Harvesting Cattails for Cattail Basket Weaving

For basket weaving enthusiasts who find joy in harvesting and processing their own natural materials, cattails offer an abundant and versatile resource. These tall, reedy plants, often found in wetlands, are a traditional material used in crafting durable and aesthetically pleasing baskets. This guide will walk you through the process of locating, harvesting cattails, and preparing them for weaving, helping you create beautiful, functional cattail baskets from start to finish.

Understanding Cattails

Cattails (Typha spp.) are aquatic plants commonly found in marshes, ponds, lakes, and riversides. They are easily recognizable by their long, slender leaves and distinctive brown, cigar-shaped flower spikes. These plants have been used for centuries in various crafts, particularly in basket weaving, due to their strength, flexibility, and abundance. 

Cattail leaves are ideal for weaving because they are long, flat, and fibrous, making them easy to manipulate into intricate patterns. When dried, cattail leaves become strong and durable, ensuring that baskets made from them can withstand regular use. Cattails are perfect for twining, rib basketry, plain weaving and plaiting, all of which I teach in my online basket weaving courses. 

Locating Cattails for Harvesting

To begin your journey into cattail weaving, the first step is to locate a suitable stand of cattails. Of course, if it's not on your personal property, be sure to ask for permission! That being said, cattails thrive in wet environments, so you’ll often find them growing in dense clusters in marshes, along the edges of ponds, lakes, rivers, and even roadside ditches. They prefer shallow, slow-moving water, making them a common sight in wetlands and along shorelines.

When searching for cattails, it’s essential to consider a few factors:

• Accessibility: Choose a location where you can safely access the plants without disturbing the surrounding ecosystem. Ensure that the area is not protected or restricted, as some wetlands are conservation areas where harvesting is prohibited.
• Quality: Look for healthy, mature cattails with long, green leaves. Avoid areas where the plants appear diseased, discolored, or stunted.
• Abundance: It’s best to harvest cattails from areas where they are plentiful. This ensures that your activities have minimal impact on the local population and allows the plants to regenerate for future use.

When to Harvest Cattails

The timing of your harvest is crucial to ensuring that the cattail leaves are at their peak for weaving. The best time to harvest cattails for basket weaving is in late summer to early fall, typically between August and October. During this period, the leaves are fully grown, but they have not yet started to wither or turn brown.

In late summer, cattail leaves are still green and full of moisture, making them easier to work with during the initial stages of processing. As the season progresses into fall, the leaves begin to dry naturally on the plant, which is ideal for long-term storage and weaving.

How to Harvest Cattails

Harvesting cattails is a simple process, but it requires care to ensure that the plants remain healthy and that you collect high-quality materials for your basket weaving projects. Follow these steps for a successful cattail harvest:

1. Prepare Your Tools: You’ll need a sharp knife or a pair of pruning shears to cut the cattail leaves. Wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands from any sharp edges on the leaves or other plants in the area.
2. Select the Leaves: Choose mature cattail leaves that are at least 3 feet long. The longer the leaves, the more material you’ll have to work with. Focus on leaves that are green and free from blemishes or signs of disease.
3. Cut the Leaves: Grasp the base of the cattail leaf near the soil or water line and cut it cleanly with your knife or shears. Be careful not to damage the surrounding leaves or the plant’s root system. It’s good practice to leave some leaves on each plant to ensure its continued growth.
4. Bundle the Leaves: As you harvest, bundle the cattail leaves together to keep them organized. Use a piece of twine or a rubber band to secure the bundle. This will make it easier to transport and process the leaves later.
5. Harvest in Moderation: Take only what you need, and be mindful of the environment. Harvesting in moderation ensures that the cattail population remains healthy and sustainable for future seasons.

Processing and Drying Cattails

Once you’ve harvested your cattail leaves, the next step is to process and dry them for weaving. Proper drying is essential to prevent mold and to ensure that the leaves become strong and flexible for basket weaving.

