Grapevines – the best, in my opinion, because they’re strong, pliable and gorgeous.
Ivy – incredibly strong and easy to use and it’s also very pliable. The younger vines are very smooth, and will sometimes slip. So, I suggest using another kind of vine with ivy, if you’re new to basket or wreath making because the slipping can be hard to control.
Virginia Creeper – great texture with lots of traction. It is pretty brittle at times but, even if it breaks a bit, it often works out that you can just keep weaving right over any trouble spots and it holds just fine.
Honeysuckle – the younger vines are wonderful for securing handles, wayward branches and as a secure last layer over the top to finish things off. The thicker, older vines are very sturdy.
Mulberry Branches – the young ones worked really well as spokes (you’ll find out what those are), and were the best of what we had on hand this year in our backyard.
Really, anything that’s pliable will work. We’ve tried maple, lace vine, herbal branches, trumpet vine, jasmine and privet this year all with varying degrees of success. These materials are alive and have minds of their own sometimes. To make them even more pliable, you may want to pre-soak your vines for a 6-12 hours.
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