weave a willow climbing plant support
In this course you will learn how to weave beautiful, sturdy plant supports of any size. Once you've taken this course you will never need to buy a climbing plant support again!
You could even decorate it with fairy lights and baubles and use it instead of a Christmas tree!
In this course you will learn how to make a sturdy, conical plant support of any size with an attractive spiral weave. Make them tall and thin, short and fat or anything in between! Just adjust your materials and proportions and use my comprehensive instructions.
Clear, step-by-step video instruction
Use your own materials or buy a kit from me.
Why not make plant supports as unique gifts for your gardening friends?
Or give them this course as a present
I take you step by step through each stage from choosing and preparing materials to adding finishing touches. Close-up videos show you exactly what to do. There are some interesting tips and tricks to learn but the project is easily achievable by a complete beginner.
Work at home at your own pace
Pre-recorded videos that you can watch as often as you like
Choose to source your own materials or buy my kit
Get help from me by email
Enjoy the meditative benefits of weaving
This course would make a brilliant gift for a crafty friend or relative.
If you want to give this class as a gift you MUST choose the gift option otherwise your email address will be enrolled onto the course.
If you purchase the kit of materials too then you'll have something to wrap up and give on the big day!
Judith Needham
first video - start here!
How to use this course
quick tip - don't cut the cable ties!
tools list
making your jig
keeping in touch, asking questions
quick tip - log-in issues
materials list
more about choosing materials
where to get willow for weaving
quick tip - knots
pairing weave
I suggest you repeat the pairing weave for a deeper band of weaving
weaving the spiral
binding the top and trimming
Suggested extra binding around initial band of pairing
caring for your plant support
some notes on using and caring for your plant support
Turn your plant support into a Christmas tree
feedback form
show us your plant supports!
Absolutely. If you've never worked with willow before, this is a great place to start.
If you work through the steps to make a 5-6ft tall plant support, I would expect it to take you 2-3 hours. And, of course, you can keep re-watching the videos and make as many plant supports as you like!
For each plant support: 12 stout sticks of whatever height you want your support to be plus about 1ft (30cm) to go into the ground. These can be willow, ash, hazel or anything similar that you can gather from your garden or hedgerows; a bundle of 4ft basket making willow. PLEASE NOTE: If you're using dry willow you will need to soak it for at least a week before it's pliable enough to use. So you'll need to plan ahead.
It's prohibitively expensive for me to post the 12 stout uprights so you will need to source those sticks yourself (I give you advice on what you are looking for). You will also need to find a large cardboard box to make into a jig (I will show you how) and you'll need a pair of sharp secateurs. I can sell you a bundle of willow, a bag to soak it in and a re-useable cable tie to hold the top together whilst you work.
If you are starting with dried willow, you will need somewhere to soak it - a bath or a water butt will do - or buy my kit and get a soaking bag; a SHARP pair of secateurs and a large cardboard box to make into a jig.
You can start the course whenever you like. As soon as you buy the course, you will get instant access to the video tutorials. You get full access to the course for a year from when you start it. So, if you start now, you could make some plant supports as Christmas presents and be able to revisit the course and make some for your own garden next Spring.
I will be on hand to answer your questions via email.
Please respect the time and energy that I've put into creating this online class and don't share access to it with your friends. I completely understand that it's fun to do crafts with your friends, and I want to encourage that, but if you came with a friend to one of my In Real Life classes then you would each need to buy a ticket so please do the same here. Of course, if you are doing this course at home and your kids or partner want to watch with you and have a go, that's fine.
The instructional videos are streamed so yes, you will need to have internet access and a phone, laptop or tablet. There are a couple of down-loadable PDFs which you can print but this is not essential if you don't have access to a printer.