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About Hazel
A primary material used for the warp of the firm twined Northern California baskets is Hazel.
Hazel was preferred to willow as a warp material as it was stronger and more bug resistant. Hazel was often grown in prepared ground, which had been burned in the summer or fall so that when it sprouted in the spring it would come in with clean, straight shoots. When the young plant reached up to 36 inches in the second spring, the plant was harvested, usually in April or May. On the day of harvest, the shoots were prepared by removing the leaves, peeling the bark off the shoots, and then scraping the shoots to a consistent size. The shoots were then sun-dried, sorted by size, bundled for storage and then, when used, were soaked in hot water and woven while wet.
Hazel was preferred to willow as a warp material as it was stronger and more bug resistant. Hazel was often grown in prepared ground, which had been burned in the summer or fall so that when it sprouted in the spring it would come in with clean, straight shoots. When the young plant reached up to 36 inches in the second spring, the plant was harvested, usually in April or May. On the day of harvest, the shoots were prepared by removing the leaves, peeling the bark off the shoots, and then scraping the shoots to a consistent size. The shoots were then sun-dried, sorted by size, bundled for storage and then, when used, were soaked in hot water and woven while wet.