https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/diy-paper-basket • Posted by Muhaiminah Faiz
Make these eco-friendly paper baskets and keep a few stuffs organized!
Make these eco-friendly paper baskets and keep a few stuffs organized!
Making strips would vary with the thickness of the paper you're using. For thick papers such as, old magazines, old calenders etc cut 2 inches wide and 14 inches (at least) long paper strips. Fold the papers into half 2 times to make the strips sturdy. For newspaper I had to cut 3 inches wide strips and used all the length there was. Folded the strip into half and then into even thirds to make sturdy strips. Make as many paper strips as you want.
Before starting the weave you should know that to make this basket you'll need to use even number of strips. The number of strips should be 'proportional' even after dividing them into half, for instance you can't use 6 strips because there will be 3 strips after dividing them into half. For this basket I used 8 paper strips. 4 strips for each sides. Take 2 strips and mark their center. Place them in a cross making sure both centers touch.
Now start adding (weaving over and under) strips on both sides of the cross. I made a 4 X 4 square for this basket. You can add more strips if you want to, but make sure that the number of strips are even and equal on all sides.
After weaving the bottom of the basket you'll need to prepare the base. You can either staple or glue the 4 edges, otherwise the weaves would come off. Fold the woven strips diagonally as shown in the picture of this step, this will be the base of the basket.
This is the tricky part. You have to start weaving from one side. Divide the strips into half of any one side and start weaving with the center strips (see picture).
Weave over and under, starting from the center strips of any one side.
Now, go for the next corner but make sure to pin the woven corner with a clothespin. Weave all 4 corners similarly and pin at least 3 woven corners otherwise they'll come off. This is how the bottom of the basket will look like.
After making the corners of the basket rest of the weaving would seem easy. Take the clothespin off one by one while weaving each side. Simply weave over and under. Continue to weave over and under until the basket reaches its required length or until an inch remains on the shortest strip
Done weaving the basket? good, now lets complete the edge of the basket. Starting from the shortest strips, hold the 2 strips (diagonally, as they are). Fold the strip inside (which is over or outside). Now fold the other strip inside (which is under),
Turn around the basket as you'll need to see the inside. Weave the second folded strip under the strip next to it (inside the basket). Continue to fold the edge using this technique until it's done
These baskets are eco-friendly and very useful in keeping a few stuffs organized. Enjoy!