Trugs

A trug is a square basket with short sides. The usually measure about 20 inches by 12 inches but they can be larger or smaller. The two long sides are packed so that they are a bit higher and provide a better grip for the handle.

Base
You will need a screwblock to make the base although it is possible to sit on the sticks but it is a bit tricky.  Take 8 stout (0.5 inch diameter) base sticks about 24 inches long.  The two outer sticks are doubled and I like to fix them together with tape and then drill holes through both sticks for the stakes.  Insert a small piece of willow through the end holes to stop the sticks twisting as you drill the others.  Drill the end hole about ¾ inch from both ends and space the remaining holes about 1½ inches between stakes.  Many basketmakers make the holes for the stakes using their bodkin but this is hard work.  Mount the sticks on to the screwblock either by shaving any thick ends or by wrapping the thin ends with a bit of cardboard so that they are all firmly held in place.  The end holes should be about ¾ inch above the screwblock.  Take your first weaver and bend it at about 14 inches from the butt around the left hand stick and pair using the two ends to the right hand stick.  Leave the butt end here and rand back using the tip end.  Join with a butt every time and continue until you reach the top holes making sure that the work remains straight and that the end sticks do not pull in.  Finish the base with a row of pairing.  The base is almost finished.  All that remains is to drill another four holes, one in each of the outer sticks (in the end this time) to take the corner stakes.

Staking up
Slype the ends of the stakes and insert them in the holes already drilled in the base. The side stakes are inserted beside base sticks as in a round basket.  Prick up all the stakes and either tie them together or put them in a hoop.

Waling
Chase two sets of 4 rod waling starting with tips.  When the first set of 4 rods reaches the second set drop on of the rods and continue with 3 rods.  Join in another two sets of 3 rods making the join in the centre of a side.

Siding
This basket only has siding on the two long sides.  Start at the left hand side of one of the long sides and rand to the right hand side.  Turn the weaver around the last stake on the right and rand back again turning the weaver around the second last stake this time and then back to the second last stake on the right hand side.  Continue randing back and forth each time each time turning one stake shorter than the previous row until you reach the centre.  Do the same on the other long side.  This is knows a packing.

Top waling
Once again chase two sets of 3 rod waling round the basket starting with tips. Join at the centre of a side and finish with tips.

Border
Finish with a four behind two rod border.

Handle
The trug in the picture has a rope handle but sometimes three rods handles are fitted and wrapped with skeins or chair seating cane.