VANITY BASKET with leather handles

Baskets Of Joy © 2010
 
Vanity Basket with leather handles 

Larger than most, this colorful basket features a beautiful visual pattern and leather bushel handles. 11" x 6-1/2" x 5" to top of rim.

 
Materials:
Pair of leather bushel handles, available from Baskets of Joy
½ flat reed dyed for accent stakes & weavers
5/8 flat reed for stakes & weavers
¼ reed for lashing
Flat oval reed for rim (1/2" or 5/8" both work well)
#2 or #3 seagrass for rim beading
#2 round reed for twining
 
You will need:
A pair of heavy duty shears
Measuring tape
Clothespins or clips
Ruler or straightedge (we recommend a bone awl)
Small tub (for soaking reed)
 
STEP ONE
Preparation
  • Cut 5 stakes 23" long from the 5/8 natural flat reed
  • Cut 4 stakes 23" long from the ½ flat dyed reed
  • Cut 3 stakes 28" long from the 5/8 natural flat reed
  • Cut 4 stakes 28" long from the ½ flat dyed reed
  • Mark the centers of all stakes on the rough side of the reed.
  • Soak stakes and weavers until pliable. Note: dyed reed should only be soaked briefly in cool water, separately from natural reed. Run each piece through a paper towel to remove excess liquid. This helps to reduce bleed from the color.
STEP TWO
Construction
  • Place one long 5/8 stake horizontally on the work surface, rough side up.
  • Add remaining long stakes evenly on either side with about ¼" space between them. Be sure to alternate the dyed and natural stakes, so that the outermost stakes are dyed.
  • Weave in the first natural short stake at the center, making sure that you are OVER the dyed stakes and UNDER the natural stakes.
  • Weave in remaining short stakes alternating dyed and natural. The outermost stakes will be natural.
  • Square up base to about 11" x 6½". Twine a locking row around the base 1-2 times.
  • Upsett the stakes close to the handle for the sides of the basket.
  • With the 5/8 flat reed weave 1 row of over-under, start-stop weaving. Be sure to weave so that this first row is UNDER the center stake on each side. This is important to achieve your pattern.
  • Weave 2 rows ½ dyed reed.
  • Weave 3 rows 5/8 flat natural reed.
  • Weave 2 rows ½ dyed reed.
  • Weave the rim row using ¼ reed.
 
STEP THREE
Finishing the basket 
  • Trim and tuck all stakes.
  • Apply the rim with the flat oval reed, covering the last row of weaving/rim row.
  • Bead the rim with the sea grass.
  • You will attach the handles while you lash the rim, lashing the handles in place on the ends of the basket. See photo for placement. An X-lash for the rim is both beautiful and adds sturdiness.

 Call Baskets Of Joy to order your kit today! 1-800-377-6097