Video of Hilary teaching at The Old Kennels, Dunkeswell. 2025
Willow Basket Weaving
2-day workshop Friday 18 – Saturday 19 September 2026, 10am – 4.30pm
MAKE Southwest Riverside Mill, Fore St, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9AF, United Kingdom
A 2-day willow basket workshop with MAKE Southwest Maker Member, Hilary Burns MBE. £160
In this two-day workshop you’ll make a shopper or foraging basket, with a wrapped handle, using a selection of natural coloured willows with the bark on. The willow you will use will be taken from Somerset and Hilary’s collection of varieties.
Beginners will make a round basket, improvers may like to expand their skills into oval work, or try different weaves or borders.
Please wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. All tools and materials will be provided.
3 day Willow woven stool course with Hilary Burns MBE and Ambrose Vevers. 9/10/11 October 2026
This course is a rare opportunity to combine willow basketry and furniture making. In 3 days you will make a strong, lightweight and comfortable ash stool with expert guidance from Hilary Burns (master basket maker) and myself.
Day 1: After a short introduction you will dive straight into shaping your ash stool legs and rungs using super sharp tools such as drawknives and spokeshaves. Experience the satisfaction of creating beautiful handcrafted textures that don’t require sandpaper!. Following the set design you will drill the angled holes and make tight tenon joints with rotary planes.
Day 2: In the morning you will glue and assemble of the ash frame ready for weaving in the afternoon. You will then prepare the willow with Hilary, learning the art of skeining willow using a cleave, which is on the Heritage Crafts red list for endangered crafts.
Day 3: Learn scalloming willow, which involves some tricky knife work, patience and a steady hand. Followed by weaving the main seat and finishing off, allowing time for late afternoon tea and cake.
Some basketry or woodwork experience would be useful.
All locally sourced ash and Somerset willow willow included.
Includes a wholesome lunch each day made by my sister Emily.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am-4:30pm (may run later on Sunday)
The course will be held in a beautiful off-grid timber framed barn surrounded by woodland on the edge of Dartmoor.
Venue address: Ashburton Christmas Tree Farm, Newton Abbot TQ13 7EZ, Devon, Googlemaps.
Places to stay around Ashburton here
Course booking here
Adults only. 18+