Overlay

Women from Uganda use raffia to create their overlay woven baskets. Overlay baskets require double work for an artisan who first ties the inner coils of a basket together to create the shape and then pulls fresh raffia over five or six rows of coils to create the design.  In some cases palm leaves are used to add extra decoration and detail. 

Raffia is a light fibre that is removed from the rear of a long palm like leaf.  Its length makes it an ideal material for basket weaving.  Raffia can be dyed into almost any colour so many of the designs in this catalogue can be altered and updated to match the most up to date trends in home decoration.

Generally overlay baskets must be made to have a top diameter of no less than 11 or 12 inches.