The practice of making three-bar crosses out of willow branches has been largely lost in North America. The material below is designed to assist in the recovery of this custom. Among the many willow customs of the Eastern Slavs is the crafting of three-bar crosses out of willow branches to decorate the home and for personal devotions. Pussy willows produce many upward growing branches during the period of rapid growth in the summer. For best results branches with a diameter greater than that of a pencil should be taken.
Green wood is soft and easily worked.
With a swope saw, cut halfway into the segment serving as the verticle beam to create the grooves which will hold each of the bars and remove the soft wood with a sharp knife. The sides and bottom of the grooves should be flat. Do the same with the segments which will serve as the bars, being careful to cut the lowest bar which serves as the footrest at an angle so that the footrest will dip downward from left to right. The grooves of all pieces should be filed smooth. Allow the pieces to dry out for a few days.