THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERIALS TO WEAVING FINE QUALITY BASKET CAPS
The quality of materials available to a basketmaker is critical to fine weaving, and although most weavers today complain that materials were better for previous generations,
this may not have been universally true (figs. 14) / (fig. 15) / (fig. 16). At the time O'Neale interviewed many of the great basketmakers in 1929 no "burns" were permitted by government
agencies. The burning of hazel and bear grass the year before it is collected is necessary to regenerate excellent new growth for fine weaving. Not all the great weavers of
earlier periods gathered all their materials or knew all the processes of preparation.
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