Initial Processing

1. Rinse the Leaves: After harvesting, rinse the cattail leaves with clean water to remove any dirt, insects, or debris. This step is especially important if the leaves were harvested from a muddy or polluted area.
2. Sort the Leaves: Lay the cattail leaves out and sort them by length and thickness. This will make it easier to select the right leaves for different parts of your basket weaving project.
3. Flatten the Leaves: If the cattail leaves are particularly thick or curved, you may want to flatten them slightly before drying but that's not required. This can be done by gently pressing them between two flat surfaces, such as boards or heavy books, for a few hours. Honestly, I usually just let them dry like you see below and do any other processing after they are dry.

Drying Cattail Leaves

Proper drying is crucial to preserving the cattail leaves for long-term use in weaving. There are several methods you can use to dry cattail leaves, depending on your available space and climate.

• Air Drying: The most common method (and my preferred method) for drying cattail leaves is air drying. To do this, spread the leaves out in a single layer on a clean, dry surface, such as a table or a drying rack. Ensure that the leaves are not overlapping, as this can lead to uneven drying and mold growth. Place the leaves in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Depending on the humidity levels in your area, it may take several days to a few weeks for the leaves to dry completely. You can see in the image above, I have them under my studio porch on a piece of plywood sitting on 2 saw horses.  Some people put them on a screen door or even create a drying rack using chainlink fence, hogwire or even chicken wire. The idea there is just to get the most ventilation possible and prevent mold.
• Hanging Drying: Another option is to hang the cattail leaves in bundles to dry. Tie the leaves into small bundles with twine, leaving enough space between the leaves for air circulation. Hang the bundles in a dry, ventilated area, such as a porch, shed, or garage. Be sure to check the bundles regularly for signs of mold or excessive moisture. When I've done this, I usually use nylon string and thread it through the fat ends of each cattail into what almost looks like a big hula skirt, then hang that to dry. 
• Oven Drying: If you need to dry the cattail leaves quickly, you can use an oven on its lowest setting. Cut the cattails to a manageable size, place the leaves on baking sheets in a single layer and leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. Keep a close eye on the leaves to prevent them from becoming too brittle or discolored. This method is faster but requires careful attention. Again, it's possible, but not really my best recommendation.
• Sun Drying: In dry climates like Texas where I live, you can also sun-dry cattail leaves. Lay the leaves out on a clean surface in direct sunlight, turning them occasionally to ensure even drying. This method works best in areas with low humidity, as high humidity can cause the leaves to dry unevenly or develop mold.

Storing Dried Cattails

Once the cattail leaves are fully dry, they should be stored properly to maintain their quality until you’re ready to use them for weaving. Store the dried leaves in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. I'd recommend an HVAC-controlled environment if possible, where you are currently storing your other basket weaving materials. Moisture is the enemy of natural basketry materials!

You can keep them in bundles or lay them flat in a storage container. Be sure to check the leaves periodically for any signs of moisture or pests. It's a good idea to spray them with Boracare insecticide which is a non-toxic way to prevent insects. I walk through this process in detail in my online basket weaving classes.

Cattail Weaving: Getting Started

With your dried cattail leaves ready, you can now begin the process of cattail weaving. Cattail weaving is similar to other forms of basket weaving but requires some specific techniques due to the unique properties of the cattail leaves.

• Soak the Leaves: Before you start weaving, soak the dried cattail leaves in warm water for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. This will soften the leaves and make them more pliable, allowing you to weave them without breaking.
• Begin Weaving: Start with a simple project, such as a small basket or mat, to get a feel for working with cattail leaves. As you become more comfortable with the material, you can experiment with more complex designs and patterns.
• Dry the Finished Basket: After completing your cattail basket, allow it to dry thoroughly before using or displaying it. This will help the basket retain its shape and strength.
• For detailed instructions on how to weave a basket with cattails, you can get my basket weaving classes bundle which features video and written instruction in twining, rib basketry, and other basket weaving techniques perfectly suitable for cattail basket weaving.

Harvesting cattails for basket weaving is a rewarding experience that connects you to nature and the traditional craft of weaving. By carefully locating, harvesting, and drying cattail leaves, you can create beautiful and functional baskets that showcase the natural beauty of this versatile plant. Whether you’re a seasoned weaver or just starting, cattail weaving offers endless possibilities for creativity and craftsmanship. Enjoy the process of transforming raw cattail leaves into stunning works of art that carry the essence of the wetlands into your home.