Basket weaving hasn’t been so easy with this method: weave around a cardboard frame. Originally, I saw this easy basket weaving method in a Japanese craft magazine, I searched around for the template but can’t find it anywhere locally or online. So, I built it based on my dimension.
I would say that this is a wonderful idea to make a basket, with this easy basket weaving method and concept, basically, you can build a lot of shapes and sizes that you want. Here, I demo it with 3 shapes: triangle, round and square, but you can come out with rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon & even octagon with just a little tweak in the design.
The height can be modified to suit your preference. One thing you have to take note is that the sum of the “fingers” on the frame must be in odd number. Take a closer look at my template, especially the square basket, you will notice that one of the sides has 1 extra “finger” than the other 3 sides. I guessed the original design is made from plywood, I can’t find thin plywood so I used thick cardboard instead which is also cheaper and manageable.
You can use any material to weave the frame of the basket, as long as they are “weave-able”, not too bulky and in long soft strips, eg: twine, yarn, fabric strip, ribbon, rope, glossy paper strip, plastic, raffia, etc…. I used jute twine to make the triangle and round faux wicker baskets, and fabric strips for the square basket. I love the way they were formed, very sturdy and rigid!!!!
Easy Basket Weaving
Material:
1. Thick Cardboard or paperboard, non-corrugated (around 1/6″ thick).
2. Felt for bottom and base.
3. Weaving material, for example: yarn, twine, fabric strips, ribbons, etc….
Tools:
1. Sharp scissors (able to cut thick cardboard)
2. Hole puncher
3. Tapestry needle (#13)
4. Clothespin
5. Craft / Tacky Glue
6. Pen or pencil
7. Ruler
Download the easy basket weaving template (consist of a triangle, round and square) in pdf format.
{It will either open in a new tab or open a small window asking you to save it as a file. If you can’t find the saved file in your computer, the default folder usually is in “/downloads”}
{If you can’t download the pdf pattern, probably you don’t have acrobat reader, download the latest version for free, here.}
Print it and enlarge 200% to get the size I made.
Trace it on the thick cardboard.
After tracing the template on the thick cardboard, use a pair of strong and sharp scissors to cut the template out.
Punch the holes with a paper hole-puncher.
Trace base on felt cut 2 pieces.
Get the rest of the tools & materials ready.
Brush a layer of tacky glue on the bottom of the basket, press & stick the felt onto it.
Repeat the same to adhere the felt to the base.
Snip the edge of the felt follows the grooves between the fingers.
Being to weave over and under around the fingers of the frame.
Push the twine into the grooves of the felt that you have just snipped.
Keep on weaving over and under the fingers until the end of the first round.
When begin the second round, you will notice that you are weaving in the reverse side of the first round.
A full wrap on both sides after finish the second round.
Continue weaving and push the twine down to make them closer to each other. This will avoid gaps in between and will also hide the cardboard away.
As you go higher, the frame will stand up vertically and form the side of the basket.
Continue until you just cover the hole’s level.
Allow a long length of twine for rim stitching later.
Put on clothespin and allow some room for rim making.
To make the rim, insert another type of twine through the space between the clothespin by using a tapestry needle.
Since the length is quite long, divide the twine by half and work both ends from the middle.
Keep going round by round. Take note on the corners and arrange them neatly.
Lay the twine until it fully covers the top portion of the basket.
Secure the rim by stitching the original twine through the holes.
Stitch again on the opposite direction to form a criss-cross pattern.
When reaching the corner, pierce through the gap and make another stitch there.
Hide all ends into the braid to neaten up the basket.
The basket made from an easy basket tutorial is ready to be used.
Thank you for sharing this great idea
I tried to make the square one but since it has an even amount of tabs I could not figure out how to make the weave alternate. Can you help me figure out how you did the square basket? thank you.
Hi Meredith, you will need to have odd numbers of tabs. If you have downloaded the template for the tutorial, you will notice that one of the side of the square basket has 5 tabs while the rest has 4 tabs only.
I am sorry I just realized what we did wrong. We couldn’t increase the template on the printer we were using so we drew it and weren’t paying attention. Disregard my silly post! Now we can do it next weekend! thank you for writing back anyways. excited to try it with my girls.
Great idea for weaving. You could recycle plastic sheets, though they would need to be thick enough. I have seen some that would work though can’t remember what they were originally for.
Well done!
Super cute idea! Im having trouble downloading template, could I , make that myself? Was it difficult?
You can design your own and I don’t think that it is difficult if you follow through 🙂
I have to do a Native American project so this helped a lot
Its awesome it helped me a lot for school projects and gifts. Thanks a lot.
I teach middle school and we are learning about some basketweaving cultures from the Southwest USA. I think this would be a great object lesson.
That’s really cute and looks like a lot of fun! 🙂
hello.thank you. it was very easy for kids, and old people,i enjoy your way for handicraft. i like another new ways.
Wonderful DIY! I wanted to thank you for it!
And have a question: am I right that when you are doing a rim it is the same pattern as weaving the main part of a basket?
thanks!
no weaving is required on the top part, just lay the twine around.
Hi, I was looking for a craft for girl guides to do this easter, and I thought that this would be a great idea. I made one at home following your template and instructions and it looks very good, but I am having a problem with the rim of the basket. I can’t find pegs like you use, and I was wondering if you knew of another way to secure the string aorund the top? Thanks for your help, and a great craft none the less.
Love these baskets. I knew I was saving those cardboard sheets for something! Thank you for sharing this how to – I will definitely be making some of these.
Just found your site – i love the variety of crafts. I’ll be back!
Hi, this is great DIY :). However, I am finding difficulties keeping the twine pushed down so as to close the gaps; do you have any “tricks” for this?
Вау!! Очень интересно!!
Translation (by Google):
Wow! Very interesting!
so nice..love it
thanks for sharing
This was quite great and i tried it.. it was cool … thank you mam . please post such easy going wonder things . take care
I love Japanese craft books too. The baskets are sold by Clover and you can get them online from several retailers.
I am Swapnali from India, i loved your work so much!!! i am gonna try one of those, i liked the triangular coin purse the most!!! the basket tutuorial is also amazing!!
Thanks for the ideas! I’ve been looking for easy baskets for kids to weave during VBS and I think a simplified version of yours will work! Thanks!
Hello. Your blog is outstanding. I love how simple and beautiful your creations are.
Would you mind a followup post to this and show us how to make lids for these boxes? I’m thinking something along the lines of a linen or table napkin-covered top with button lid in the center.
I am just really impressed with you. **Really** impressed. Nice job.
This is a good idea to have a lid. I will look into it 🙂 Thanks for suggesting.
You are awesome! I have always thought that basket weaving would be too hard for me! Your tutorial is super clear and consise! Thanks so much!
Excellent! You’re truly inspiring 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
LOVE IT!!
I can’t wait to get my craft room back to try some of your great ideas!!!!
:0)
finally! an easy basket tutorial. thanks so much!
Great idea! So creative and it can be used for putting presents! 🙂
Oh these are great!
What a wonderful craft that I’ve always dreamed to do! As soon as possible I do it!
Great idea! They look so professional I would not know they were hand made. You did an excellent job. Thanks for the turorial and patterns. This is a must try.
Thanks, Alice. Love to know that you are going to try it 🙂
What a fab idea!! these look great – did they take a long time to make?
They are easy and quite fast to complete depending of the type of weaving material you use. Generally, twine took longer to finish than fabric for the weaving part but fabric took more time to prepare than twine.
Try one and you will know 🙂