Instead of throwing away old cardboard boxes, why not recycle them?You can hide the cardboard in the basket by wrapping it around the cord.If you want to make a more traditional woven basket, you can cut the box apart and weave it back together with the cord.A cardboard box, scissors, cord, and glue are all you need.
Step 1: The flaps on the box need to be cut.
You can use a box cutter or a pair of scissors.If your box isn't very stable, now is the time to reinforce it with duct tape or packaging tape.The bigger the box, the more glue and rope you will need.
Step 2: Attach a line of hot glue to the bottom of the box.
Plug in your hot glue gun and let it heat up.Once it's hot, draw a line of hot glue along the bottom edge of the box.
Step 3: The end of the cord should be pressed into the glue.
You can use any thickness of cord.Thinner cord would work better for smaller boxes.
Step 4: Continue wrapping the cord around the box until you reach the top of it.
Press the cord against it after squeezing out another 1 to 2 inches of hot glue.Go around the box in rows until you reach the top.Make sure there are no gaps between the rows.You can glue the cord down if you don't have a lot of glue.Hot glue sets fast if you squeeze out too much.
Step 5: The rope needs to be trimmed off.
Attach the end with more hot glue.At this point, your basket is almost complete, or you can learn how to make a lining and give it a nicer finish.
Step 6: To get the dimensions for a lining, you have to measure the inside of your box.
Measure the length and width of the box with a ruler or tape.If the sides are different, be sure to measure them.
Step 7: On the right side of the fabric, draw your pattern.
The box should be drawn in the middle of the fabric with the walls to each side.Something that looks like a giant sign is what you will end up with.You can use any fabric you want.Cotton, linen, or canvas would work best because of how rustic it is.
Step 8: Your pattern needs to be cut out.
There is a 12 inch seam on every edge.Your lining will be too small if you don't.
Step 9: Attach the "walls" of the lining together.
Pin the walls in place by folding them together.Something that looks like a box is what you should have.When you're done sewing, use a 12 inch seam allowance.Turn the lining inside out when you remove the pins.
Step 10: If you want to topstitch it, fold the top hem down by 12 inch.
The hem should be folded all the way around the top edge of the lining.If you are folding towards the wrong side of the lining, the seams are there.To remove the pins, topstitch close to the raw edge.
Step 11: Place the lining with more hot glue.
The basket should have the lining in it.If the fabric is flimsy, clip the hem to the edge of the basket with clothespins or binder clips.Remove the clothespins/binder clips as you hot glue the hem to the top edge of the box.
Step 12: Cut out the fabric from the base of the box after tracing it onto a sheet of fabric.
The inner lining of your basket will be made by this.Cut two pieces of fabric or felt for a neater finish.When you are done, set these aside.You can use any box you want.The bigger your box is, the more rope you will need to use.
Step 13: Cut the box apart by removing the flaps on the top and bottom.
You can cut something with a box cutter or a pair of scissors.First, cut the flaps off, then the corners.To get something that looks like a +, flatten the box.
Step 14: Glue the base of the box to the fabric/felt.
Use tacky glue and a stiff paintbrush to coat the base of the box.Take care of anywrinkle.Glue the other piece of material to the underside of the box if you cut two pieces of it.
Step 15: Cut 18-inch thick slit into each flap.
All the way to the crease, cut the slit from the edge of the flap.The side edges of each flap should be aligned evenly.It should be 1 inch apart for most boxes.These will make your basket bigger.It's important to cut into the fabric/felt lining as well.This will allow you to catch the lining as you weave.To accommodate the string you will be weaving around the fingers, the slit needs to be 18-inch wide.thicker cord may be needed if you are using a big box.To accommodate the thickness of the cord, make your slit 14-inch wide.
Step 16: Put a hole in each finger, close to the edge.
Try to center the hole as much as possible.You will be weaving the cord through these holes at the end, so make them as close to the edge of each finger as possible.Depending on the thickness of your box, you may be able to use a regular hole puncher.You can punch the holes with a nail if your box is too thick.
Step 17: Glue the end of a cord to a finger.
There is a finger at the edge of one of the flaps.Next to the crease, draw a line of hot glue across the finger.Press the end of the cord against the glue.The thinner the cord, the better.
Step 18: The cord should be woven over and under each finger.
When you reach the opposite end of the flap, fold it and the one next to it together to make a corner.The walls should be in their original positions when you are done with your first row.It's important to weave tightly at the corners.It's important to weave over the fabric.The material will be pinned to the fingers.
Step 19: Continue weaving until you get to the places you punched.
Push down on the rows with your fingers.This prevents gaps and keeps your weave nice and right.Make sure the gaps are big enough for the cord to fit through.You can continue weaving if you tie the end of a new cord to the old one.As you weave, put the tail ends of the knot under the cord.
Step 20: Begin weaving over the top edge of the basket.
Pull the cord up through the finger's hole if you Weave it under a finger.Feed the cord through the hole again.You should keep weaving on this part.
Step 21: Feed the rope through the hole if you Skip a hole.
Pull the cord past the hole and push it out through it.Continue weaving the cord through the other holes until you reach where you started.
Step 22: The top of the box needs to be done.
Every other finger should have an empty hole when you get back to where you started.Continue weaving your cord through the empty holes.The top of the fingers may have to be covered until the holes are filled.
Step 23: Attach the cord when you are done.
Once you like the top of the basket, you can cut the cord and leave a long tail.Attach the tail to a cord on the inside of the basket.Attach it with a drop of glue if you're worried about it unraveling.