Cutting Cattails for Winter Basket Weaving

If you know me at all, you know that I love learning new things. And I love it even more when I can learn something for free. Last week, I was at the farm exploring the spring and cattails. I did a quick internet search to see what cattails are used for and discovered that some people use the leaves to weave baskets. If you are ready to learn how to weave a basket with cattails, join me on this journey to discover something new.

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Cutting Cattails for Winter Basket Weaving

I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about weaving a basket with cattails, but I am willing to try something new.

True story: During Covid when the world was shut down and we were all spending way too much time in our homes, I wanted to try basket weaving. I didn’t have any natural materials available but I did have some broken mini blinds. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures to show how that project turned out but you can take my word that it didn’t go well. I’m excited to learn how to weave a basket with cattail leaves this winter instead of plastic mini-blind strips.

Out at the farm, we have a great place near the spring where the cattails do well. I’m excited to start this new journey.

I took my loppers and cut about ten stalks of cattails being careful to not wipe out the entire area.

I know they need to be cut when they are still green and then laid out to dry on a flat area. Since the barn is close to the cattail marsh, I simply laid them out on a piece of wood and will wait a few weeks and make sure they thoroughly dry before rolling them up to use later this year when gardening season is over.

Have you ever woven a basket with cattail leaves? If you have, I’d love to hear your best tips.