Rods are purchased by length.  Three to eight foot rods in brown, steamed brown, buff and white are usually available for sale.  Specific availability varies from time to time.

Full Length Willow Samples

Samples of full length willows of brown, steamed brown, buff and white willow are available for $10.00.  This price includes shipping.

Designing a Willow Basket

A willow basket can either be made from one length of rods (such as four foots for a small basket) or from several lengths of rods.  Careful grading is important in both cases, but especially in the first case.  The thickest rods are used in the bottom sticks.  The stakes are thinner than sticks and the waling rods are usually thinner than stakes.  Weavers in the siding will be thinner than walers and usually of medium material.  The thinnest material may be reserved for the weaving of the base.

The longer the length of the willow rod, the thicker the individual member and hence the lesser number of rods per pound.  There are approximately 90 to 100 rods or withies in a pound of four-foot buff willow and 30 rods in a pound of six-foot buff willow.  One half to three quarters of a pound of willow is necessary for a medium sized basket.  Four- to six-foot willow would be used in a medium-sized basket, with three- to four-foot in a finer basket, and six- to eight-foot willows in a large basket.

Use and Storage of Willow

Willows are worked in a damp condition which means that they must be soaked in cold water in order to make them pliable.  After soaking, they should be covered in a cool spot to mellow overnight.  Times for soaking vary according to the thickness and type of willow and your particular situation.  The following soaking times are given as a guide:

Test:  The willow is soaked enough when a butt end will kink at 90 degrees without breaking.  Do not over-soak!

Prepared willow is velvety to the touch and has no greasiness.  Prepared willow, not in use, should be kept covered as it will dry out easily.  One should only prepare enough willow for a few days use and dry all unused willow.  Willow should be stored dry and in a dry, dark place.

Prices

(a) Retail Prices

There is a minimum order of one pound of any type or length of willow.

• Brown willow (3 to 8 foot**) ................................. $9.00 per lb

• Steamed brown willow (3 to 8 foot**) ................. $10.00 per lb

• Buff willow (3 to 8 foot**) ................................... $10.00 per lb

• White willow (4 to 8 foot**) ................................ $11.00 per lb

• White willow (3 foot) ............................................$12.00 per lb

** Please specify exact foot length of willow desired

 

(b) Wholesale Prices

There is a minimum order of 10 pounds per individual item:  e.g., 4 foot buff.   There is a price reduction if the total order is over 75 pounds.

Price per Pound	Brown Willow	Steamed Brown and Buff Willow	White Willow*
10 pounds of one kind	$8.00	$9.00	$10.00 $11.00
Total order over 75 pounds	$7.00	$8.00	$9.00 $10.00

* Top price is 4 ft. to 8 ft. willows; bottom price is 3 ft. willows