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    Step-by-Step Guide to Weaving a Handled Basket

    You are here: Home / Basket Weaving / Step-by-Step Guide to Weaving a Handled Basket

    Here I have a step-by-step guide taking you through how to weave a rectangular basket with a handle.

    This is a simple basket pattern, suitable for a beginner. It’s based on my very first basket. I hope you are inspired to try this project.

    Related post:

    If any of the terms are confusing, be sure to take a look at the…

    Basket Weaving Glossary

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

    Materials for a handled basket

    The total quantity of materials

    Calculations of feet needed per basket (this is an estimation and may differ depending on the tension used while weaving):

    Materials list for market basket

    ReedAmount
    Flat reed43 ft of 3/4″
    Flat-oval reed78 ft of 1/4″
    Flat-oval reed (rim)6 ft of 5/8″
    Seagrass23 ft of #3
    Round reed9 ft
    “D” handle8″ x 12″
    The finished basket is 8 x 12 ” at the base.

    The basket pattern

    • 8”x12” “D” Handle (See Beginners Guide to Basket Handles)
    • 8 stakes from 3/4” flat reed @ 30” long each
      (8” bottom + 8” wall x 2 + 6” for stakes to fold over top = 30″)
    • 7 stakes from 3/4” flat reed @ 32” long
      (10” bottom + 8” wall x 2 + 6” for stakes to fold over the top)
    • 1/4” flat oval reed for weavers
    • 3/4” flat reed for one row – weaver
    • 5/8” flat oval reed for rim
    • Seagrass #3
    • Round reed

    Where to buy basket materials

    Basket Makers Catalog

    Etsy shop

    Check out my Etsy shop for a basket kit with all the materials to make this basket.

    Resource page

    See all my favorite basket weaving resources here.

    Do you want the best resources, tools, and products for fiber artists?

    Every other Friday, I send an email chock full of fiber craft inspiration for you to explore.

    Each issue focuses on one fiber art skill – spinning, dyeing, basket weaving…

    Sign up Here

    Set up your basket workspace

    Organizing your workspace before you start to weave will make the process more enjoyable.

    Basket weaving is a wet craft! Before weaving, lay a towel down on your work surface. This will catch any excess water as you work with the damp/wet reed.

    Watch how I set up my basket weaving workspace.

    Set another towel to one side and place a bin of warm water on top. You’ll soak the reed in the tub.

    Finally, arrange your tools, so they’re easy to reach.

    For details on the tools I’m using, visit Basket Weaving Tools: What you Need to Get Started.

    I’ve put together a basic basket weaving tool kit in my Etsy shop.

    The tools I use in basketry.

    Prepare the reed

    basket weaving workspace
    My basket weaving table.

    Cut the stakes

    See my post: How to Cut Reed for Basket Stakes for more details.

    8 stakes from 3/4” flat reed @ 30” long each
    (8” bottom + 8” wall x 2 + 6” for stakes to fold over top = 30″)

    7 stakes from 3/4” flat reed @ 32” long
    (10” bottom + 8” wall x 2 + 6” for stakes to fold over the top)

    basket stakes and a "D" handle laid out on a table

    Mark centers

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

    The wrong side of the reed is rougher and has more “hairs” coming off of it. The right side feels and looks smoother.

    detail of the wrong side and right side of basket reed
    Close up of the wrong and right side of the reed… This is important to know when marking the stakes so that your end product is smooth.
    marking-center

    Here I’m marking the center point with a pencil. See the tiny hatch mark on the reed.

    In this step-by-step guide learn how to weave a handmade basket with a handle.

    Video series

    Soak the reed

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

    soaking basket reed in a tub of water

    Laying out the base

    Along with the “D” handle, lay out the stakes perpendicular to the handle, alternating one under one over.

    The center mark should be facing up and centered on the handle. Place a stake weight on the stakes to hold them in place.

