Learn to Basket Weave a Woven Bowl

Marsha Orr is teaching a basket weaving workshop at the San Diego Craft Collective on Saturday, October 10, from 1 PM to 5 PM. It's a four-hour session designed for beginners, so you don't need any prior experience to jump in.

Orr walks you through the basics of the craft, starting with a wooden slotted base. From there, you'll learn twining and twill weave, and you'll finish the piece with a matchstick rim. You get to pick from several dyed reeds, and by the end of the afternoon, you'll take home a woven bowl about 5 inches wide by 5 inches high. It's open to anyone 16 and up, and since it's built for beginners, it's a good place to start if you've never worked with reeds before.

There are a few things to bring: an old towel and a pair of sturdy scissors. A spray bottle is helpful but optional. The class runs for four hours, so you'll have plenty of time to work through the steps without rushing.

The workshop is held at the San Diego Craft Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the city's Arts District that teaches craft to the community. They specialize in woodworking, but they also run classes in sewing, ceramics, macrame, natural dye, weaving, fused glass, mosaics, and papercraft. Their programming is family-friendly and eco-friendly, running from early childhood up through teens and adults. The collective is located at 2590 Truxtun Rd, Studio 106, San Diego, CA 92106. The cost is $100, and there are discounts for military, first responders, and siblings, as well as scholarships available.