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    The inside of a basket

    How to Weave a Closed Basket Base

    You are here: Home / Basket Weaving / How to Weave a Closed Basket Base
    The inside of a basket

    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    What is a closed basket base?

    A closed basket base is the bottom of a basket, woven so that there are no gaps between stakes.

    Closed base baskets are best for carrying and storing small items.

    If you prefer a basket with maximum breathability, consider an open base basket.

    Bottom view of a closed base basket.
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    Closed base market basket

    Use the directions below to create a closed base for your basket. You can find all other steps explained and demonstrated in my Step-by-Step Guide to Weaving a Handled Basket.

    Substitute the following instructions for the open base instructions described in the handled basket tutorial to create a closed base version.

    Gather tools and materials

    Tools

    You will need a few tools to create your closed basket base:

    • 2 towels
    • Water tub
    • Cloth measuring tape
    • Reed cutters
    • Pencil
    • Stake weight
    • Spray bottle

    Materials

    I am using a 3/4″ flat reed for the basket base demonstrated in the photos below. The width of the reed you start with will depend on what size or style of the basket you are weaving.

    Check out Textile Indie Supplies for reed and basket supplies.

    Setting up to weave the base

    Set up your workspace.

    Before you begin weaving, lay a towel down on your work surface. The towels catch any excess water as you work with the wet reed.

    Set another towel down to one side and place a bin of warm water on top of this towel.

    Finally, lay out your tools within easy reach where they won’t be in your way.

    For details on my tools, visit the post: Basket Weaving Tools: What you Will Need to Get Started.

    Basket weaving workspace
    An organized basket weaving workstation.

    Find a complete list of basket terminology:

    Basket Weaving Glossary

    Cut stakes

    See my post, The Beginning of it all…Learn to cut basket stakes for more information.

    I use a pair of reed cutters like these:

    You will need two sets of stakes for the closed base basket: horizontal and vertical. Cut the stakes to the measurement of your pattern or custom design.

    You will also need a set of stakes to go between the horizontal stakes. Cut these stakes five inches longer than the completed base of the basket.

    For example, if you are weaving a 10-inch wide basket, you would cut these stakes to 15 inches long. The five excess inches will be divided between the two ends and form the ‘crow’s feet’ pattern shown below.

    Inside view of a  closed base on a basket.
    Inside view of a closed basket base. Note the “crow’s feet” on the left side.

    Mark centers

    Mark the halfway point on all stakes, and make the marking on the wrong side of the reed.

    The wrong side of the reed is rougher, and the right side is smooth and looks less “hairy.”

    Measuring out stakes and marking the center point on the stake.
    Measuring the center of the stakes.

    Place the stakes in water to soak for a few minutes.

    Soaking stakes in water in preparation for weaving a basket.
    Keep the reed moist so it doesn’t crack while working with it.

    Weaving a closed base

    To weave a closed base basket, you will work with three sets of stakes: vertical, horizontal, and filler.

    Laying out the stakes

    Start by laying the horizontal stakes parallel to each other. Lay the stakes so that the center mark is facing up, and the marks on all the stakes line up.

    Space the stakes, so there is about a width between each horizontal stake. You can adjust this as the base comes together, so don’t stress about making it perfect.

    Laying out the stakes for a basket.
    Use the stake weight as an extra hand.

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    Adding in the filler stakes

    Between each of the horizontal stakes, place a filler stake. Lay them down with the center mark facing up and lined up with the horizontal stake center marks.

    The base should have horizontal stakes on both outside edges and filler stakes between each. The filler stakes go on the inside of the horizontal stakes. See the image below (disregard the handle).

    Laying the stakes down for a closed base basket.
    The stakes alternate between the longer and shorter lengths.

    Weaving in the perpendicular stakes

    Once the horizontal and filler stakes are laid out, you can add in the perpendicular stakes. Now the weaving begins.

    If you include a handle, as demonstrated in these photos, weave the handle so that the outer horizontal stakes are underneath the handle. All the filler stakes are going over the handle.

    Adjust the handle, so it sits right over the center marks – center marks lining up with the middle of the handle base.

    If you are not using a handle, weave stakes by starting at the center mark and working out one way and then from the center and the other way.

    Woven closed base to a basket before doing the crows feet technique.
    The base with the right side tucked in.

    Square the base

    Using a tape measure, evenly space the stakes you wove into the base.

    Do this on both sides.

    Cutting and tucking for crow’s feet

    If the center mark on these stakes is lined up with the center mark on the horizontal stakes, the filler stakes should be about 2.5 inches past the last vertical stake. See the image below.

    Once the base is squared and adjusted, go along the base and fold the filler stakes up against the last vertical stake edge. Folding creates a gentle crease to create the ‘crow’s feet.’

    The reed needs to be damp for the fold-up.

    Once all the stakes have been folded over, use the reed cutter and cut the filler stake end in half from the end to right against the vertical stake. See the image below.

    The ends of stakes cut in half lengthwise during the process of weaving a closed base basket.
    Before tucking in the “crow’s feet,” you need to cut the ends in half, as I did in the above photo.

    When all the filler stakes are split on the ends, use the straight-tipped packer to guide the ends underneath the second vertical stake from the edge.

    The ends will fold over the first vertical stake, extend out and on either side of itself, and get tucked under the second upright stake on either side, creating a v-shape, what is called ‘crows feet’ (also called ‘chicken feet’ or ‘hen scratch’).

    Closed base basket, base set up and swing handle installed
    Split ends have been tucked into the basket at an angle, creating the “crow’s feet.”
    Crows feet on a closed base basket. A weaving technique.
    Close up of the “crow’s feet” tucking.

    Do this tucking process across the basket on both sides.

    Final check

    Double check that the base measurement of the basket corresponds with the base measurement in the basket pattern.

    More basket weaving techniques:

    How to Cut Reed for Basket Stakes

    How to Weave an Open Basket Base

    Twining a Basket Base: Creating a Stable Basket

    Weaving Techniques for Basket Making

    How to Set Up the Rim of a Basket

    How to do Basic Lashing on a Basket Rim

    How to do Cross-Stitch or X-Lashing on a Basket Rim

    Signing Your Handwoven Baskets: Leaving a Legacy

    How to Protect Your Handwoven Baskets from Mold

    Basket Stains and Sealers: Finishing Your Basket

    The base of a basket woven with the closed base technique.
    Twining the base.

    More information

    How to Weave an Open Basket Base

    Basket Weaving Tools: What you Will Need to Get Started

    Twining the Base: Creating a Stable Basket


    For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.

    Basket-of-the Month Club

    Check out Textile Indie’s self-paced basket club if you want to learn to weave beautiful baskets. Twelve different basket designs with video and written instructional support to learn foundational basketry techniques. Over the course of twelve months, you will receive one basket pattern with supporting instructional material. Start at basket one and weave all twelve, or stay as long as you want.

    gallery of 12 different reed baskets
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