    Related post:

    How to Weave an Open Base Basket

    weighing down the reed with a stake weight
    laying out the stakes of a market basket
    setting up the 'D' handle of a market basket
    over-under pattern at the base of a market basket

    Using a tape measure, evenly space the stakes on and under the handle.

    evenly spacing the stakes of a basket base
    measuring the spacing of the base of a market basket

    Weave the stakes going the other direction. Start at the handle and work out using the plain weave under one over one method.

    beginning to lay the vertical stakes of a basket base
    beginning to lay the vertical stakes of a basket base
    beginning to lay the vertical stakes of a basket base
    spacing the stakes of an open weave basket base

    Use a tape measure to space the stakes in the base evenly. Check your final base measurement – it should be 8″ by 12″.

    measuring the base of a basket
    Want to see it in action? Watch this open base video.

    Twining the base

    Twining the base holds the stakes in place as you weave the walls.

    Related post:

    Twining the Base: Creating a Stable Basket

    crimping the twining reed in half
    ready to begin twining a basket base
    the first stitch in twining a basket base
    weaving the round reed as I twine a basket base

    Make sure everything is damp. Dip the base into your tub of water, or thoroughly spray it down.

    Watch twining in action.

    Upsetting the stakes

    Upset all of the stakes around the base of the basket. Gently fold the stakes completely, creating a crease, but don’t force the reed, or it will crack the reed.

    It’s essential to keep the reed very damp at this stage. Creasing reed can cause cracking and even breakage.

    going around the corner of the basket with the twine
    crimping the corner of the twine at the base of a basket
    twining the basket of a basket
    twining the basket of a basket
    finished twining the base of an open weave basket base

    Weaving

    Using your 1/4″ flat-oval reed, anchor the reed end with a clamp on the outside of a weaver.

    Start with at least four stakes before the corner. Weave this around the basket, folding the reed at each corner to create a nice angled corner to work with.

    Clamp the beginning of your weaver to the stake you start on
    Clamp the beginning of your weaver to the stake you start on
    Clamp the beginning of your weaver to the stake you start on
    red metal clamps being used on the base of a market basket

    Create a nice crisp corner by folding and making a crease in the weaver

    Add one clamp to each basket side to hold the working weaver in place.

    red metal clamps being used on the base of a market basket

    When you return to the starting point, unclamp the end of the weaver while holding it securely, so it doesn’t pop out of place.

    Clamp it again five stakes away. Weave the working reed to overlap the reed’s starting edge. It should overlap on four stakes, ending behind so that it is hidden behind the stake.

    red metal clamps being used on the base of a market basket
    tucking the first weaver at the base of a market basket

    Overlap the beginning of weaver with the end of the weaver on four stakes, ending behind the fourth reed.

    Cut the reed to the right outside edge of the stake.

    Clamp both layers of reed to the stake to hold securely
    Clamp both layers of reed to the stake to hold securely

    Continue building the basket’s walls using your chosen weaving technique or pattern. Pack down the reed as you go so that the weaving is tight.

    starting with a weaver
    starting with a weaver
    starting with a weaver
    going around the corner of a basket  with a weaver

    Keep the corners neat and tight by creating a crease in the working reed.

    building the walls of a basket with a weaver
    building the walls of a basket with a weaver

    As on the first row, overlap the end of the working reed and the beginning of the working reed on four stakes.

    building the walls of a basket with a weaver
    building the walls of a basket with a weaver

    Tuck the reed behind a stake, in this case, the handle.

    building the walls of a basket with a weaver
    building the walls of a basket with a weaver

    Continue to build the basket walls.

    inside view of a market basket as it's being woven
    outside view of a market basket as it's being woven

    As you weave, make sure all the stakes and weavers stay damp.

    As you work, pack the rows down. The reed shrinks a bit as it dries, so loose rows will mean gaps in the basket walls and possibly breakage.

    outside view of a market basket as it's being woven
    outside view of a market basket as it's being woven
    almost finished weaving the walls of a rectangular basket

    Adding a seagrass detail

    When you near the top of your basket, add a few rows of seagrass. The seagrass needs to be tucked behind one stake and then clipped behind that same stake when you get back to the beginning.

    adding a seagrass detail to a market basket
    tucking the seagrass behind a stake
    Detail of the two ends of seagrass tucked behind a stake.
    inside detail of tucking the seagrass behind a stake
    outside detail of tucking the seagrass behind a stake
    first row of seagrass as a detail in a basket
    second row of seagrass as a detail in a basket
    first row of seagrass as a detail in a basket

    Last weaver

    When the basket walls reach your desired height, weave one last row using a flat reed half the width of your intended rim reed.

