If you have ever driven along the coast in the lowcountry (and who hasn’t) it is hard not to notice the small roadside stands selling incredibly beautiful handcrafted sweetgrass baskets.
Sweetgrass baskets are a part of South Carolina history and arrived early in the 17th century. Originally used in the harvest of rice and to carry vegetables on local farms the baskets now are sought after for decorative purposes and help keep an important tradition alive.
Source: Deposit Photos
In Charleston, you can find Gullah basket makers creating and selling their crafts in the city market area or you can take a quick drive over to Mount Pleasant where basket stands can be found alongside US 17 where stands line the road for a seven-mile stretch also known as the “Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway.”
For those that would like to try their hand and making one a traditional Gullah sweetgrass basket are in luck. The Summerville Department of Parks and Recreation will be offering classes on April 1st, April 20th and April 22nd where you can learn the art of coiling a traditional basket, learn the history of basket making in the lowcountry and take home your own handmade treasure. Cost is $75 per person and all supplies required will be provided.
Sign up today for this great program.
Rollins Edwards Community Center
301 N. Hickory Street
Summerville, SC 29483