The Complete Guide to Basket Weaving

It's a fine primer, exactly as described. Chapter 1 gave me a good sense of what the hobby actually feels like - the soaking and the weaving rhythm - and I appreciated the honesty about the frustrations. The budget breakdown was helpful, though I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of gear discussed. I'm still on the fence about starting, but I feel informed enough to make a choice. A bit more detail on alternatives to traditional reed would have helped.

I decided last week to try basket weaving and found this guide at the perfect time. Chapter 1 felt like a friend talking me through it - not a salesman. The concrete costs ($25 to start!) and the blow-by-blow of a typical session convinced me to just go for it. I bought a starter kit, made my first small basket, and honestly, it's more fun and more work than I expected, but in the best way. The checklist in Chapter 5 was exactly what I needed.

Honestly, I was hoping to be convinced to start, but Chapter 1 convinced me of something different - that I don't have the patience for this hobby. I also don't have a lot of spare space, and the guide flat-out says you need room to soak long reeds and sit at a table with a heavy block on your lap. That's a me thing, so I appreciated the self-assessment checklist for making me realize it before spending money. It's an honest book, maybe a little long.

As someone who owns a craft studio and has tried most fiber crafts, this is the introduction I wish I'd had when I started weaving baskets ten years ago. I loved that it didn't pretend the first sessions are pure joy - they're tedious and your fingers cramp, and then you get one success and you're hooked. The comparison table for starter kits was valuable, and I even used the intermediate costs section to plan a workshop for my students. Recommended for the truly curious.

It was okay. The details are solid, and I respect the author for being honest about the cost of ongoing supplies - you don't just buy reed once. But I felt it was a bit slow, and I found myself skipping ahead. I got what I needed from the first few sections (costs, space, project). I probably won't reread it, but I'm glad I had it to make my decision. Some photos would have helped, as it's text-heavy.

Solid guide. Chapter 1 is a great opener - I appreciated that it got into the weeds of what it actually feels like to soak reed and struggle with the first few rows. It made my decision to try a class instead of buying all my own gear much easier. The self-assessment was spot-on; I ticked most of the boxes and didn't feel judged for the ones I missed. Wish there were a few more project ideas, but for a beginner's guide, it's well done.