    (For instance, if you use a 1/2″ flat oval reed for your rim, use a 1/4″ reed as your final weaver).

    adding the last weaver to the decorative detail on a market basket

    Cut and tuck

    Again, make sure everything is damp.

    The stakes will be sticking up at this point.

    starting the cut and tuck process weaving a basket

    Looking at the basket from the outside, there will be some stakes in front of the last weaver and some behind.

    Cut the stakes behind the top weaver flush with the edge using the basket shears.

    cutting the inside weavers flush with the basket edge

    The front stakes get folded over and tucked into the walls of the inside of the basket.

    To do this, fold one of the front stakes over. Using your basket shears, cut the stake so that its length reaches the length of the third or fifth row inside the basket.

    Using your awl (straight-tipped packer), tuck the stake down behind the weavers against the stake and gently tuck the folded part into the space created.

    Do this process for all in-front stakes.

    cutting the inside weavers flush with the basket edge
    tucking the outside weavers into the basket
    tucking the outside weavers into the basket
    tucking the outside weavers into the basket
    tucking the outside weavers into the basket
    completed cut and tuck ready for the basket rim

    Prepare the rim

    Using a flat-oval reed that is double the size of your last weaver, whittle down the end so that there is a two-inch length of reed that is half as thick as the rest.

    Whittling down the end is called scarfing.

    side view of the rim reed
    scarfing the rim reed

    Clamp the end of the rim reed to the top edge of the basket (anywhere but over the handle). Clamp the reed around the top edge of the basket about every 5 inches.

    clamping the rim reed to the basket

    When you get to the start of the rim, cut it so that it overlaps the two-inch whittled section. I like to cut it and then trim the corners of the reed down a little so that it’s rounded, not just a raw straight edge.

    clamping the rim reed to the basket
    See those indentations? I suggest using plastic clamps on the rim to avoid this – do as I say, not as I do🤣🤣🤣.
    clamping the rim reed to the basket
    clamping the rim reed to the basket

    Follow the same steps to place a rim reed inside the basket.

    Don’t put the end of this part of the rim in the same place as the first one. I usually put them on opposite ends.

    Clamp so that the clamps span both the rim reeds and the basket body between.

    the rim of a basket ready to lash
    And here I am using the “right” plastic clamps. These don’t leave a mark.
    the rim of a basket ready to lash

    Tuck seagrass into the space between the two rim pieces.

    Start at the handle’s edge and place it until it reaches the edge of the handle on the other side.

    Do this on both sides of the handle.

    a coil of seagrass
    seagrass tucked into the sandwich of the rim
    seagrass tucked into the sandwich of the rim

    Lashing the rim

    Grab your lashing reed, and let’s add a basic lashing whipstitch.

    Related post:

    How to Do Basic Lashing on a Basket Rim

    beginning the basic lashing on a basket rim
    beginning the basic lashing on a basket rim
    beginning the basic lashing on a basket rim
    beginning the basic lashing on a basket rim
    basic lashing stitch on a market basket rim

    Make sure to keep your lashing reed and all the rim wet as you work. Pull tight on the lashing as you go.

    Again, a reminder that the reed shrinks as it dries. A loose rim is easily broken and looks sloppy.

    basic lashing stitch on a market basket rim
    basic lashing stitch on a market basket rim

    When the rim is complete, do any final shaping or molding of the basket while it is still wet. Allow the basket to dry overnight.

    side view of a market basket with a basic rim lashing

    Finishing your handled basket

    Sign and date the bottom of the basket using a Sharpie or other permanent marker.

    I love doing this because I can look back at when I made my baskets, and when I give them as gifts, it’s a stamp of “made with love, especially for you, from me” sort of thing.

    Related post:

    Signing Your Handwoven Baskets: Leaving a Legacy

    Use a water-based stain or sealer and apply it to the basket. The sealer protects the basket and/or alters the shade of the reed.

    Apply and allow to dry according to manufactures instructions.

    Related post:

    Basket Stains and Sealers: Finishing Your Basket

    Here is the final basket…

    market basket
    market basket
    gathering basket
    market basket

    These are the basic instructions for weaving a gathering-style reed basket. Follow these steps to create most any open bottom rectangular or square basket. 

    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

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

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