These are woven baskets made from a grass called ‘Kachū’ in Thai, which grows wild around swamps.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
On this page we present two sizes of round baskets with handles made of “Kachū”: L and XL.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan. Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.After being woven like a Kachū mat and formed into a basket, this rim is folded back to the outside and tucked in. This is an especially important process because the finish of the rim determines the strength and quality of the entire basket.This is the rim viewed from above. The arc is beautifully drawn.This is the back side of the bottom of the basket. The mouth part is circular, but the bottom part is square.It is a round, shallow basket that makes it easy to see what is inside.The handle is made of Kok, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.This is size L.It is large enough to hold with both arms. It can also be used as a luggage or toy box.This is size XL.It would be good for a changing basket.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to place a piece of cloth inside the basket.
Photo: XL size
An unlikely, large, but light round basket. It will be useful for organizing sheets and other bedding as well as clothes.
Please check the size carefully, and choose the size you prefer.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
These are woven baskets made from a grass called ‘Kachū’ in Thai, which grows wild around swamps.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
On this page we present two sizes of round baskets with handles made of “Kachū”: L and XL.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan. Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.After being woven like a Kachū mat and formed into a basket, this rim is folded back to the outside and tucked in. This is an especially important process because the finish of the rim determines the strength and quality of the entire basket.This is the rim viewed from above. The arc is beautifully drawn.This is the back side of the bottom of the basket. The mouth part is circular, but the bottom part is square.It is a round, shallow basket that makes it easy to see what is inside.The handle is made of Kok, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.This is size L.It is large enough to hold with both arms. It can also be used as a luggage or toy box.This is size XL.It would be good for a changing basket.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to place a piece of cloth inside the basket.
Photo: XL size
An unlikely, large, but light round basket. It will be useful for organizing sheets and other bedding as well as clothes.
Please check the size carefully, and choose the size you prefer.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
These are woven baskets made from a grass called ‘Kachū’ in Thai, which grows wild around swamps.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
On this page we present two sizes of round baskets with handles made of “Kachū”: L and XL.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan. Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.After being woven like a Kachū mat and formed into a basket, this rim is folded back to the outside and tucked in. This is an especially important process because the finish of the rim determines the strength and quality of the entire basket.This is the rim viewed from above. The arc is beautifully drawn.This is the back side of the bottom of the basket. The mouth part is circular, but the bottom part is square.It is a round, shallow basket that makes it easy to see what is inside.The handle is made of Kok, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.This is size L.It is large enough to hold with both arms. It can also be used as a luggage or toy box.This is size XL.It would be good for a changing basket.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to place a piece of cloth inside the basket.
Photo: XL size
An unlikely, large, but light round basket. It will be useful for organizing sheets and other bedding as well as clothes.
Please check the size carefully, and choose the size you prefer.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
