"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 47 Date Sent: September 19, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1172 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-899-5747 davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Do You Like Weavers Words? Click Below To "Recommend-It" To A Friend! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=210339 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The Basket Bookstore Stop by "Weavers Words Basketry Bookstore" for a great selection of basketry literature & save up to 40%. Over 40 titles to choose from. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/book.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Attention New Subscribers You can search Weaver's Words web page and back issues by going to Weaver's Words web page (http://www.iei.net/~davidc/) and entering your search criteria into the PinPoint search box. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Attention AOL Subscribers For some reason some AOL subscribers haven't been receiving Weaver's Words through email. If you are one of these subscribers, or know one of someone who has not been receiving Weaver's Words, you can get all of the issues on the Weaver's Words web page. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Everyone, After a temporary scare everything is back to normal. You can go back to using my original e-mail address: davidc@iei.net If you sent me anything and it isn't in this issue or on the web page (i.e. pictures), I must have inadvertently lost it somewhere in cyberspace. Please resend them to me and I will add them ASAP. Also, there has been some wonderful recipes added to the web page. Be sure to check them out. Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re:Basket Liners & Stain Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 00:54:37 EDT From: RMHASK111@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Karen, I think you will find the liners you need At Tracey Welch's website (www.Basketwerks.com). It's located near Davenport, Iowa. I'm pretty sure she has a large assortment of sizes. Have you ever tried using oak Weaver's Stain? I really like the way it looks, and it's so easy to spray on. Coverage is good, too. Or if you want a nice honey-maple color to your baskets & don't mind the work involved in dying reed, try the dye color "Chestnut." I was happy with the outcome. For economy, you can't beat 50 of the cheapest tea bags available (knotted in an old nylon) and soaked for 3-4 hours in two or three 64 oz bottles of regular ammonia. Yikes! It really reeks at first - mix it outside if you can. The smell goes away in a few days. Shake or sponge off the excess moisture after you dip a basket, and as the basket dries, turn it a few times. Mary Hasken - where Iowa, Illinois & Wisconsin meet. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:07:49 -0400 From: "Beverly Uebel" To: Once again, I missed this basket swap. Are these swaps an on-going thing or just every so often? Also, does anyone have the "recipe" for a stain made out of tobacco, ammonia etc. I cannot remember the ingredients but I made it when I first started making baskets. It's cheap and I really liked the way it looked. Bev %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 46 Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:41:32 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net, dczerwionka@loy.org Debbie, In the last issue you asked about a supply source for 11/64" smoked flat oval, and to my knowledge, H.H. Perkins is the only company that handles that product at all. I don't have their address handy, but they can be found on Baskets, Etc. Weave Net Basketry Information About.com Basketry and on David's site under "suppliers". As far as the spoke weight goes, almost all the suppliers offer them too, Gratiot Lake, Royalwood, Country Seat, H.H. Perkins, The Caning Shop, Frank's Cane & Basket, and many more. What would probably help you a great deal, is to get the catalogs from each of the suppliers, then order what you want from whomever carries what you are looking for! Hope this helps you, The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN AOL Homepage ~~THE WICKER WOMAN~~ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Response to Mindy Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:51:33 -0400 From: Maggie Silva To: David Collins I have used both tiger and bird's eye maple for bases but not as handles for Nantucket's. I especially like bird's eye and am in the process of using a piece with many "eyes" for a square Nantucket purse. I'll try get it on my web page by the first of the new year atwww.massed.net/~maggies To Diana in Indiana--thanks for the note. I have been pleasantly surprised by the people who have seen the picture of the birdhouses and contacted me. Maggie Silva %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 46 Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 09:02:43 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net, basketcase@gtec.com Karen, In the last issue you asked about using Minwax spray and liquid on your baskets, sorry, but I have never used Minwax spray, but have used the liquid that I apply with a brush and am very satisfied with it. I usually use Puritan Pine, Golden Oak and Early American and thin it down with paint thinner and a little boiled linseed oil to get the color I like and extend the product, getting more use out of one can. As far as putting it in a spray bottle, I don't see the advantage, but maybe