Angled Basket stamping no template

[bruce johnson]

Here is another way I lay out angled baskets. Actually this is the way I do most of them now, especially for strap work. It involves no templates, and the angles may be just a bit different for the same stamp than my template method.

First off, I make a light horizontal impression to establish a stamp width mark in the corner. I exxagerated the impression a bit for illustration purposes. I set one leg on this mark, and the other end of the same leg on the base line. This is my first impression. I then use that angle, setting the next impression against the base line and lining up the leg with the previous impression. I stamp an entire horizontal row. I then line up the centers, line up the legs, and stampm another horizontal row. I am building all the way up (or down) horizontally. Again, other than some leather stretch, the impressions top and bottom aor parallel with the cut borders. They don't run up or downhill. This might be a little trickier than using a template, but it results in cleaner borders for me usually. Every so often I eyeball the top of the impression row vs. the remaining open space. If it is not parallel, I fudge the spacing a bit up or down to make it work. Check every few rows, and it can't get too far out of line. Don't change it all in one row, but crawl a little with each row and it won't be noticeable except to another stamper.

My wife had heck on straps using angle templates. She would get off a little on her angle, and was meticulous about lining the centers up. That made the weave start to run off one way or the other. I would fudge it back, and 6" later, same thing. I couldn't explain it right to her. I got this tip off Jeremiah's layout tape, and the light came on for her. Worth the price of admission right there.

[paris3200]

Bruce,

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Basket weave is something I've never been able to get right. I'll give this method a try.

Jason

[Crystal]

Thanks, Bruce - and to all who take the time to post tutuorials!

If you are using a basket weave pattern as a border, instead of an all over pattern, what is the best way to transition to go around a rounded corner - or any corner for that matter?

Crystal

[bruce johnson]

Crystal,

I do a fair amount of the basket borders too. I don't like to do the curved basket stamp going around tight corners. It gets way too spread out on the edges to look good. I treat corners a few ways. On some I run them into a corner element like a floral or oak. On others I make them "panels", and have a break for them in the corners. I am attaching a couple of things I have done recently that show what I do. Both of these are three ring binders.

[Crystal]

Thanks for the additional pics, Bruce. Beautiful work. I especially like your rope cans.

I will give the basket weave another go around. Tried it a while ago and got frustrated with my alignments. (Nice to know I wasn't the only one with that particular problem.) Hopefully the brain has the knowledge now, just need to train the body. Thanks!

Crystal

[LarryB]

Thanks Ron for the help. I have struggled with the basket weave for some time. I got it where it looks "OK" but lots of work to go with it. I kept your instructions and I'll practice with this....just maybe. lol Your work really looks nice.

[stelmackr]

First off, I make a light horizontal impression to establish a stamp width mark in the corner. I exxagerated the impression a bit for illustration purposes. I set one leg on this mark, and the other end of the same leg on the base line. This is my first impression. I then use that angle, setting the next impression against the base line and lining up the leg with the previous impression. I stamp an entire horizontal row.

I don't remember where I heard this little tip, but many stamps are not EXACTLY symmetric so a paint dot one one side of the basket weave stamp should always be positioned towards the same end of the stamping. Try it and see if it makes a difference for you.

Bob Stelmack

[Myriam]

I agree with you Bob. It's probably why when I do basketweave, I've got to first try on a piece of scrap 'cause if I use the wrong side, I can't get the impressions aligned. If I turn the tool to use the other side, everything's properly aligned, no sweat.

[LarryB]

I wonder if thats what I am dealing with.. Thanks Bob, I'll do that Not all the tools are perfect so that makes perfect sense. After all......... It can't be me hahahahaha

[steveh]

Bruce ,

Or anyone that has constuctive input on the use of a basket stamp on a center line , with the angles going in opposit directions , that forms a a sharp point where the two converge. Often seen on horn caps, cantel seats, and cantel backs.How do you find the correct angle for the stamp, Since there are so many sizes of basketstamp?

Thank You,

Steve