Learning with me - courses and more
Willow courses
As well as my own courses at my workshop in Froghall Wharf or at Foxt Village Hall, I teach at The Gardeners Bothy, Staunton Harold, Greenwood Days and Zantium Arts. Courses are marked as suitable for three levels, please read carefully before booking. Materials, drinks and biscuits are included.
Booking is essential as places are limited to ensure sufficient tuition for each student.
Please bear in mind that basketmaking is very hard on the hands. If you suffer from hand, wrist, finger or shoulder problems it may not be the course for you.
More new courses will be added through the year. To book onto courses, see the details below (read carefully as some are not suitable for beginners) then please head to my shop, select the right course and book on and pay on the shop page. If its not on the shop yet, just ping me an email wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com
Voucher holders please email me and I will book you on. See below for cancellation policy.
Experience levels for courses – If you are not sure just email and I can help you choose a suitable course.
Level 1 – complete beginner – Not done any basketry before or just made a few simple willow items.
Level 2 – Improvers and intermediate – Students who have been on at least a couple of basketry courses and feel like they know the basics well. These courses are for reinforcing skills already learnt and improving, as well as adding new skills and techniques. There will be a some element of flexibility in weaves etc to enable you to learn more.
These courses will be more challenging than a beginners course and will require hand strength and dexterity.
Level 3 – Intermediates to advanced – Students who have been on many courses and are making baskets independently. New skills can be learnt and old ones reinforced and we can be more flexible in the techniques covered to assist your learning. These courses are to challenge you!
Willow basket courses June to October 2026
Click button to book
Beginners Basketmaking - Fruit bowl or plant basket course
Level 1 and 2 -
Saturday 10th October 9.30 - 5
This one day course will guide you through the process of making a shallow tray style basket or a taller fruit basket to hold and carry bread, fruit etc.
You will learn how to make a round base, choose stakes and stake up, then learn different weaves to make the main body of the basket and then weave
a border at the top to hold it all together.
You will be using home grown, colourful willows from my willow bed and some Somerset willow.
One-day beginners basketmaking course: Fruit Basket or gathering basket
Saturday 14th November – 9.30 – 5. Cost £90
Level 1 course
Wood and Willow Workshop, Froghall Wharf, opposite Hettys Tea Shop. Foxt Road, Froghall, Staffs.
Join us for a hands-on, creative one-day workshop where you’ll craft your very own shallow tray-style fruit basket,perfect for carrying bread, fruit, or simply as a beautiful home accessory. Alternatively you could make a sweet little mini foraging basket with a plain, pegged handle to collect all your foraging spoils, nuts, berries or for holding spoons or eggs in the kitchen. A useful little basket you will keep picking up and using.
Christmas willow
All levels. Friday 11th December 10-12.30 0r 1.30 - 4 - Foxt Village Hall - £45
Make a few lovely willow Christmas items to decorate your home using willow and other natural materials. Stars, mini reindeer and other goodies.
Book a morning or afternoon session.
Make a skandi star
All levels - Foxt Village Hall £45
Friday 11th December - Foxt Village Hall. 6.30 til 8.30
Make a beautiful skandi style star using willow to decorate your home.
Willow handbag creel - 3 day advanced course - £300 plus £20 for leatherwork strap
9.30 til 4.30
Wood and Willow Workshop, Froghall Wharf, ST10 2HJ
Level 3 course
For advanced students only. Really work on those skills and make these beautiful creel style bags. Using frame basket techniques we will create this creel bag basket. Learn how to shape the ribs, creating a curvy shape to our basket. We will cover frame basket weaving techniques, packing and filling in the basket, weaving around corners and tips to make sure the willow is pliable enough to bend around this challenging shape. We will then make the framework for a lid, setting it to dry overnight. Then weave the lid and attach using cranked ties and add a catch fastener. Add leather straps and you have a perfect bag for foraging and carrying all your treasures.
Bookings by email only wheatcroftwillow@googlemail.com
Make an Ose basket
March 19th and 20th 2027 9.30 – 4.30 - £220
Wood and Willow Workshop , Froghall Wharf ST10 2HJ
Level 2 and 3
This ancient design of frame basket was developed and used by the basket makers in the Western Scottish Highlands and Islands for many years.
Its old use was for carrying a broody hen from one croft to another hence its alternative name, the hen basket. Ose comes from osier or willow.
You will join pre-made and dried hoops by weaving with beautiful and colourful Staffordshire and Somerset willow to create this style of basket.
Using frame basket techniques, you will shape and add ribs as you weave and control the shape to make a beautifully curvy Ose basket.
Suitable for beginners with guidance, but improvers will love this basket, especially if they are interested in improving their frame basket techniques.
If you want to take your basketmaking further then more structured learning can be arranged with me in my workshop. We can cover materials preparation and selection and well as the techniques to make whatever baskets style you wish, working progressively towards set goals and building on your skills.
One to one tuition £200 per day in my workshop plus materials. Two people £275. Contact me to book, or use the links below, or book and pay on the shop page.
Course cancellation policy
If you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you cancel more than 4 weeks before the course, your fee can be refunded minus a £25 cancellation fee.
Less than 4 weeks and I cannot offer a refund, although if I can fill your place, you may transfer your course to another course of similar value later in the year.
Less than 7 days and unfortunately I cannot offer refunds. Course fees are non-refundable. No refunds can be made to those who fail to attend a course in full or in part.
You may send someone in your place, in which case we will need their contact details in advance
