This week we are doing a very easy, very quick craft! It's spring which means flowers, longer days but also Easter. One of the best things are about Easter is the fun you have hunting for the eggs and putting them in your basket, well the baskets we're going to make might not be big enough to find too many but they're the perfect size for party tokens, little gifts or just fun decorations to have at Easter.
Materials:
- Paper Cups
- Wool
- Glue
- Pipe cleaners
- Craft Foam - optional
- Ribbon- Optional
Tools:
- Scissors
- Pen
Step one : Preparing the cup
First you will need to mark lines on the cup so that there are an uneven number of strips, the number of lines you draw will equal the number of strips you get. Leave a gap at the base of the cup so the bottom of the basket will be sturdy.
Make sure you count the number of strips that you will have before you cut them, as you need to have an uneven number of strips otherwise the weaving won't work.
Then cut down the lines drawn so that you have strips of cup.
Bend down the strips so that there is more space between each one so you can easily negotiate around them.
Flip the cup upside down and push it down so it fans the strips of cup outwards.
Step two: Making the Basket
Start by gluing the end of the wool (whilst it's still attached to the ball) at the base of the cup, then wind it up the cup, you may need to glue occasionally to help the wool stick to the cup. Wind the wool up the cup until you get to the cut strips.
Step 3: Weaving the basket
Following the direction of the wool that you had wrapped around the base of the cup start weaving the wool around the strips. Following the pattern of going over and under each strip of cup, continue this until the size of the basket you want. You will occasionally need to push all of it down whilst weaving so that there are no gaps between each row.
When it's the size that you want, cut the wool leaving a few centimeters of tail. Tuck the tail down into some weaving inside the cup. If you want it to be extra secure then add a dab of glue before tucking it in.
Trim the excess of the cup down so only a small section is above the top row of wool.
Step 4: Making trim and handles
For the trim around the top of the basket there are a couple of options, you can use a covered pipe cleaner or some ribbon. I found that the covered pipe cleaner looks like a woven top to the basket. To create this trim top you will need a pipe cleaner, measured and cut to length of the basket. I just bend it round the top and cut off the excess. Then tie a knot of wool at the end of the pipe cleaner and wrap the wool tightly around the pipe cleaner. Depending on the wool weight you are using it might take more than one layer to cover all the pipe cleaner. (I used a double knitting wool, which is the standard you get in more craft shops)
Once the pipe cleaner is covered, tie the wool in a knot at the end and trim the excess.
For the handle I wanted a thicker more substantial handle so that it could actually be used to hold the basket whilst its full, without bending out of shape.
I used 3 pipe cleaners for this, twisting them together so that it was easier to hold them. Then using the same wrapping method for the basket trim, wrap the wool around the pipe cleaners.
Step 5: Attaching the trim
For the trim, the easiest way to attach it is to glue it in place similar to how you measured it. For the best result glue it on the paper cup lip that is sat above the top row of weaving. This will cover the excess paper making it look neater and prettier but also adhere securely to the basket.
To attach the handle, slide on end down between the weaving and paper cup, then bend the handle over so that it will slide down inside the cup on the other side. Once you’re happy with the placement, glue the ends down.
Now your basket is complete!
Step 6: Decorations!
At this stage the basket is complete, but you can decorate it if you want. I used some off cuts of foam from a previous craft to make little flowers for around the outside of the basket. These were just little fun shapes I cut out of foam then glued to the outside. Another way I decorated the basket was with some ribbon. Placing the ribbon around the top of the basket instead of a wrapped pipe cleaner. And around the bottom of the basket, then I made a little bow to mark the front.
You can decorate as much or as little as you want with these!
I was having so much fun with these that I ended up making a bunch of them because they’re so fast and easy to make! Once you’ve got the basics down there are so many ways you can change and adapt them.
I hope you had fun and have created something really special. If you have created a photo frame or any of the crafts, I would love to see them!
Send them to me on Instagram, email or facebook @worldofthoodles
0 comments