Katherine Lewis
Katherine Lewis is a full time basket maker. Her basketry inspiration begins with the willow she and her husband grow on their farm near Mount Vernon, Washington. Growing the willow for her baskets allows Katherine to choose from a wide selection of natural willow colors and weaving qualities for her baskets. Katherine weaves baskets from willow and willow bark using both traditional and contemporary basketry techniques and the hand tools of the craft. Willow for stake and strand basketmaking is cut to the ground each year during the winter, and allowed to dry before re-soaking to weave. To harvest willow bark for her bark baskets Katherine allows some willows to grow for several years before harvesting, stripping the bark when the sap has risen in the spring. Younger willows produce thinner bark for weaving; older willows give thick textured barks for more structured pieces that are stitched. Using the different bark thicknesses and textures allows her to create pieces that draw your attention to the diverse qualities of the material.
Katherine started weaving baskets about 35 years ago when the farm grew fresh market produce sold in the Seattle area. Initially she approached basketry as a wintertime activity and a way to make display containers for their farmers’ market booth. Some years later she decided to pursue basketry full time. Most of her baskets are made using traditional European willow basketry techniques. Although European immigrants brought these traditions with them to the USA, much of it has been lost. She has made several trips to Europe to study with individual basketmakers and attend conferences and basketry fairs to improve her skills as well as for inspiration. Depending on the variety, the willows grow from 3 to 10 feet tall per year, providing numerous withies from each stool (or plant). The willow bed will continue to produce for many years in good conditions.