Analysis, Discussion and Tips for Success

General Discussion

Weaving is one of the least attractive parts of the Crafting skill -- this is mainly because there are few useful items you can weave, and Jagex has made most of those available cheaply in stores, so there's really not much point in making them anyway. Baskets are perhaps the best example of a skill activity that has been messed up by the "reuse" of one of its raw materials. They are made from willow branches, which prior to the Summoning skill had no other use. Since they are now a Summoning secondary ingredient, willow branches are quite valuable -- but baskets can be purchased cheaply at any farming store. Combine expensive raw materials and nearly worthless end products with fairly low XP, and you get an activity so unappealing that I've included it only for the sake of completeness...

Location and Access

The only loom that is reasonably easy to access is the one in the farmhouse just south of the city of Falador. The best way to get there is to use the Explorer's ring 3, a reward for completing the Lumbridge Achievement Diary. Using the "Cabbageport" ability of the ring, teleport to the cabbage field right next to the farmhouse. Then go south out of the gate, west and into the farmhouse, then through the door south to the loom. If you widen your RuneScape window, you can save time by clicking directly in the farmhouse -- or even on the loom -- as you are landing from your teleport.

Since the medium tasks of the Lumbridge Achivement Diary require skills up to level 40, I assume level 40 skills to be able to use the ring. Those who have not completed the diary will need to run to the farmhouse from Draynor Village, then use amulets of glory to return to the bank there.

Required and Recommended Equipment

Explorer's ring 3 as mentioned above, if you can use it. I also recommend a goodly number of amulets of glory for teleporting back to the bank.

Required and Recommended Supplies

You need six willow branches for each basket you weave.

Lower-level players will also need energy potions to restore lost energy when running from Draynor.

Familiar Suggestions

Weaving is one area of Crafting where a beast of burden is very useful, because you use multiple raw materials for each item made. As always, I recommend avoiding the war tortoise because its high cost isn't really justified by the small incremental benefit it provides over the spirit terrorbird.

Interestingly, this is one place where the spirit terrorbird and bull ant are equally useful, since you need willow branches in multiples of 6.

Technique and Tips

First, if using a beast of burden, set its left-click option to "Take BoB".

At the bank, withdraw an inventory of willow branches and put some in your familiar (if using a pack yak, only store 28). Then fill your inventory again, and either teleport to the cabbage field and run to the loom from there, or run straight from Draynor. Click the loom, then right-click the basket and choose "Make 10". As the items are being made, you can click the Summoning interface button to take more raw materials from the beast of burden, and your character will continue working seamlessly. If using a pack yak, do this twice.

Once all the baskets are done, teleport to the bank and repeat the process, remembering to swap out exhausted amulets as needed.