The rim around the top of the basket is highbush cranberry stem which is sewn with spruce root. I usually split the cranberry stem once and the spruce root once or twice. It is easier to peel them in the spring, but it can be done later. Once they are peeled and split, I secure the ends to let them dry in a circle. The spruce root can be kept in a bowl of water to keep it flexible. Even if it is twisted it will straighten out when it is pulled taut while making the basket.
Gathering and processing the materials is much more time consuming than the actual making of the basket.
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