there is one. I wouldn't recommend using a compressor sprayer or an airless, too much bother and you would really have to do it on an assembly line basis to justify all the set up and clean up, at least in my opinion. Deft Oil also has a wonderful product that you can brush on, which I like very much in the natural color. They also offer many colors, but I have only used the medium walnut and the natural. The baskets have a wonderfully soft, smooth texture after the product is applied because of the tung oil. Other stain spray products that I am very happy with are Weaver's Stain and Deft. They both are made with a tung oil base that when it dries, leaves no smell, or taste and can be used on food products. I called both companies and spoke to the research folks and asked them point blank if they were safe on food surfaces. Check with your local hardware store for availability or contact the suppliers to see what products they offer, several offer Deft Oil, Weaver's Stain, Zar and others. Weaver's Stain even has their own website WEAVER'S STAIN Or http://www.weaversstain.com. Hope this helps. The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN Antler Baskets PhotoPoint http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=16796&a=72533 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: BACK to AK Date: 18 Sep 1999 16:17:51 -0000 From: "J. Choate Basketry List" To: List Member J. Choate Basketry List - http://www.corecom.net/~choatepp We're back to Alaska after a long three-day continuous journey. What a beautiful time of the year to drive through Canada. The trees are just beginning to show off their golden autumn finery and the underbrush is scarlet in comparison. How do you get those colors into your baskets is what I want to know. My dogs were exuberant to see me and vice versa. Now if the rain will turn to snow soon I can give you some more exploits of the Alaskan bush. A Lower 48 summer is a wonderful thing to behold but nothing compares to the wilderness of Alaska. Already different groups are signing up to become a part of next years tour. The website will soon be updated (after I get my clothes unpacked) but until then you may contact the following for information: Wendy Reary, St. Louis Basket Supply, stlbskt@juno.com, St. Louis, MO Barbara Rosner, Pagosa Springs, CO, rosner@frontier.net Penny Maraccini, Iron Mountain, MI (the UP eh?) pmaraccini@uplogon.com Wanda Haydt, Lake Erie Shore, Ontario, Canada whaydt@execulink.com As always if your group or organization would like to be included let me know and we'll fit you in. Until the winds blow, Jill Choate Talkeetna, AK %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Decoys Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 13:33:21 -0500 From: "St. Peters Church" To: davidc@iei.net Hi David, As a long-time lurker, I'm finally coming out of hiding. Last Monday I sent off my first swap basket, what fun it was to make a basket and send to a fellow weaver! Whoever came up with the swap idea....Good job! I was wondering if anyone had information on where I might obtain a decoy pattern. The Canadian Geese decoys are seen on the Baskets, etc. website. I was not able to access any email addresses from that site and I would like to purchase a pattern for those decoys. They are made by Diana Macomber of Alexandria VA. Thank you. Debbie Wagenecht "The Prairie Weaver" In No. Illinois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 09:39:50 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from cloudy Honolulu--a little rain would be great for my grass.., David, you are a computer genius. Thank you for thinking of us to the point that you worked day and night to get WW available to us. You are a sweetie. The basket called "A Day in the Park" is by Margaret Harness of Willowe*s Basketry. If the weaver who bought the pattern has no picture, she didn*t buy the original. The original has not only a beautiful color picture, but a print of the picture underneath the color one. It also has Willowe*s phone # printed on the pattern. You can check Willowe*s site http://www.qth.com/willowes for a picture of the basket (and it is an awesome basket) and I*m sure she sells the reed you are looking for. But I*m not sure I*d buy patterns from the person who sold you this one...it sounds like a copy. I am a minwax user and I combine my minwax with an equal amount of mineral spirits and 1/3 part boiled linseed oil and I spray it on my basket. I use a common garden type sprayer that I buy 3 for $3.25. If I think of it, I clean the sprayer out with mineral spirits after use and it will last longer. My favorite color is half early American/half golden oak. Chase weaving on a wooden base holds the spokes in the base tighter than twining (just an opinion, I know, but it works best for me and it is what I teach). I find that twining on a wooden base had a tendency to loosen and pull the spokes out as it does. A question--we do have a guild in Honolulu, but as an 8-year weaver, we seldom do anything that stimulates some of us who have been weaving for awhile. For example, last month, we wove a basket I had woven, sold and taught 3 years ago. Our membership votes on what they want to weave twice a year and most of the time, the baskets are simple small baskets. And though the membership votes on them, most of the time, only 1 or 2 people weave the chosen basket. So, after talking to other weavers on the chat room, I found out they have guilds and "groups" who weave, eat and chat without by-laws, rules, business and so on. I