Dates
September 25–27
September 25–27 · Red Deer
September Weekend of Weaving
at Pioneer Lodge
A weekend of basketry workshops in bulrush, cattail, willow bark, willow, and gathered materials. Come for one workshop, a full day, or build a weekend of weaving.
Location
Pioneer Lodge,
Red Deer
Workshops
Gentle beginner, beginner, and intermediate options.
Materials
Prepared natural materials and tools are included.
Five Workshops · One Weekend
September Workshop Details
Each workshop is designed as a doorway into a particular material, technique, or basket form. All weaving materials and tools are provided. Choose the date and time that works for you, then use the registration button for that offering. Most workshops include a 15-minute break partway through for light snacks and tea.
Gentle Beginner
Random Weave with Bulrush
$115
Wild or random weaving is a playful way to begin working with natural materials, letting the basket take shape through curiosity, movement, and touch.
In this hands-on workshop, you will explore bulrush and its soft, flexible nature as we coax loose strands into a small sculptural vessel.
We will talk about where bulrush grows, how it is harvested and prepared, and how to work with the material as it bends, twists, and settles into form.
By the end of the session, you will have created your own wild-woven bulrush basket to take home, along with a deeper feel for weaving with soft wetland plants.
Skills learned
- Getting to know bulrush as a soft wetland weaving material
- Starting and building a wild or random weave form
- Adding structure while following the natural movement of the material
- Creating a small wild-woven bulrush basket
Workshop rhythm
4 hours · 1 hour guided instruction · 15-minute break for light snacks and tea
Gentle Beginner
Random Weave with Willow Bark
$145
Wild or random weaving is a fun, easy way to get into weaving with natural materials.
During this workshop, you will be invited to explore willow bark and its unique, leather-like qualities.
We will discuss how to find and identify willow bark for harvesting, and how to harvest it responsibly. We will also cover different methods for drying, storing, and preparing willow bark for weaving.
By the end of the session, you’ll have created your own wild-woven willow bark bowl to take home, along with a deeper understanding of the materials and methods used in basket weaving.
Skills learned
- Identifying and responsibly harvesting willow bark
- Drying, storing, and preparing willow bark for weaving
- Exploring wild or random weaving with soft strip materials
- Creating a wild-woven willow bark bowl
Workshop rhythm
4 hours · 1 hour guided instruction · 15-minute break for light snacks and tea
Gentle Beginner
Cattail Berry Basket
$115
What if the rustling cattails that line the marshes could be coaxed into carrying your berries home?
Join us to find out, as we transform these green blades into a small vessel for gathering summer’s sweetest moments.
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to weave cattails over a wooden form, practicing timeless techniques such as the checkerboard weave, pairing, and waling. Together, we will finish the basket with a simple trac border, creating a sturdy, beautiful berry basket made entirely from cattails.
Skills learned
- Preparing and handling cattail leaves
- Weaving over a wooden form
- Checkerboard weave and pairing
- Finishing with a simple trac border
Workshop rhythm
4 hours · 3 hours guided instruction · 15-minute break for light snacks and tea
Beginner
Twill Berry Basket with Willow Bark
$145
A small berry basket built through twill, a rhythm of over-under weaving that comes together almost like a woven textile. Willow bark is the material here, leather-like and pleasantly flexible in the hand.
This one is still beginner-friendly, but the twill pattern asks a little more attention than a plain weave, since you’ll want to keep track of where you are in the sequence as you go.
Skills learned
- Identifying and responsibly harvesting willow bark
- Drying, storing, and preparing willow bark for weaving
- Following a simple twill pattern
- Keeping tension even around a small form
- Finishing a lightweight bark basket
Workshop rhythm
4 hours · 3 hours guided instruction · 15-minute break for light snacks and tea
Intermediate
Willow Berry Basket
$185
Six inches wide and round, this little basket carries all the fundamentals of stake-and-strand work. It is small enough to hold in one hand and complete enough to teach you a great deal.
You will lay a slath base, then move through waling, pairing, and slewing to build the sides, finishing with a rod border, with an optional wrapped-core handle if you like. Willow asks for some hand and finger strength, and a little weaving experience helps here, though keen beginners are welcome.
Skills learned
- Tying a slath base
- Waling and pairing up the sides
- Slewing for a fuller wall
- Finishing with a rod border
- Adding an optional wrapped-core handle
Workshop rhythm
8 hours · 1-hour break · includes light snacks and tea
Gentle Beginner
Cattail, bulrush, willow bark — soft materials that bend where your hands take them. A good place to start.
Beginner
Approachable willow projects — short enough to finish without putting too much strain on your hands, long enough to learn the feel of the rod.
Intermediate
A full day that asks more of your hands and your focus — settle in and let the rhythm take hold.
September Schedule
Choose your weaving time
Overlapping workshops are shown side by side, so you can see which sessions happen at the same time.
Bulrush Cattail Willow
Friday · September 25
Saturday · September 26
Sunday · September 27
What to Bring
- All weaving materials and tools are provided.
- A water bottle and any snacks you may need.
- Food for longer workshops, if you are staying through a break.
- Comfortable clothing for hands-on making.
Location & Arrival
Workshops take place at Pioneer Lodge in Red Deer, Alberta.
See location and practical details, including parking, what to bring, what to expect, and places to stay.
Get directions →Questions?
Email us anytime.
Policies
Children & Youth
Children over 12 are welcome in Gentle Beginner and Beginner workshops with a dedicated caregiver. Intermediate workshops are generally best suited to adults or older youth with some weaving experience.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you may pass your ticket to a friend.
Waiver
A liability waiver is required for participation. Please review the liability waiver before registering.
Looking for more workshops?
Choose your workshop, save your spot, and spend the weekend weaving with natural materials.
We will be back at Pioneer Lodge in November, and will be in Bragg Creek and Edmonton in the months to come.