With Underwater Weaving Studio, artist Erin Pollard offers a modern, functional take on traditional weaving. Drawing inspiration from her childhood in Maine, where her mother was a basket weaver and taught workshops in the family’s basement, Erin built a brand rooted in craft and tradition. Today, Underwater Weaving Studio goes beyond a line of exquisite baskets and carriers—sold at places like Moda Operandi and Over The Moon—to focus on the art of weaving through curated kits and interactive workshops.
We spoke with Erin to find out how the brand is rooted in the mother-daughter connection, and, of course, the best Mother’s Day gifts to shop.
How One Mother Inspired Underwater Weaving Studio
Underwater Weaving Studio has deep roots in its founder’s mother. “My mother learned to weave during the Americana craft movement of the 1980s and ’90s—a time when handmade objects, soft country palettes, and domestic creativity shaped both aesthetic and livelihood,”Erin says. “In Maine, that ethos translated into a life of making: a craft store, workshops, basket collections for retailers, and a deep respect for handwork.”
At first, Erin approached weaving in deliberate contrast, focusing on exploration, abstraction, and personal expression, breaking from tradition. But over time, Erin’s approach evolved to incorporate her mother’s influence. “What emerged is a practice that carries forward my mother’s structural rigor and generational knowledge, while reframing it through my lens of design, movement, and material sensitivity,” Erin reveals.
Mother-Daughter Bonding Through Underwater Weaving Studio’s Basket Weaving Kits
With Underwater Weaving Studio, the mother-daughter connection goes beyond its backstory. The brand’s basket weaving kits provide the perfect activity for mother-daughter bonding. “Our weaving kits are rooted in a lineage of craft, and therefore carry an implicit sense of continuity,” Erin tells us. “We hope that the act of weaving becomes a shared language between mother and daughter, where skill, patience, and attention are learned side by side. There’s a quiet intimacy to the process that creates space for connection.”
And unlike some activities, this one has the benefit of a tangible product alongside lasting memories. “The experience provides not just a basket, but a record of time spent together,” Erin says.
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Upcoming Workshops With Underwater Weaving Studio
For those looking to learn under the guidance of skilled weavers, buy tickets for you and mom to an Underwater Weaving Studio workshop. “Our workshops offer all the benefits of our weaving kits plus hands-on guidance and a shared, communal experience,” Erin tells us. Upcoming workshops span from the Downtown Arts Club in Tribeca, NY to the Sunfair Farm Workshop in Hudson, NY, and even workshops in Erin’s hometown of Gray, ME, where she and her mother, Peggy, will lead instruction.
Great Mother’s Day Gifts From Underwater Weaving Studio
From a membership to The Underwater Weaving Club to basket weaving kits to any of the brand’s beautiful handcrafted products, the options for an amazing Mother’s Day gift from Underwater Weaving Studio are endless. Below, Erinsuggests her go-to Mother’s Day gifts.
A bi-monthly basket kit subscription delivered to her door. Each box includes everything needed to complete a seasonal rattan basket pattern—materials, tools, an image-driven booklet, and access to step-by-step video tutorials. A slow craft ritual for busy times.
Individual kits that blend timeless craft with contemporary form. The Little Love Beginner Kit is the perfect entry point. What truly sets our kits apart is the booklet inside: a crafted, step-by-step guide to making a basket that feels as much like a keepsake as it does a set of instructions.
The ideal mix of beauty and function, the Stair Tote is the perfect gift for moms and has a lightweight, handwoven, durable construction with our signature wrapped handles, designed to fit a standard residential stair rise.
Woven in playful "T-stripes," the Phone Trug is a thoughtful collision of our most ancient tool and our most modern one. The perfect gift for the mother who loves a good accessory.
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