From the page: Scraps that become a new story
Idea 4
Basket weaving with fabric strips
Basket weaving is one of humanity's oldest techniques — peoples braided natural fibers to carry and store things long before ceramics existed. With fabric strips, the principle is the same: alternating weave over and under a warp base, and the tension between the strips is what gives the basket its rigidity.
What you need
- Fabric pieces with body (sweatshirt fleece, denim, double poplin) cut into strips 1 to 1.5 in wide
- Scissors and ruler (or measuring tape)
- Thick needle and waxed thread, or a small stapler
- Large pins or clothespins
- Optional firm base (heavy cardboard or a piece of rubber mat)
How to make it
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1
Cut the strips to the same length and stretch them flat in the morning, because straight, uniform strips braid without messing up the weave.
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2
Build the base: lay 6 to 8 parallel strips lengthwise and pin the ends — this is the warp, the skeleton of the basket.
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3
Braid the crosswise strips passing over one strip and under the next, inverting the order each row: this alternation is what braids and locks the whole together.
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4
Press each row close together as you weave, because accumulated slack leaves the basket soft and crooked.
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5
When the base is the desired size, fold the strips upward and continue braiding the walls vertically.
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6
Finish the ends by folding them inward and hand-sewing, hiding any remaining threads.
Finishing touches
Colors arranged in a gradient or wide stripes turn the basket into a decorative shelf piece. If you want more firmness, brush diluted white glue over the weave and let it dry in shape.
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