How do rigid and soft fibres serve different roles in a basket?

In the craft of basketry, rigid and soft fibres are often used in combination to achieve both structural integrity and functional utility.

The roles of these materials are typically divided as follows:

• Rigid Fibres: These serve as the foundation or framework of the object. They provide the essential shape and structural support, acting as the "standards" (analogous to the warp in cloth) that maintain the basket's form.12
• Soft Fibres: These act as the binder or "moving element." By intertwining among the rigid standards, soft fibres hold the structure together, creating a continuous surface or partition.12

When used together, these materials allow for the creation of diverse objects ranging from sturdy storage containers and granaries to specialized items like cages and fish traps, where rigid fibres ensure the object holds its shape while soft fibres secure the necessary partitions or openings.13