Ropework: Make a Celtic knot trivet and basket

In this one day course you’ll learn basic knotting and ropework techniques and terminology, including splicing and general techniques and methods for decorative knotting. In the morning you’ll make a flax trivet, or mat, using a traditional knot pattern, and incorporating the technique of splicing using a Swedish fid. In the afternoon you’ll build on these techniques and make a small round rope basket. This course is suitable for beginners, with no previous experience needed. It would also be well suited to those with experience in crafts such as willow basketry, who would like to explore a different medium and set of techniques. Your tutor for this course is Laurence Knoop. Laurence is a self-taught ropeworker and Basketmaker, who has been working creatively with rope since 2021, drawing on multiple traditional knotting and basketry techniques, adapted to his chosen medium of natural fibre twisted rope. Laurence seeks to work with materials that are as locally produced as possible; to that end, he primarily uses flax rope and twine, sourced from UK ropemakers who use flax fibre grown in Europe. Laurence is a member of Central England Fibreshed and the Heritage Crafts Association. Our class sizes are small, so you'll have a chance to engage with the tutor while you work. This course will run on the 27th of June and the 17th of October. There will be a break for lunch and a mess room to eat lunch in, alternatively there is an on-site café. Tea and coffee provided.