Smoked Flat Reed, 1 lb Coil, 1/4 or 1/2 in, Dark Brown

Smoked flat reed is natural flat reed darkened by smoking instead of paint. The color goes all the way through the strip, so a cut end, a shaved edge or a scuff does not show light reed underneath. It gives a deep brown that sits well next to natural reed in two-tone baskets.

Basket makers use it for:

• Contrast bands: a few rows of smoked weavers near the base or under the rim
• Checkerboard and twill bases, alternating smoked and natural stakes
• Two-tone woven seats, paired with natural flat reed of the same width
• Lashing and accents where a darker line frames the basket

Work it like any flat reed. Soak it a few minutes in warm water before bending, keep it damp while you weave, and don't leave it soaking longer than you need. One side is smoother than the other: weave the smooth side out. A sharp bend on a wet piece shows the rough side, which frays more.

Because smoking is a natural process, the shade can vary a little between strips and coils. If a band must look even, sort the strips before you start and use the closest ones together. Let finished work dry completely before you store it.

Both widths match our natural flat reed in 1/4 and 1/2 in, so the two colors can share a pattern width for width.

Use 1/4 in for weavers, narrow bands and lashing, and 1/2 in for stakes, bold bands or a two-tone seat. When smoked strips replace natural ones in a pattern, choose the same width the pattern gives.

To estimate how much you need for a band, multiply the distance around the basket, plus a few inches of overlap, by the number of rows. A 1 lb coil goes a long way for accent work; a whole basket or seat in smoked reed needs more.