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    A basket, brushes and some cans of wood stain on a piece of fabric

    Basket Stains and Sealers: Finishing Your Basket

    You are here: Home / Basket Weaving / Basket Stains and Sealers: Finishing Your Basket
    A basket, brushes and some cans of wood stain on a piece of fabric

    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    To stain or not to stain…

    Can you stain a basket?

    Staining a basket is possible. There are many stains on the market in various wood tones and fashion colors that will alter the color of the reed. Weavers may decide to stain a basket to match a room’s decor or create color variety in a grouping of baskets.

    Staining a basket is purely an aesthetic choice.

    There are several different types of stains on the market. Shades range from natural (light wood) to mahogany (almost black).

    If you choose not to stain your basket, use a clear matte sealer to protect your basket from dirt and oils. (See the ‘Sealing’ section below.)

    To seal or not to seal…

    Can you seal a basket?

    It is possible and desirable to seal a basket. Staining baskets is an aesthetic decision, but sealers protect the reed from moisture which can cause mildew and mold growing on a basket.

    See my post, ‘How to Protect Your Baskets,’ for more about recovering a basket from mildew and mold in the event it does happen.

    Another reason to stain your baskets is to protect them from dirt and oils. Sealers will seal the reed so that oils from your hands and other substances won’t wear away the integrity of the reed and seagrass.

    In addition, the sealer will make it much easier to clean the basket if it does get dusty or dirty. 

    side view of a handwoven reed basket
    This is the natural color of a reed basket. Weavers can choose to change the color to suit their needs.

    For a complete list of basket terminology:

    Basket Weavers Glossary

    Drying the basket for finishing

    Why dry the basket before staining or sealing?

    The weaving process requires the reed to stay damp. Allowing a basket to dry protects the reed from mildew and picking up dirt. 

    Slow drying a basket

    Dry your basket in a space with lots of airflow. It’s preferable to allow the reed to dry naturally rather than with a hair dryer or placing the basket near a heater. Attempting to speed dry time may cause the reed to become brittle.

    How long does it take to dry a handwoven basket?

    A good rule of thumb is to dry your basket for 24-48 hours, depending on the humidity in your area. This will allow the thickest pieces of reed and the layers of the rim to completely dry. 

    Pile of different sizes of basket reed.
    Reed comes in a variety of thicknesses. Allow time for the thickest reed and the multiple layers of the rim to dry completely.

    Staining a handwoven basket

    Types of stains used to stain baskets

    You have two main options; a pure wood stain or a stain with built-in sealant.

    You will also have a wide array of wood tones and colors to choose from. Visit your nearby home improvement store to see what’s available.

    And be sure to select a water-based stain. Clean-up will be easier, and the smell will evaporate much faster.

    Basket stained with a wood stain.
    This basket is stained with a very light natural color, including a built-in sealant.

    Suggestions for basket staining success

    First, I suggest testing the stain you choose on a piece of scrap reed before applying it to your basket to double-check that you like the result.

    Shelves of wood stains at a hardware store.

    How to stain your basket

    Supplies needed to stain

    Your basket
    Stain of choice
    Foam brush
    Bristle brush
    Drop cloth (workspace protector)
    Well ventilated space
    The shelves of a hardware store stocked with wood stains
    The final touches of basket weaving are so satisfying!

    Steps to staining your basket

    1. Lay out your drop cloth in a well-ventilated space, preferably outside.
    2. Gently stir the stain.
    3. Set the basket on the drop cloth. Beginning from the top, apply the stain with the bristle brush. This works best if you only dip the bristles about a 1/2 inch into the stain. Gently brush it back and forth over the basket.
    4. Continue to brush the stain over the entire surface area of the basket’s walls.
    5. Once the stain has soaked in enough that it doesn’t come off on your fingers, set the basket down on its side to coat the bottom with the stain.
    6. Repeat the same process to spread the stain onto the reed inside the basket.
    7. Using the foam brush, go over the basket, catch any drips, and mop up excess stain on the reed.
    8. Gauge whether you need a second coat by how much the reed soaks in the stain. If it soaks it up fast and the reed looks slightly dry, go for another coat. Otherwise, make sure you haven’t missed any spots.
    9. Let the basket dry according to the directions of the stain.
    Shelves of wood stains and stain, poly mixes.
    Your local hardware store offers a wide variety of options.

