In June I returned from an epic trip to Sweden and Norway to study basketry with my wife Jazmin. Last fall I was awarded a generous grant through the American Scandinavian Foundation. I don’t usually apply for grants—I don’t like having to frame what I do to fit the grant requirements. But this time my project fit perfectly. I wanted to travel to Sweden to continue my exploration of pine splint baskets or spånkorg—an interest that started in 2016. And then travel to Norway to learn about split willow basketry which has also been an interest since acquiring a split (willow?) basket in 2011. The main focus—to learn about how to prepare the materials so I can introduce or reintroduce these baskets in the US. My interest in baskets might be a surprise to those who know me for spoon carving and turning, but learning ash basketry at North House Folk School (97’) was how I got my start into craft. I’ve been making and teaching a variety of basketry since. In fact ash basketry was the first class I taught. I’ve been renewing my interest in basketry over the past few years.

Björn Majors and Jogge Sundqvist — Björn and Jogge back in 2016

In mid-May we flew to Sweden. After a few days in Stockholm we made our way to the Dalarna region where we studied with pine splint basket maker, Björn Majors. Björn has been making spånkorg for over 45 years. He’s made over 17,000 baskets! I first met Björn Majors in 2016 when I was in Sweden attending and teaching at Täljfest, a woodcarving event at Sätergläntan—Sweden’s Traditional Handcraft Craft School. Jögge Sundquist took me to visit him at his workshop in Tällberg not far from the school. Björn showed me how he split pine (Pinus Sylvestris) into splints and then wove a simple basket. I had been curious about this after seeing old films on Youtube. I was interested in trying to use my local pine, but needed to see how it was done and get a good look at some of the tools used for the work. A year or two later I did end up splitting some red pine (Pinus Resinosa) but didn’t have time to weave with it. Then, after a short visit with Björn last year on the trip with North House Folk School—the idea was rekindled. It was time to go deeper and spend time with Björn. It’s crazy to think that this idea and process started 8 years ago—and that it will continue on as I figure out how to make these baskets here.

We spent two days learning to split fresh pine. The technique is not easy. And breaks the general splitting rules of using center of mass to help control the split. In this case we split well off center and exploited the spring/summer wood’s different densities. A bit mind blowing. Then we wove two types of baskets under Björn’s watchful eye. One with the hand split pine splints we made and roped birch sapling handle and the other with machine made splints. I will reserve discussing the splint making machine for some other time. But it’s beyond anything you’ve seen. Ha! And a special thanks to Daniel Lundberg for hanging out and translating!

The basket gifted to me that inspired this whole trip

The split willow baskets of Norway (and Sweden) have also been an interest of mine for years. Back when I was selling at our local farmers market a friend stopped by to show me something that he thought I would find interesting. He went on to explain that he recently was taking a drive with his elderly uncle. And while driving down the country road his uncle was reminiscing about learning to make baskets when he was a young boy. At some point the uncle asked to stop by the side of the road so he could show my friend the technique. My friend brought the sample willow rod with him as he explained that his uncle proceeded to split off a splint by cutting into a quarter section of the outer surface and then bent the material back over his knee forcing the splint off the main stock of willow. I was intrigued as I hadn’t heard of the technique before. But to my surprise later that summer I was gifted a basket by another friend. He had bought it at a farm auction in the same area and thought I would like it. It was made of a split material and although hard to say for sure….either willow or maybe hazel. The split material was unlike anything I’ve seen before. I suspected it was a Scandinavian technique or at least European. So the story comes full circle. Side note-I ran into my friend a few weekends ago and when telling him about our trip he mentioned that his uncle is still alive! I’m making plans to meet him and find out more about where he learned and how many baskets he made.

Hege and I talking about baskets in Lichtenfels, Germany 2023

The second part of the trip was to study split willow basketry with Norwegain basket maker Hege Aasdal. Hege received a 3 year fellowship (2020-23) through the Norwegian Institute of Handcrafts to go more in depth with her research about traditional baskets. She has quite a lot of experience with different traditional basket forms and especially material preparation—like split willow. And this is what I wanted to know more about. I first learned of her from a basket weaver friend Emily Derke. Emily had spent some time with her a few years earlier through North House’s Artisan Development Program. In the photos Emily showed me Hege was splitting willow for baskets. After writing the grant, but not knowing if I received it, Jazmin and I met Hege and her teacher Samson in Germany last year. I didn’t write about it on this blog but we went to Lichtenfels, Germany last September for the big European basket festival. Lichtenfels website here.

So, we spent 4 days with Hege and her teacher Samson Øvstebø, splitting and shaving willow and weaving two styles of baskets—a skruck and vedmeis. Splitting willow is just like my friend’s uncle described. The splints are levered off the main sapling. Like the pine splitting, it’s contrary to what I know about splitting, but works great once you figure it out. I can’t wait to set up a break and get stuck-in practicing the technique.

After the initial split you can manually split the material. They say that a master can split it as thin as paper. I believe it.

Finished baskets made from split willow with Hege

Before leaving Sweden we spent the day with Swedish craft consultant Fredrik Eriksson and woodworker and basket maker Ida Jansson splitting willow and talking about baskets—skruck and kipe. Both have been relearning old techniques and baskets. The Swedes split their willow the opposite of the Norwegians. And both chuckled about each other’s techniques. It was a lot of fun.

Later in the trip we visited an old friend Helena Åberg in Borås. Helena along with Sophia Månsson and Fredrik started a Swedish basketry association here Helena and Sophia also created a traveling basket exhibition called Beloved Baskets. The exhibition highlights the various traditional baskets of Sweden made by present day makers. But it also displays baskets the local community in the area around where the exhibition is held. Antique baskets from the archives of the local museums are added too. It was great to see Helena again. She brought me over to Sweden in 2014 for a Skedfest (spoonfest) she organized. It was that trip that I visited Borås and studied the turned boxes there—going on to teach and promote them within the pole lathe turning world. Again full circle.

Helena and I talking about the basket exhibit

There was so much more I can’t cover it all. But all said we covered 1500 miles, slept in 15 different beds, and met with 22 craftspeople—basket makers, green wood workers, and turners. We visited museums, many loppis (flea markets), ate great food, had really good (and affordable) Italian wine, oh and visited an impressive Norwegian Ale bowl collection. We also visited 3 over 1000 year old churches. And found some great antiques—ale bowls, turned boxes, and baskets.

My friend and mentor Ramon Persson took this photo at an old castle in Motala Sweden.

And while I plan on writing about some of what we experienced in more detail— know this—I’ve been putting to practice what I learned and started to develop course work over the summer. So look for classes on Scandinavian Basketry at Woodspirit School or North House Folk School in the near future.

Another Scandinavian Basket I make and am teaching a workshop on is the Knutkorg Scandinavian Knot Basket September 13-15, 2024 at Woodspirit School.

Thanks again to the American Scandinavian Foundation for funding this project. And everyone that helped us along the way.

Scandinavian Baskets of Norway and Sweden

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