thought about starting up such a group (and I am not competing with the guild nor am I wanting to take away from it..) that would want to improve their weaving skills and work together to learn how to do better ribbed baskets, twills, different rims, etc. So how does this happen? I talked to someone at class the other night who said she loved the idea and thought we should have it at a different house every month. (Community centers, etc. would charge us for use and they are hard to come by). That would limit the size of the group. And that might make the group look "exclusive". We don*t want (and this might sound harsh) weavers who are looking for a free class or will have to be taught the basics, so I think what I*m saying is, can we pick and choose who comes to this? Has anyone done this? Have your results been positive? I hope our sister (and brother) NJ weavers stayed out of Floyd*s way and are safe and almost dry. Bert, I*m working on my KC schedule--can we meet for breakfast some morning? I hope so. And what is the Beachcomber Basket? Aloha, Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 18:03:28 -0400 From: "susan davis" To: Yes Karen you can use a Wagner Sprayer to stain your baskets. I also weave and sell and my husbands uses his sprayer all the time to stain my baskets. He uses a mixture of about 60% stain to 40% thinner. As you can guess you need to clean the sprayer good and as soon as you are finished. He also sprays straight thinner through the system when he is done. Enjoy it is a lot easier than brushing. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Howdy Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 23:50:44 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Hey again, Gretchen - 206 baskets! I haven't made 200 baskets in the last 10 years! I feel really good if I can get 3 or 4 ready to sell at the holidays. I probably have enough supplies to make that many, but that doesn't count;-P I did recently get a large Shaker mold from Brick House Basket Supply that I have been using for reed baskets. It is about 10"x16" and I found a notched heart shaped handle that works perfectly. The first one I wove had 1/2" and 7/8" uprights and 3/16" weavers. I wove the basket so tightly that I didn't know if I would get it off the mold. The corners were just not budging. After a couple of attempts over a few evenings I finally got it loose. I pre-stained the rim and handle with a cherry stain and then over-stained the whole basket with tea. It turned out very nice and looks very "Shaker". The second one I wove with some space dyed 3/8" reed in a twill pattern and it also turned out pretty well. I have never woven an all-over twill pattern and I learned a few things in the process. Karen - about Minwax stain - have you every used the Golden Oak. It gives a very nice honey color. I think Provincial might give you the right color too, but I haven't used that color in a while. I also almost always thin my stains down with mineral spirits as the reed really absorbs the stain quickly and can give you a very dark color. By diluting the stain they go a lot farther and you can easily vary your colors so all of your baskets don't look the same. I actually think with brush you use less stain as you put the color only where you want it not all over the papers under your basket. Mindy - about slots in Nantucket bases - I had the man that turns wood for my father name some bases for me and because I like a tapered slot for a nice tight fit he made a special tool for this by grinding down a hacksaw blade and using it on the lathe like a parting tool. That way he did all the work directly on the lathe. It took him a couple of tries to get the groove the way I wanted it, but once I was able to explain what I needed they turned out great. I how have a ton of cherry bases that are a really nice dark maroon color. I haven't used tiger or birds eye maple but have seen beautiful Nantucket lids turned out of it. Well I am going to the St. Louis Art Fair tomorrow. This is where I bought my basket from Leon Niehues last year http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/collection.htm . I just sold one of my Nantucket Wine Coolers so I have money burning a hole in my pocket. Maybe I will find something that catches my eye. I will let you know what I find. Everybody take care and happy weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 08:31:55 -0400 From: Jan Beyma | Block address To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Subject: Staining Baskets Karen: My husband is so gracious to stain by baskets using his paint gun that is connected to an air compressor. It works great and is much cheaper that buying the cans of stain. I use the minwax golden oak and to get the more golden look my husband dilutes the stain with thinner. You just have to play around with it till you get the color you want. Hope this help. Jan Safe & Sound in Wilmington, NC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 41 Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 18:35:54 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 41 Hi Everyone! Time flies and I'm behind again, but now that some of my baskets are off to St. Louis to be Juried for teaching at MBG next June, I should be able to catch up. The 6th WW Swap is rolling right along, and we're nearing the end of the weave and ship time. I've compiled a list of people who said they were interested in coordinating future swaps. We've got at least a couple of years 'worth! I will furnish this list with email