fourth stake and out the hole.

Leapfrog in this same pattern – twine the round furthest to the left behind the next stake and out the hole.

Step 4: Twining is usually used on patterns that include a stair-step weave. When you reach the stair step, simply follow the line the corners make with the twining.

Step 5: When you reach the spot where you started the twining, resume leapfrogging over the first row and continue on to the second. This naturally should alternate to be the opposite of the first row.

Do this for as many rows the pattern calls for.

Step 6: Sometimes your #3 round either breaks or is too short. If that’s the case, you can fix it by clipping the round so it will hide behind a stake.

Then use a flat-tipped weaving tool to open a space to tuck the end into the row below.

Take the end of a new piece of #3 round and tuck it into the row one stake back. Continue with the flow of the original piece and keep on twining.

Step 7: When you’ve twined the correct number of rows, clip the two pieces of round behind the same stakes where you started them.

You don’t need to tuck them into anything, because when you tuck the stakes, the start-stop of the round will be covered.

Remember that when you clip and tuck with a twined last row, you need to tuck every stake instead of clipping off every other stake.

Good job! You’re done!