A few years ago I visited the Cloisters in New York City, and among my favorite things there were the wattle fences and obelisks.
Upon my return from the Cloisters, I began searching for a book that shares tips for creating wattle projects for the garden, and I recommend the book Rustic Garden Projects for any garden do-it-yourselfer who just needs a few points in that area. Several types of projects are included in the book, and each time I entered a section, I would think that one section alone–even one project alone–was worth the cost of the book.
Images from Amazon, where the book can be purchased. The book has a different cover now.
The section about wattle is in the first chapter of this book. Wattle might also be called Braided Willow.
Weave A Willow Wall
Weave An Obelisk Around a Planter
Weave a Free-Standing Obelisk for Sweet Peas [and Nasturtiums]
Page 30, where the project was begun, was not included in the book preview
The artisan created a template from a piece of wood and drilled holes around the outer diameter of circle on the wood. The size of that circle would determine the width of the obelisk. The obelisk shown has a circumference of 113 cm or about 45 inches. Around that circumference, she drilled 17 holes.
She placed the plank of wood on some rocks, allowing the canes to go through the drilled holes. The part that goes through will be what is stuck into the ground. To hold them in place, she tied the poles at the top, with string. She braided a double cross braid around the bottom of the poles, immediately next to the board. Continue this lower border about 5 inches up from the board, or 12 cm. To end the weaving, double the end piece backwards and tuck it into the weaving at a 90 degree bend, next to one of the poles.
She stuck a thicker cane through to the board, immediately right of each of the poles that go through the board, toward the ground. This thicker pole does not go through the holes in the board. It rests on the board.
Weave the middle border about 24″ [or 60 cm] above the bottom border . Braid this border about 2.5 inches high [or 6 cm].
Braid another 2.5 inch border around the top of the poles. Then do the following:
Hammer 4 rebars deep into the ground and anchor the obelisk to those.
Weave a Fan Trellis
Other Books Using Willows for Creative Projects
- Making Rustic Furniture: The Tradition, Spirit, and Technique with Dozens of Project Ideas, by Mack
- Cane, Rush and Willow Weaving with Natural Materials, Cameron
- Making Twig Garden Furniture, by Ruoff
- Rustic Furniture Workshop, by Mack
- A Bend in the Willows: The Art of Making Rustic Furniture, by Dolphin
- Making Bentwood Trellises, Arbors, Gates & Fences, by Jim Long
- Willow Basketry by Verdet-Fierz