How to Make Baskets
Make the base of the basket., Bend the reeds., Split a center spoke., Weave the basket., Foot the base., Continue weaving., Pack the base., Finish the top of the basket., Trim the basket., Make the rim.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Make the base of the basket.
You'll need to lay out 5 reeds parallel to one another, with about 3/8ths of a space between them.
Weave a sixth reed perpendicularly through the other
5.
Bring the sixth reed over the first reed, under the second, over the third, under the fourth and over the fifth reed.
Weave 4 more reeds in this manner, making sure that they are parallel to the sixth reed.Ensure that the squares formed by the base weaving are no bigger than 3/8 inch (.9 cm). -
Step 2: Bend the reeds.
Bend the reeds that stick out from the square base into an upwards position.
These bent reeds are called spokes.
Bending them will make it easier to weave and these spokes will act as the supports for the basket. , Split one end of either the third or eighth spoke, starting where it comes out from under the last spoke to cross it.
You will now have eleven spokes.
You'll be putting the weaver into the split. , Put the tapered end (the smaller end) of a weaver reed into the split spoke and hold it in place with a clothespin.
Keep the weaver reed near the base of the basket and weave, by going over one spoke and under the next.
If you're going for a square shape, hold the base corners together with clothespins.
This will help maintain the shape of the base.
Continue to attach and weave new reeds through the spokes for 3 or 4 rows, depending on the desired height of the basket.
Each new reed should be stacked above the reed woven before it.
Do your best to make the weave snug and tight, but not too tight or you can screw up the base of the basket.
You, also, want to make sure that the weave isn't too loose. , This means closing up those square holes that are still in the base.
Starting in the left corner of your basket, take the corner spoke and tug it gently.
Tug more firmly on the second spoke.
You want to tug quite firmly on the middle spoke because this will create an arch in the bottom of the basket.
Move to the 4th spoke and tug gently again.
Straighten your spokes and repeat on all 4 sides of the basket, until the holes in the base are closed. , Keep attaching and weaving new reeds through the spokes.
Make sure that you don't pull too hard on the corners, because that will make your spokes bend inward and you'll lose your basket's shape.
You also don't want your corners to be too loose, which can happen if you aren't keeping your spokes upright and parallel while you weave.
Stop weaving once you've reached your desired height. , Push or pull the woven rows down towards the base as you weave.
Ensure that there is no space between the base and the rows.
Start pressing or pulling from the base and move up to the newer reeds as you go.
A properly packed basket should have a nicely arched base, straight, parallel spokes, properly spaced corners, and tight weaver rows. , Stop weaving your last reed after you have woven 4 spokes past the split spoke.
Taper the reed with scissors, moving from the fourth spoke to the end of the reed.
Weave until all of the final reed has been woven into the spokes. , Cut the spokes with scissors.
The spokes should be 1/2 to 2 inches (1.3 to 5 cm) higher than the last woven reed.
Fold the spokes towards the inside of the basket over the top row of reeds.
Insert the end of each spoke into the third row from the top.
Ensure that each spoke lies flat against the inside of the basket. , You'll wrap a reed around the top row of the basket and pin it to the basket with a clothespin.
Now, anchor the new reed by weaving its bottom end into the top few rows inside the basket.
This reed is called the lacer.
Bring the lacer up and over the reed pinned to the basket and insert it through the front of the basket into the woven rows.
Now pull the lacer inside the basket.
Continue wrapping the lacer around the pinned reed, circling the circumference of the basket.
Glue the end of the lacer inside the basket. -
Step 3: Split a center spoke.
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Step 4: Weave the basket.
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Step 5: Foot the base.
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Step 6: Continue weaving.
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Step 7: Pack the base.
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Step 8: Finish the top of the basket.
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Step 9: Trim the basket.
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Step 10: Make the rim.
Detailed Guide
You'll need to lay out 5 reeds parallel to one another, with about 3/8ths of a space between them.
Weave a sixth reed perpendicularly through the other
5.
Bring the sixth reed over the first reed, under the second, over the third, under the fourth and over the fifth reed.
Weave 4 more reeds in this manner, making sure that they are parallel to the sixth reed.Ensure that the squares formed by the base weaving are no bigger than 3/8 inch (.9 cm).
Bend the reeds that stick out from the square base into an upwards position.
These bent reeds are called spokes.
Bending them will make it easier to weave and these spokes will act as the supports for the basket. , Split one end of either the third or eighth spoke, starting where it comes out from under the last spoke to cross it.
You will now have eleven spokes.
You'll be putting the weaver into the split. , Put the tapered end (the smaller end) of a weaver reed into the split spoke and hold it in place with a clothespin.
Keep the weaver reed near the base of the basket and weave, by going over one spoke and under the next.
If you're going for a square shape, hold the base corners together with clothespins.
This will help maintain the shape of the base.
Continue to attach and weave new reeds through the spokes for 3 or 4 rows, depending on the desired height of the basket.
Each new reed should be stacked above the reed woven before it.
Do your best to make the weave snug and tight, but not too tight or you can screw up the base of the basket.
You, also, want to make sure that the weave isn't too loose. , This means closing up those square holes that are still in the base.
Starting in the left corner of your basket, take the corner spoke and tug it gently.
Tug more firmly on the second spoke.
You want to tug quite firmly on the middle spoke because this will create an arch in the bottom of the basket.
Move to the 4th spoke and tug gently again.
Straighten your spokes and repeat on all 4 sides of the basket, until the holes in the base are closed. , Keep attaching and weaving new reeds through the spokes.
Make sure that you don't pull too hard on the corners, because that will make your spokes bend inward and you'll lose your basket's shape.
You also don't want your corners to be too loose, which can happen if you aren't keeping your spokes upright and parallel while you weave.
Stop weaving once you've reached your desired height. , Push or pull the woven rows down towards the base as you weave.
Ensure that there is no space between the base and the rows.
Start pressing or pulling from the base and move up to the newer reeds as you go.
A properly packed basket should have a nicely arched base, straight, parallel spokes, properly spaced corners, and tight weaver rows. , Stop weaving your last reed after you have woven 4 spokes past the split spoke.
Taper the reed with scissors, moving from the fourth spoke to the end of the reed.
Weave until all of the final reed has been woven into the spokes. , Cut the spokes with scissors.
The spokes should be 1/2 to 2 inches (1.3 to 5 cm) higher than the last woven reed.
Fold the spokes towards the inside of the basket over the top row of reeds.
Insert the end of each spoke into the third row from the top.
Ensure that each spoke lies flat against the inside of the basket. , You'll wrap a reed around the top row of the basket and pin it to the basket with a clothespin.
Now, anchor the new reed by weaving its bottom end into the top few rows inside the basket.
This reed is called the lacer.
Bring the lacer up and over the reed pinned to the basket and insert it through the front of the basket into the woven rows.
Now pull the lacer inside the basket.
Continue wrapping the lacer around the pinned reed, circling the circumference of the basket.
Glue the end of the lacer inside the basket.
About the Author
Kimberly Cook
Experienced content creator specializing in practical skills guides and tutorials.
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