addresses and dates received to the next coordinator. If I missed anyone, please let me know and I'll get you onto the list. If I have you listed and you'd rather not be right now, let me know and I'll take you off the list. This is not carved in stone, folks! The order can be changed as necessary for the convenience of the people who are going to be doing the work! Here are the names, pretty much in the order in which they came in. But I did move the tentative names to the end of the list to give them a little more time to think about it. Dolores Gatz (You're next up, if you still want to do it!) Jennifer Mulcare-Sullivan Claudia Hopkins Lois Keener Faye Stukey Katy Ulrich Carolyn Black Lin Karrels Ginny Pelletier Nancy Skinner Jean Weinrich (winter) Valerie Miller Donele M. Monte (winter) Pamela Zimmerman Donna Young (When I get a computer for my home) Mary Berrus (might) Carol Zeller (Perhaps) With the high level of interest in the WW swaps, It seems we could have one about every other month. That could mean sign-ups in October with weave & send in November. But - the actual timing for the 7th will be announced by the new coordinator. I will gladly provide whatever help I can to the next (or other) coordinator. Barb Byrne - Sorry I won't be able to take the Mary Stone class in October. I am interested in getting down your way eventually, though. Anna in Tassie - Welcome back! I've missed you. Sounds like you've been having some great times. The Gathering must have been terrific! It was certainly exciting to read about. Billie in southeastern Va. Beach. - Welcome back to you, too. and Huzzah!!! For you and your Best of Show Prize! The kids ribbons are cool too - & a great way for them to get involved. Thanks for the Target tip - we have a new one opening here soon. I've just started playing with molds & am having a lot of fun improvising. Dianne Gleixner - If you have a friend who buys kitty litter in plastic jugs, they're also good for storing dye. So are bleach jugs, if you rinse them out and let them air for a day or so. I'm also in the process of switching away from milk jugs. Debbie Gring - I use shells on my beachcomber wall pouch baskets, but I usually collect shells and fragments that already have holes in them. Some from boring worms that attack the mollusks and some from weathering or friction from wave action on the beach. The sizes of the shells and the holes help me decide how to attach them. Some can have a weaver put through the hole(s) and be firmly integrated into the basket. Some are tied on with various bits of fine rattan, cords or waxed linen thread. They may be placed up close, or let dangle as part of a fringe or tassel. If you need to drill holes in your shells, be sure to wear a dust mask and eye protection while drilling. Nancy Brandt - Your basket weaving classes at the nursing home are a great thing to be doing. Keep up the good work! Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 20:09:04 -0400 From: Larry & Amy To: weaverswords David & World weavers- Just two really quick questions...first, does anyone have a good "recipe" for royal blue dye? I've not been very happy with the color I've been getting. Next, I just had a really super show at our county historical society & with my "windfall" , since I did lots better than I hoped, I WANT A DREMEL!!! Any info on special gadgets or attachments that I should get, please share with me. What do you use, or not use, for that matter, and what works best on rims, etc. Thanks so much weaving friends! Baskets forever, housework whenever! Amy in beautiful NW Ohio %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 46 Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 23:03:03 -0000 From: "Jeff & Diana French" To: "David Collins" References: 1 Hi Everyone! Well, we made it through Floyd with no problems. Lots of rain (which we needed) and a bit of wind, but otherwise no big deal. It had pretty much run its course by the time it got to us. But there were some area's in the state that had some pretty severe flooding due to all the rain. Guess we were lucky. Hope everyone else in Floyd's path made it through OK. Karen Lee Livsey - I used to use Minwax to stain my baskets and I found spraying much easier than brushing. I used a regular spray bottle (spray bottle found in hair care dept. of any department store) and it worked quite well. I did have to make sure to clean the entire spray mechanism after each use to keep it from clogging. After a while, the spray would start clogging anyway and I would just toss the bottle and buy another. Since they were so inexpensive, it was no big deal. I've never used a power sprayer, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Maybe you could borrow one and try it before making the purchase to make sure it isn't too powerful. Happy Weaving.... Diana French from pleasantly cool southern NJ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 46 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 01:05:06 EDT From: CLAYART2@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi Weavers, First...Thanks to David for doing a wonderful job with this forum...It takes a lot of work and I know that everyone appreciates the work you put into this just for us.... Gretchen.....I also have been looking for the info on how to do the slots in a wooden base, perhaps someone could post it here on WW once again.... Happy Weaving!!! Nora in Colorado where it has already snowed and the snowplows have been clearing the road up to Pikes Peak already... