TRADITIONAL CREEL MAKING
AS DEMONSTRATED AND
TAUGHT BY
DONALD MACARTHUR
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TRADITIONAL CREEL MAKING
AS DEMONSTRATED AND TAUGHT BY DONALD MACARTHUR
Creels were made all over Scotland and styles varied between different
makers. The techniques described here have been developed by Donald
Macarthur from his remembering of his father’s creel making. Malcolm
Macarthur was the last professional creel maker on the Isle of Lewis
based in Siabost (Shawbost).
In olden times creels were made by sticking the willow stakes in the
ground, in a square. This was then made easier with the use of a square
template to put on the ground to put the stakes through. This template or
`ceap` in Gaelic was then made into something more substantial so that
the creel could be made on any surface and moved around whilst being
made. Creels are made upside down with the base being the last part to be
done. The creel is then taken off the template and a finishing border may
be added on.
Templates are generally constructed to enable the finished creel to be
16and ½ inches square, but can have 20 or 24 holes.
Originally creels were made with green (fresh willow with the bark on) or
brown willow (dried willow with the bark on then soaked to be worked
with) from willow locally grown. Creels came to be made with buff
willow (stripped of its bark) imported from Somerset. Donald now
teaches creel making with buff willow.
The photographs here were taken at a Creel making course taught by
Donald at Uig Community Centre, 24/25 November 2005.
TO START
To begin the creel 20 8` stakes are chosen. These are between 8-10mm at
the butt end. Thirty-two inches are then measured off from the butt end
and the rest cut off and discarded. These stakes are placed in the template
holes. For easier finishing off it is wise to place the thinnest stakes in the
middle holes on opposite sides of the template. Mark these sides with a
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pen. These sides will be the straight sides of the creel. The remaining
sides will eventually curve over to form the base.
Starting the creel.
20 stakes put in the template.
WEAVING
All the work on the creel is now done with 6` willow.
Keeping the shape of the creel is very important and can be quite a
challenge to do. The corner stakes should be held out with the left hand
while the right hand guides the weaver round it.
The creel is begun with a weave known as pairing. But this pairing
involves using four weavers rather than two and the weavers are twisted
between the stakes. This twisted pairing is begun by placing one weaver
with the butt end behind a stake, which is the first stake to the right of a
corner stake. The next weaver is placed butt end behind the next stake to
the right. The left-hand weaver is taken in front of one stake and behind
the next. This repeated with the other weaver, ensuring that both weavers
remain at the front of the work after each stroke.
On the third side of the creel introduce two additional weavers with the
butt end placed behind the stakes underneath the weaver it is to join. Each
pair of weavers should be sitting one on top of the other by the stakes.
Take the left-hand pair and twist them so that using the right hand the
hand moves clockwise making the pair now lie flat. Repeat with the
second pair. Going back to the original pair as they are taken in front of
the next stake twist them in the same way so that the weaver that was on
the bottom of the pair behind the last stake is now on the top of the pair.
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Twist again before going behind the next stake. Repeat with the other
pair.
Left: second row
Above: detail of twisted pairing
When the original two weavers become thin leave the ends on the inside
of the work and continue with just two weavers in the more usual form of
pairing. When these two weavers come round to the first side of weaving
add in two more weavers and continue in the twisted pairing. Continue in
this way until there are 7 rounds of weaving on each corner. Weave the
ends through and under the last row of pairing.
End of the first seven rows.
FORMING THE BREUGAN
The breugan is a space made in the weaving which can then be used as a
handle or to thread the `iris` or creel strap through for carrying on the
back. A creel was used as a measure for the selling or bartering of goods
such as potatoes. A half creel was up to the breugan.
Take 20 6` stakes and after slyping the ends put each one beside each
original stake to the right. Push these new stakes right to the bottom of
the weave. These stakes now become weavers in a weave that is a form of
French randing.
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Using a 2-inch by 2 inch piece of wood (about 6 inches long) place the
wood on the weave on the first right hand gap from the corner. Push the
wood against the new stake on the left and bend that stake down so that it
lies flat against the wood and behind the original corner stake and in
between that stake and the newly added stake.
Donald demonstrating the position of
the wood in forming the gap.
Repeat this with each new stake on that side starting with the next stake
to the right. Weave these subsequent stake/weavers in and out on top of
the preceding one. Leave the ends at the corner. Repeat with each side.
When all four sides are done, start weaving at any corner. Find the
bottom of the 5 weavers sticking out and weave across the whole side in
and out and finish at the next corner. During this phase of the weaving
when the weaving is on the round sides put pressure on the stakes to push
them inwards slightly to shape the work. The corner stakes are also
pushed inwards but it is important to not let them drift towards the middle
stakes. Repeat with the other 4 weavers. On the straight sides, ensure that
each side remain flat and does not bow out. Continue in this way weaving
each side separately until one weaver is finished then cut all the weavers
off so that each stake has the tip end of a weaver behind it.
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French randing section completed.
NEXT SECTION
This part is woven using paired weavers in either the twisted pairing as
above or in the more usual way of pairing. In the latter way pairs of
weavers are introduced into the work as a form of English randing. This
is where once each pair has been woven to the tips the next pair is
introduced to the work on the stakes which are the next ones along to the
right of the first stakes used.
An example of simple pairing on the middle
section.
Once 10 pairs of weavers have been worked there should then be a
weaver behind every stake. The rounded sides should now be shaped so
that the tips of the stakes of these sections are pointing towards each
other.
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The sides of the creel should measure 13 inches and it will usually be
necessary to continue pairing for a while to reach this height. Ensure that
the weaving does not end on one of the straight sides.
MAKING THE BASE
Working with the rounded sides, take the corner stake and bend it over.
Slype the end and slot it in beside its opposite stake. Bend that stake over
and slot that one in beside the first rounded stake. The height at the
highest point should now be 15 inches. A large oiled bodkin is a great
help here. Repeat with all the stakes in these two sides.
Left: First pair of bent over stakes complete.
Above: First row of weaving on the rounded side.
Now continue the weaving on the rounded sides only.
Start with the butt end of a weaver at the edge of one of the rounded
sides. Weave it in and out curling it right around the end (corner) stake.
This is a single randed weave. Continue adding weavers in the same way
and building up each side evenly.
ADDING IN THE SIDE STAKES
When the weaving has come level with the first side stake weave that in
going under the first pair of round stakes first. Slype the end and slot it
down beside its opposite stake.
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Left: First side stake being woven in.
Above: Middle side stakes.
The two middle side stakes should be woven in over the top of the first
pair of round stakes. When reaching the middle of the work it is usually
necessary to twist the weaver, which creates a rope like weaver. The
twisting has to be held tightly to maintain it but will then have much more
left
flexibility in the weaving.
Detail of side stakes.
Once the gap is filled the creel can be pulled off the template.
BORDER
Cram two weavers down beside each of the stakes 2 and 3 of any side.
Weave using the usual pairing until the next side. Add in two more
weavers at stakes 2 and 3 of this side and weave with the twisted pairing
method. On the third side add in two more weavers in the same place and
leave the original two weaver ends inside. Continue with the twisted
pairing weave. Repeat this pattern so that there are two weavers added in
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on every side. The last ends need to be threaded through the work to
complete the twisted pairing pattern ending with the ends on the inside.
Gaelic Terms
Breugan – the open work on a creel, used to pick up the creel
Caol – willow/osier
Cliabh – creel
Ceap – template
Iris – creel strap
Slat - a length of willow
Dawn Susan
December 2005
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