Hopewood Willow Baskets
Based in the Wyre Forest area of Worcestershire, Sarah Loughlin creates unique baskets by hand for her company Hopewood. The basketry willow is soaked to make it pliable for up to a fortnight, then taken out of the soaking tank to be ‘mellowed’ overnight. When the willow is ready, Sarah uses the ‘stake and strand’ method, weaving the base of the basket first, before adding the uprights and weaving between the stakes.