Woven baskets can hold different types of items and are often used as home decor as well. You can buy them online or in stores. But you can also create baskets yourself by purchasing the materials available at home improvement stores, or simply using the things you already have at home. Read the following steps to learn how to build a basket.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Weaving the Wicker
Step 1. Build the base of the basket
You will have to roll out 5 rushes parallel to each other, spaced about 9 mm apart. Weave a sixth rush perpendicular to these. It must pass over the first rush, under the second, over the third, under the fourth and over the fifth. Weave 4 more wicker reeds in this way, making sure they are all parallel to each other.
Make sure that the squares formed by the weave are no larger than 9mm
Step 2. Fold the rushes
Fold the reeds that come out of the square base, pointing them upwards. These will be the rays. Folding them will work better and they will support the basket structure.
Step 3. Divide a central beam in two
Take one of the central rays of the square and divide it in two at the base. You will now have eleven rays. You will continue to weave as you pass through this split ray.
Step 4. Weave the basket
Insert the pointed part of a reed in the middle of the beam you split in two, securing it with a clothespin. Keeping the reed to be braided close to the base, begin to pass over and under the spokes.
- If you want to get a square shape, hold the corners of the base together with clothespins. This will help you give the basket a square shape.
- Continue joining and weaving rushes on the spokes for 3 or 4 rows, depending on the desired height. Each rush you add should end on top of the previous one.
- Do what you can to keep the weave tight, but not too tight, so as not to damage the base of the basket. The weave must not be loose.
Step 5. Tighten the base
Tightening the base means closing the gaps that are still present on the bottom. Starting on the left side of the basket, grab the beam in the corner and gently pull it. Pull the second ray more firmly. You will also need to pull the center beam quite firmly to create an arc on the bottom of the basket. Move to the fourth spoke and pull gently again.
Straighten the spokes and repeat on all four sides, until the holes in the base are closed
Step 6. Continue to weave
Continue to join and weave other rushes between the spokes. Don't squeeze the corners too tight, or the spokes will turn in and the basket will lose its shape.
- The corners don't even have to be loosened. It can happen if you don't keep the spokes turned up and parallel as you weave.
- Stop when you have reached the desired height.
Step 7. Compact the base
Push or pull the intertwined rows towards the base as you weave. Make sure there is no space left between the base and the intertwined rows. While weaving you should always press the rows down, starting from the base and moving up to the last rows.
A good basket must have a well arched base, with straight and parallel rays, corners with appropriate spacing and tight weave
Step 8. Complete the basket
With the last rush you have to reach 4 rays beyond the central one divided in two. Thin the rush with scissors, starting from the fourth ray to the end of the rush. Continue braiding until the end of the rush.
Step 9. Shorten the spokes
Cut them with scissors. The spokes should remain 1.3 to 5cm higher than the weave. Fold the spokes in, passing them over the last braided row and inserting them into the third braided row from the top. Make sure the spokes stay flat against the inside wall of the basket.
Step 10. Make the border
Wrap a reed on the last row of the weave and secure it to the basket with a clothespin. Now fix a reed by weaving the final part in the last rows, inside the basket. This rush is called a "snare".
- Pull it out and pass it over the one temporarily secured with the clothespin. Insert it between the upper rows on the outside of the basket and pull it inside.
- Continue to weave the lace around the reed fastened with the clothespin, covering the entire circumference of the basket.
- Glue the end of the lace to the inside of the basket.
Method 2 of 2: Weave with Newspaper
Step 1. Prepare the stems for weaving with newspaper
You will use them for the spokes and for the weave. Get a thin stick, such as a knitting needle, skewer, or 3mm dowel.
- Cut the newspaper in half horizontally, then again, again horizontally.
- Place the stick at one end of the piece of newspaper, at an acute angle. Begin wrapping the newspaper around the stick, making sure you hold it tight.
- When you've rolled it up all the way to the other end, glue it together to hold it in place. Remove the stick.
- When using newspapers, one end will usually be thinner than the other. It's normal. When you weave them, you will insert the narrowest part into the wider part of the previous stem to extend it.
Step 2. Build the base
Cut two rectangular pieces of cardboard to the desired size for the basket. On one side of the cartons you will put double-sided tape. Arrange the newspaper stems on the sides (about 13 on the long side and 7 on the short side).
- You must always have an odd number of stems for the base.
- On the second cardboard, attach a piece of fabric of the color you want to the double-sided tape. Put some glue on the other side and attach the two pieces of cardboard, the one with the fabric and the one with the newspaper stems. Put something heavy on them and let them dry for about an hour.
Step 3. Begin to weave
Start from one of the corners. Take a stem of newspaper and fold it in half. Put it around the corner radius. Pass each of the two ends between the spokes, one in front and one behind.
- Keep the vertical rays parallel to each other and turn up, keeping the stems you weave taut. They must not come loose.
- When you get to the corners, take an extra turn around before continuing on to the next side.
Step 4. Stretch the stems
When you run out of a stem of newspaper you will need to add another to continue. This is much easier to do: you just have to insert the narrow end of a stick into the previous one and push it down enough to secure it.
Step 5. Complete the basket
Once you have reached the desired height you can finish the basket. Again it is very simple. Shorten the vertical rays, leaving about 2.5 cm.
- Fold the spokes inside and glue them. Use a clothespin to hold them in place.
- If you don't want to fold them inside, you can fold and weave them on the last rows.
Step 6. Color the basket
This step is optional, the basket looks good even without being colored, but you can paint it to your liking. You can use a white acrylic paint, adding some color to make it look like a “real” basket, or you can use a light-colored or flashy can.
Advice
If you need to pause for a break, use a clothespin to hold the weave in place
Warnings
- Your first basket won't look very nice, because it takes time to figure out how much to pull the weave, but don't be discouraged! Keep practicing and you will learn how to proceed correctly.
- Use glue sparingly or it will get all over the place as you work.
