Cherry Wood Stave Pack for Nantucket Lightship Baskets — 25 Pieces
Craft stunning Nantucket Lightship Baskets with premium Cherry wood staves — the superior alternative to reed and binder cane.
Whether you're a seasoned basket weaver or just beginning your Nantucket basket journey, our Cherry Stave Pack gives you everything you need to create heirloom-quality baskets with a rich, natural hardwood finish.
What's Included
Each Cherry Stave Pack contains 25 expertly crafted Cherry wood staves, each measuring 2 feet long and available in the following sizes:
- 3/16"
- 1/4"
- 3/8"
- 1/2"
- 1/2" Tapered — pre-tapered on both ends and ready to use straight out of the box
Why Choose Cherry Wood Staves?
Cherry wood is one of the most sought-after hardwoods in American craft traditions — and for good reason. Its warm, reddish-brown tone deepens beautifully with age, giving your finished Nantucket Lightship Basket a timeless, elegant appearance that reed and binder cane simply can't match.
Benefits of Cherry basket staves:
- Strength & durability — hardwood staves outlast traditional reed and cane
- Beautiful grain — Cherry's fine, straight grain adds a refined, professional look to every basket
- Versatility — works for both traditional and contemporary Nantucket basket designs
- Ready to work — staves arrive ready to sand, taper, and bevel to your exact specifications
How to Use Cherry Wood Staves
Cherry staves are used in place of binder cane or reed when weaving a Nantucket Lightship Basket. For best results:
- Steam or boil your staves before weaving to increase pliability and reduce the risk of cracking
- Sand, taper, and bevel as needed to fit your mold and pattern
- Store in the freezer if not using immediately — this applies to all thinly cut fresh wood and keeps your staves flexible and ready to use
About Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Nantucket Lightship Baskets are one of America's most iconic and collectible craft traditions, originating with sailors stationed on lightships off the coast of Nantucket in the mid-1800s. Originally woven from rattan and cane, today's artisan weavers often prefer hardwood staves like Cherry for a more refined, durable result. A well-made Nantucket basket can be passed down for generations — making quality materials essential.
Perfect For
- Nantucket Lightship Basket weaving
- Hardwood basket making
- Traditional and heirloom craft projects
- Basket weaving classes and workshops
- Replacing or upgrading from binder cane or reed
Upgrade your weaving craft with the warmth and beauty of Cherry wood. Add your Cherry Stave Pack to your cart today.
