For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.
For a complete list of basket terminology:
What is an open base?
The base is the bottom of the basket. A basket base can be created in a number of different styles for different purposes.
In an open base the stakes are woven, creating a grid that has open spaces between the stakes. Hence the name – open base basket.
Here we will cover how to weave an open base for a basket with a handle and one without a handle.
Setting up your basket workspace
Basket weaving is a wet process! Before you begin weaving, lay a towel on your work surface. This will 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. This bin will be where you soak the reed to keep it damp.
Finally, lay out your tools to one side. You want them to be within reach but out of the work zone.
For details on tools I’m using visit, Basket Weaving Tools: What you Will Need to Get Started.
Cut your stakes
Cut the stakes for your basket according to the basket pattern you are following.
See my post The Beginning of it all…Learn to cut basket stakes for more information on how to cut stakes.
Mark stakes
Mark the halfway point on all stakes and make the marking on the wrong side of the reed.
The right side of the reed is smooth, and the wrong side is rougher and has more fibery hairs sticking out.
Soak stakes
Place stakes in water to soak for a few minutes (while you prepare for the next steps).
Weaving an open base
Laying out the stakes
You will be working the stakes in two sets. If you make a rectangular basket one set of stakes will be longer than the other. If it is a square basket, all the stakes will be the same length, so split them into two sets.
Using one set of stakes, lay them out parallel, leaving spaces between each stake. Place them so that the center mark is facing up. Do this for all the stakes in this set.
Use the spoke weight to hold the stakes in place as you go so that you don’t have to hold things down and move the stakes at the same time.
Weaving in the perpendicular stakes
Weave the stakes going the other direction.
If you are working with an odd number of stakes start by placing a stake matching up with the center marks of the perpendicular stakes. Then work stakes evenly on either side of that center stake.
If you are working with an even number of stakes then you will place a stake spaced evenly on either side of the center mark.
Square the base
Using a tape measure evenly space the stakes you just wove into the base.
Measure from the center of the stakes.
Evenly space the stakes by moving them around until the spaces look even and the distance is equal on both sides.
Do this in both directions.
Next steps…
And that is your open base. The next step is twining. Read Twining the Base: Creating a Stable Basket to learn how to do the twining, or check out my YouTube video:
Weaving an open base with a handle
Bases with handles follow similar steps as explained above, incorporating a handle as the center stake. When working with a handle, you will need an even number of stakes on either side of the handle.
Laying out the stakes
Lay out the longer set of stakes parallel, leaving spaces between each stake. Lay them out so that the center mark is facing up. Do this for all the longer stakes.
Use the weight to hold the stakes as you go so that you don’t have to hold things down and move the stakes simultaneously.
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Adding in the handle
Lay the handle on top of the stakes, as shown below. Use the handle as a guide to spread the stakes out as wide as the handle base.
Weaving the handle in
Stand the handle up straight and weave the stakes over the base of the handle. The stakes on the outside should be under, from there weave under, then over, alternating across. Once the stakes are placed under/over, alternately, slide the handle to the center line.
Evenly space the stakes you just placed on and under the handle. You can guesstimate or use a measuring tape.
Weaving in the perpendicular stakes
Weave the stakes going the other direction. Start at the handle and work out using the plain weave – under one, over one, method. Follow the images below.
I like to place the spoke weight on the opposite side of where I’m working to hold the stakes in place.
Do this for the other side of the handle as well.
Square the base
Using a tape measure, evenly space the stakes you just wove into the base.
Do this on both sides of the basket.
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 a Closed 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
Resources
Find my favorite basket-weaving resources here.
For a complete guide to all Textile Indie’s basket weaving posts and videos, visit the main Basket Weaving Page.
Basketry Immersion: A Year-Long Journey
Check out Textile Indie’s self-paced basket program 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 and a video with supporting instructional material each month. Start at basket one and weave all twelve.
