2026-12-11 - Norwegian Vedemis Basket
Class Details
- Schedule: December 11-13 (9:00-5:00 pm CT)
- Location: This is an in-person class held at Vesterheim Folk Art School.
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Instructor: Ty Scheaffer
- Level of Instruction: Beginner Friendly
Description
In this class, you will learn to make a split-wood basket in the traditional style utilized by Norwegian farmers for storing and carrying wood, hay, and wool. Among the steep slopes of Norway, rural people couldn't afford to cultivate willow or other basketry materials on the limited fertile and flat land where crops could be grown. Instead, they turned to the abundance of the forests. A unique technique was developed to make thin, strong splints from wild willow, hazel, birch, bird cherry, and juniper by ingeniously splitting them with a specialized brake.
You will learn to make splints with both traditional Norwegian and adapted modern techniques from regionally appropriate trees including willow, maple, and ash. Additionally, you will learn about harvesting and processing roots and producing willow skeins for lashing the rim.
We will have the unique opportunity in this class to study an excellent historical example of a Norwegian split-wood basket from the Vesterheim collection, which will inform the design of our baskets.
Supplies
There will be a $50 materials fee paid directly to the instructor during class.
Enrollment Deadline
November 20, 2026