Rush Docky Bag Workshop

Dates: Four full days Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 October

Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm

Tutor: Nadine Anderson

Price: £450 including all materials over four full days

How to Book: For enquiries and bookings contact tutor Nadine via Email:  elybasketmaker@gmail.com

What to bring: Packed lunch (there is also an onsite cafe) , apron, notebook and pen/pencil, rush basketry tools if you already own them, camera or phone with a camera.

Description:

Suitable for those with some basket making experience.

Autumn School 2026 taught by Master Basketmaker Nadine Anderson. Dive into the rush basketry world of Fen dwellers of the 1800’s and plait yourself a Docky Bag.

The name derives from the wages docked when fenman stopped to eat their lunch carried in the rush baskets. Long lengths of 7 end plaits are stitched together with a mattress stitch that hides the hemp cord and pulls the two edges of plait into one another. Starting at the base then spiralling up to the top rim, making a lid from two other lengths of plait stitched about one another.

Finally stitching leather handles to the main body of the basket that thread through slots in the lid to make a historically inspired basket very functional and appropriate for modern living.

There is a very comprehensive handout that accompanies the teaching, a useful reference document if you wish to make more after the course.