VIRC Original Beginners Basket Weaving Kit

Great Kit!!! Plenty of reeds in Kit to complete the basket. Just 5 minutes of soaking the reeds was enough to work them well - I read other reviews not to go the full 20 minutes. Directions were clear with pictures step by step. We read ahead 1-2 steps to anticipate and plan for what came next. My 12 year old son made this with my assistance. I think it has a great finished look. We did not cut off the inside reeds to finish it. We tucked both the inside and outside reeds into the side of the basket for a strong basket and clean finish. It took a couple hours to make. Used kitchen scissors for cutting. Great product!!!!

Kit is pretty nice. Wood selection is good, and matching color. Instructions are sufficient. It would have been nice if they had thrown in some clips to hold things in place, but not a huge deal.

You need to buy tools with it. It was fun but had to send son to store to get tool to fold over and tuck ends.

I ordered this basket as a school project for my daughter. The instructions were detailed and easy to follow. The final product was nice enough to give as a gift if so desired. I think this craft would be best for ages 10+.

Their bread basket is better (easier to make and better looking), although extremely small. This basket is also extremely tiny and especially difficult to weave where the one reed is cut in half. I had my daughter unravel the basket and restart without cutting the reed. Instead, we added half a reed. Not only did it look a lot better, it was easier to weave. Good opportunity for children to experience the challenges of basket weaving. Expensive product for what it is, strips of reeds.

There was plenty of reed to make the basket. Unfortunately, about a fourth of it was poor quality. Hairy and brittle.

My daughter and granddaughter made this basket together. It is so cute and they had such fun making it. They are wanting to make more.

I am an experienced baskkweaver and I bought these kits to use to teach others at a Church event. BUT- the reed (soaked even more than the directions called for) is just not usable. It is not soft enough to conform to the shape of the basket. As I wove over and under, the thinner reed "stands up" and does not lay flat against the other reeds. I thought this circular basket kit might work better than the Berry Kit I bought (made by the same sellers)- but it isn't- it is worse! I would have returned them both, but didn't even imagine that these would be as bad as they are until I tried to put them together after the deadline to return.