Bamboo Craft - Wayanad
Bamboo basket weaving is an age old practice done by the women or sometimes men to make products for daily use. It is a simple process starting with splitting of bamboo into thin strips. The strips are split in two shapes flat and round to make different kinds of basket. Further these strips are dyed as per the requirement in natural or chemical colors.
There are three main parts of the basket; base, side walls and rim. Sometimes baskets are also attached with lid and handles. Weaving of baskets begins with making the base. Bamboo strips are arranged in criss-cross manner to make base of different shapes, circular, square, oval etc.
After making the flat base the side walls of the baskets are either made directly or they are made using a frame of the desired shape. Several patterns are developed while weaving a basket. For surface enhancement artisans also use dyed strips of bamboo for weaving. After reaching the appropriate shape and size, slightly thick and broad strip of bamboo is used to make the rim. The rim is pasted on the edges manual using a fevi-quick. Thereafter the extra strips are cut by Katti and the basket is taken off from the frame.
Lids and handle are added once the basket is completed. Weaving of curtains and blinds majorly happens in URAVU, whereas baskets and mats are weaved by the women in their home.
