A Tisket, A Tasket....

OK. I finished the baskets...I don't know where these baskets originated. I have been making them this way for over 25 years. Someone taught me when I first started doing minis. I have seen them in books and on blogs in the past few years. I don't think that any one person can take credit for them. So have at it and have fun!

This morning, after they were completely dry, I gently eased them off of the molds. Then I took a pair of very sharp, pointy embroidery scissors and trimmed off the excess canvas/Aida cloth.

I used the indentation of the top rubber band as a guide and then snipped off a little more here and there to make them even.

For the handles and top bands, I cut off two strand strips from the matching material. If you aren't sure if your material is going to ravel or not, simply put a coat of white glue on the back of the fabric and let it dry before you cut it.

Next came the trim. I arched the handles and glued them to the outside. Then I clipped them with hair clips to keep them from popping off.

If your canvas isn't too sturdy, you may want to double the handles, gluing two strips together.

When they were fairly dry(just a few minutes), I wrapped the top band around and glued it over the ends of the handles.

As you can see, you can do just about any shape that you can find a form for. I stick with round and oval. They seem to look a lot better than trying to force the fabric into squares.

I lined the one that Tessie is holding with a small piece of fabric, fringed at the edges.

The open weave baskets, made from needlepoint canvas can be embellished further by weaving thread through the open holes or even strands of the canvas itself to make a more solid basket.

Here are some of the different kinds of fabrics that are usable. All are even weave. Some are linen. Some are cotton.

They are ALL NATURAL. That is important. Only natural fabrics will hold their shape. Man made are no good for this.

Some of the canvas you see here is painted. That I got at a thrift shop or garage sale for little money. I purchase a lot of scrap canvas when I can find it cheap. Yes. One is painted an ugly blue. Makes no difference. If it was painted once, it can be painted again. Or you can just cut around the blue part and go with the white part.

If you don't think that a particular piece is going to be stiff enough, wait until you get it on the form and spray it with unscented, extra hold, hairspray. That should do it if it is truly a natural fabric.

Now....Go forth and make many baskets. I have to get back to room cleaning.... And no, I don't want to talk about that.....

See you tomorrow.