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Plastic liners Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 09:40:41 -0500 (CDT) From: catslapbaskets@webtv.net (Russell / K.L. Mitchell) To: davidc@iei.net Hello David and World Wide Weavers! In response to the latest issue of Weavers Words: Tracy Welch at www.basketwerks.com Email Basketwev@aol.com has a selection of Plastic liners. I have used regular plastic spray bottles to spray black walnut stain on baskets and it works okay. I don't know how that would work with oil based stain. Recently I wanted a lamp for my living room, so I decided to weave one. I went to a local thrift shop, bought a 2-foot tall vase shaped ceramic lamp for $5.00. This lamp had a removable wooden base, so I was able to put my spokes between the wooden base and the body of the lamp, tighten the base and weave up the sides of the lamp using it as a permanent mold. Topped with a new shade I think it looks great (if I do say so myself) and it fits my decor' which is "early basket". This was a fun project and could be a good way to give a new life to an out of date looking lamp. As always many thanks to David for this forum and glad to see you got everything up and running so quickly. Happy weaving, Karen in Cloudy Mpls MN where the cat has been on my lap, my arm and my chest while typing this!! http://community.webtv.net/catslapbaskets/doc %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: min wax Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 12:44:13 -0400 From: gorbics To: David Collins To David: Glad all is up an running again. To: Karen Lee Re: Minwax Have you tried using Golden Oak stain? Have you tried applying the minwax with a sponge brush (@about 3 for 1.00 at the hardware counter). It works quite quickly and I rinse out the sponge in warm water and use it a couple of times before throwing it away. To: Kathy Re: Camera Cases There are some wonderful black nylon lunch "buckets" or cases that work very nicely as a Sony Digital Camera carrying case and they are not as noticeable as a "camera case" and are less likely to be stolen. Nan Nan and Steve Gorbics Homepage : http://www.homepage.oceana.net/~gorbics %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: poplar board Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 12:32:28 -0500 From: Deb Erikson To: David Collins References: 1 Hello everyone. I'm new here, hope this is the way to post a message! I have a question. I was told by a basket weaver that I could get a poplar board, hold it with vices and then plane off the edge, planing off some weaving strips. Anyone heard of doing this? She didn't say it should be green wood, either. If this works for poplar, does it work for some other types of wood? Thanks, Deb %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Busy, busy Fall... and Gourds! Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 16:40:06 -0500 From: Linda Boyle-Gibson To: davidc@iei.net How did it get to be the middle of September already? In spite of the hot dry summer that seemed to be endless, I'm now wondering where time went. As I read about the flooding on the East coast, I wish we here in Southern Indiana could have some of the rain because we have had no measurable amount since the end of June. Fall will bring several basket conferences and a chance to see many old friends and meet new ones. I'm looking forward to leaving for Shawno, WI this week where Jean Cadmus May, Tressa Sularz, Sharon McElroy and I will be teaching on September 25 & 26. November brings the MI Convention which will be here before I know it, I'm sure. On October 23, Marla Helton is coming to my studio and teaching two classes. Great Gourds will be offered in the morning ($40.00) and is a wonderful introduction to working with gourds. Students will learn how to clean, cut, dye, drill, and weave around the top of a gourd and a variety of materials will be available to use for experimentation. The afternoon class will be a gourd top BIRDHOUSE ($38.00) which is a functional, whimsical birdhouse that begins with a base woven with round reed and uses a gourd top for the roof. Marla has taught all around the country and is a delightful person and teacher. If anyone is interested in the class or classes, a few spots remain. Contact me at 1-800-997-1948 for more information. Debbie Czewionka asked about finding 11/64 F.O. smoked reed and spoke weights. The spoke weights are easy -- I carry them as well as any basket supply business. I also carry smoked reed but have never seen the 11/64 offered from the importers. Possibly one of the other supply businesses may have a different source but 1/4" F.O. is the smallest size I know of. In one of my patterns that I need a small size, I recommend trimming down 1/4 after it has soaked. Because the smoked reed is brown all through the material, you will not have a white edge showing. Happy weaving to everyone! Linda Boyle Gibson, In a Hand Basket 3105 South Old SR 446, Bloomington, In 47401 Site-- 1-800-997-1948 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 16:34:53 -0500 From: mlower@mail1.aeroinc.net To: David Collins Hi everyone, A message for Debbie who is looking for basket shops in the Chicago area. In the west suburb of St. Charles there is a place called Fine Line. It teaches all kinds of classes from baskets, weaving, etc. They have quite a few basket supplies, so you might want to call and see if they have what you are looking for. Mindy http://www.aeroinc.net/~users/nantucket %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.