How to Weave an Open Basket Base

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.

Open base basket example. A basket with stakes that are woven going in two different directions. These stakes have spaces between creating a grid pattern of open spaces. — Some links below are referral links, meaning, at no extra cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting Textile Indie in this way! See our full disclosure statement.

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.

Here’s how I set up my basket weaving workspace.

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.

Worktable set up to begin weaving a basket. With a water tub, basket weaving tools and a stake of basket stakes. — **An organized basket weaving space.**

Top view of a table with a towel, water tub, basket weaving tools and basket stakes. — **Basket weavers often wish for a third hand – having all your tools lined up will help.**

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.

Basket stakes and handle laying on a towel. — **Stakes and basket handle ready to go.**

Mark stakes

Mark the half way point on all stakes, make the marking on the wrong side of the reed.

The right side of the reed is smooth, the wrong side is rougher and has more fibery hairs sticking out.

Measuring tape marking the center of the stake. — **Marking the stakes for a balanced basket.**

Soak stakes

Place stakes in water to soak for a few minutes (while you prepare for the next steps).

Collection of basket reed soaking in a tub of water. — **Stakes are thick, be sure to give them a good soaking.**

Weaving an open base

If you want to see the process in action, check out my video on open basket bases.

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 stake 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.

Basket stakes laying parallel to each other with a stake weight holding them in place. — **Laying out the stakes.**

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.

The bottom of a basket woven with a handle. — **The handle acts as a center stake; all other stakes are separated and woven evenly on either side of the handle (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.

Measuring the width of a woven basket base. — **Square the base.**

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.

Perpendicular lengths of reed. — **Laying out the stakes.**

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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.

Basket handle laying on top of rows of basket stakes. — **Add the handle at the halfway point.**

Basket handle sitting on top of seven basket stakes. — **Use the stake weight to hold everything in place.**

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.

Weaving over a basket handle in the base of a basket. — **Weave in the handle – notice the over/under pattern and the center marks.**

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.