Woven Easter Basket

Deb here...since I used to teach basketry using traditional materials, I thought it would be fun to make one from paper.  This project involves a little extra time and effort, but the finished project is so pretty that it's worth it!  It just might be "a keeper," something special the recipient won't want to get rid of!

Begin with a 12 x 12 sheet of card stock.  Score at 4 inches and 8 inches.

Turn the card stock so that the score lines run horizontally.  Cut the entire sheet into 3/4 inch strips.  This photo shows the final strip being cut.

Placing the inked side against your work surface, weave the stakes into a traditional basketry over-under pattern, four across and four down.  The score lines will help you keep them aligned, but don't worry too much yet about making things "square."  There will be a little space between the stakes.  Working along the edge of the basket, turn the "under" stakes up, and let the "over" stakes remain flat.

When you arrive back to the start of the round, lay the end of the weaver against its beginning, fold to fold...it isn't necessary to glue the ends together, although once the basket is finished you may want to go back to glue the free ends at the corners.

Turn the basket 1/4 turn as you begin each round so that the overlap of the weaver is not always on the same side.  If you like, you can leave a little space between rounds.  I chose to weave mine tightly together.

Cut a 4 inch x 12 inch piece of card stock, score at 4 inches, and 8 inches, and cut into 1 inch strips.  Ink the long edges. These will form the outer and inner rims of your basket, sandwiching the tops of the stakes between them.   Glue one pair end to end together as you did with the weavers.  Trim a tiny bit from each end of the remaining pair and set them aside.  Do not glue them together.

Now, before you begin to adhere the rim, is the time to make certain that the stakes are in alignment, and that the basket is "square."  Beginning at one corner, lay the end of the rim in line with a corner and with one long edge against the last row of weaving.  Work your way around, laying the rim atop the weavers, gluing as you go...when you reach the beginning, lay one end over the other and glue into place.

Lay the basket on its side, and adhere the middle of one of the remaining strips to the inside, working from the center toward each end.  Glue the remaining strip to the opposite side, again, working toward the ends.

You might like your basket just as it is, and choose to end here! Another option is to simply decorate the rim, or you can punch holes in the rim and add a handle before adding the decorative trim. Since the layers are thick to punch through, you may need a crop-a-dile or a heavy-duty punch.  My slot punch wouldn't go through all the layers, but it made an impression that served as a guide to punch with the crop-a-dile and then trim with snips.

(This picture is larger than actual size!)

Cut a 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch strip of card stock.  Center the strip along a pair of 1/8 inch score lines and score, leaving approximately one inch on each end unscored.  Round all four corners, then punch a tiny hole on one end.  Fold the middle portion one side over the other, taking care not to tear the card stock where it flares to remain flat.  Push the unpunched end through the slot in the rim of the basket, and bring the ends together.

Cut three or four 3/8 strips of card stock for decorative lashing.  Ink the long edges.  Cut three 1/2 inch x 12 strips of card stock.  Do not ink the long edges.

Turn the basket on its side (if you're left-handed, have the opening to your right), and align a 1/2 inch strip with the corner, centered on the rim.  Use a clip to hold it in place.  Place the end of a 3/8 inch strip underneath, its length perpendicular to the rim, using the center of the stakes as a guide.  Loop the lashing diagonally over, then straight under, continuing to use the centers of the stakes as a guide.

When you run out of either lashing or the strip that holds it in place, splice it so that the ends are not visible...continue all the way around and splice the ends together invisibly at the beginning.

Cut two 1 inch x 12 inch pieces of card stock for a handle, rounding the corners on both ends.  Ink the long edges.  Glue the two handle pieces together, bending them into an arch before setting them aside to dry.   Cut two 3/8 inch x 12 inch pieces for lashing.  Ink all the long edges.

Cut one 1/2 inch x 12 inch piece of card stock as a base for the lashing.  Use clothespins to shape it in place over the handle but do not glue!  Use a tiny punch to punch through all three layers.