    Using a spray stain

    1. Lay out your drop cloth in a well-ventilated space, preferably outside. You want to be working in a breeze-free area.
    2. Shake the can of stain according to the duration suggested on the can.
    3. Set the basket down on the drop cloth. Beginning from the top-down, apply the stain in a thin, even coat. Keep the can six inches away from the basket.
    4. Spray down the walls of the basket from the outside. If your basket has a handle, don’t forget to spray that as well.
    5. Next, spray the inside of the basket – work from one side of the basket, aiming the spray at an angle to hit the walls. Spray the inside bottom as well.
    6. Allow the basket to sit for about 10 minutes before turning it to one side and spraying the base.
    7. Follow the drying instructions on the can of stain.
    8. Spray stain smells, so leaving the basket outside until the smell goes away is a good idea.

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    Sealing a handwoven basket

    As I mentioned before, whether or not you decide to stain your basket, it’s a good idea to seal it once the basket is dry.

    A polyurethane finishing product will seal the reed from moisture, dirt, and oils.

    Types of sealers for handwoven baskets

    If you used a stain with a built-in sealant, your basket is finished. Congratulations!

    If not, select a clear, matte sealer to maintain the natural look of the basket.

    Or go for something glossy or semi-glossy if you want to add shine to your reed. I suggest testing the sealer on a piece of scrap reed before applying it to your basket to double-check the finished result.

    Part of the fun of basket weaving is creating a basket suited to your style and decor. Here are baskets finished with a clear finish sealer. This is my preferred finish because I like the light color of the reed and the accent of the seagrass against the natural tone. But this is a personal preference.

    A woven reed basket sitting in the grass
    A woven reed basket sitting in the grass
    A woven reed basket sitting in the grass
    The inside of a handled basket with seagrass detailing

    How to seal your basket

    Tools and materials

    Your basket
    Sealer of choice
    Foam brush
    Bristle brush
    Drop cloth (workspace protector)
    Well ventilated space
    Supplies needed to stain or seal a basket.

    Steps to seal your basket with a liquid sealer

    1. Lay out your drop cloth in a well-ventilated space, preferably outside.
    2. Gently stir the sealer you are using.
    3. Set the basket down on the drop cloth. Beginning from the top-down, apply the sealer with the bristle brush. Dip into the sealer about 1/2″ so the bristles don’t get gunky, gently brush it back and forth over the basket.
    4. Continue over the entire surface area of the walls of the basket.
    5. Do the same process to spread the sealer onto the reed inside the basket.
    6. Using the foam brush go over the basket and catch any drips or excess sealer sitting on the reed.
    7. Allow the basket to dry according to the sealers’ directions.
    8. Apply a second coat of sealer to the entire basket to ensure coverage.
    9. Allow to dry.

    Steps to seal your basket with a spray sealer

    1. Lay out your drop cloth in a well-ventilated space, preferably outside. You want to be working in a breeze-free area.
    2. Shake the can of sealer according to the duration suggested on the can.
    3. Set the basket down on the drop cloth. Beginning from the top-down, apply the sealer in a thin, even coat. Keep the can six inches away from the basket.
    4. Spray down the walls of the basket from the outside. If your basket has a handle, don’t forget to spray that as well.
    5. Next, spray the inside of the basket—work from one side of the basket, aiming the spray at an angle to hit the walls. Spray the inside bottom as well.
    6. Allow the basket to sit for about 10 minutes before turning it to one side and spraying the base.
    7. Follow the drying instructions on the can of sealer.
    8. Spray sealer smells, so leaving the basket outside until the smell goes away is a good idea.

    I’ve had success with this sealer from Amazon. You can also find an array of spray sealers at your local hardware store.

    After the basket dries

    Your basket isn’t complete yet!

    There’s one more step.

    Sign your basket.

    Check out my post on different methods for signing handwoven baskets.

    I would love to see your finished piece. Share your basket on Instagram and tag me @textileindie.

    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    More basket weaving techniques:

    How to Cut Reed for Basket Stakes

    How to Weave an Open Basket Base

    How to Weave a Closed Basket Base

    Twining a Basket Base: Creating a Stable Basket

    Weaving Techniques for Basket Making

    How to Set Up the Rim of a Basket

    How to do Basic Lashing on a Basket Rim

    How to do Cross-Stitch or X-Lashing on a Basket Rim

    Signing Your Handwoven Baskets: Leaving a Legacy

    How to Protect Your Handwoven Baskets from Mold

    Basket-of-the Month Club

    Check out Textile Indie’s self-paced basket club if you want to learn to weave beautiful baskets. Twelve different basket designs with video and written instructional support to learn foundational basketry techniques. Over the course of twelve months, you will receive one basket pattern with supporting instructional material. Start at basket one and weave all twelve, or stay as long as you want.

    gallery of 12 different reed baskets

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