Miniature Basket Tutorial
-
- I’ve learned this technique about 10 years ago, I don’t know who invented it so, as I’ve received it as a gift, in my turn I give it as a gift to all of you.This tuto is for a round basket.
-
- STEP 1: use 6 (or 8) wires covered by paper (I use cake wire gauge from #22 to #28 I depends on the thread thickness). Put a dot of glue on the middle of 3 (or 4) of them.
-
- STEP 2: glue in a cross-like shape the two groups of wires covered by paper. Wait until the glue is perfectly dry.
-
- STEP 3: To start the work fold in the middle the string and start wrapping the cross using the loop.
-
- STEP 4: cross the threads and wrap the next group of wires.
-
- STEP 5: turn the work each time by 90° degrees.
-
- STEP 6: cross the threads and again wrap the next group.
-
- STEP 7: You will find it easier to handle your work, from now on, if you turn it counter-clockwise while you proceed wrapping it by threads.
-
- STEP 8: complete two loops, this will strengthen the cross structure.
-
- STEP 9: Now open the “rays” and keep them equally spaced TIP: use an expired credit card to open the rays it will be easier and you will avoid the risk of bowing the rays while opening them.
-
- STEP 10: do the same ‘cross and wrap’ step you did before on the group of wires, the only difference now is that you do it on single wire by single wire.
-
- STEP 11: You will find it easier to handle your work, from now on, if you turn it counter-clockwise while you proceed wrapping it by threads.
-
- STEP 12: keep on, when you will be used you will find it easy 🙂
-
- STEP 13: go on…
-
- STEP 14: once you have reached the wished base dimension fold the wires as showed in the pic.
-
- STEP 15: your nails or a small coin (a five cent coin is a good one) will help you in making a perfect fold.
-
- STEP 16: you should now get something like that one showed in the pic.
-
- STEP 17: now you can go on crossing and wrapping… TIP: you can insert a coin of the size of the bottom to help you in maintaining straight the walls and go on adding coins as you increase in height.
-
- STEP 18: once you have reached the shape you like, stop and put a dot of glue on each wire, nearby the string, and let it dry completely before cutting the wire edges (this will prevent the thread from sliping away from wires).
-
- STEP 19: cut the remaining thread and hide and glue it inside the basket. TIP: you can fasten the thread better using a wool needle and passing it through the wrapped basket thread, in this case you don’t need glue at all.
-
- STEP 20: cut all the wire edges with the exception of two opposite wires (see next pic).
-
- STEP 21: the left wires will become your handle (or handles).
-
- STEP 22: in this tuto we will make a two handles basket: fold the wires as showed.
-
- STEP 23: a big brush handle or a pen will help you to do the work.
-
- STEP 24: the handles after the folding…
-
- STEP 25: widen, by a big wool needle, the space among threads to let the handle stick into.
-
- STEP 26: use tweezers to help you stick the wire into the space just widened. For a single handle the proceeding is nearly the same: leave just one wire and bend it across the basket sticking it into the opposite side.
-
- STEP 27: repeat step 25 and 26 for the second handle.
-
- STEP 28: before giving a finished touch to the handles we proceed embellishing the border: double a thread and wrap an handle end as showed in the pic.
-
- STEP 29: twist the thread…
-
- STEP 30: glue the twisted thread to the border as you proceed twisting.
-
- STEP 31: while twisting wrap in the handles…
-
- STEP 32: once ended the covering of border, keep one of the remaining threads and glue&cut the other (or hide it by a needle in the basket wraps).
-
- STEP 33: this is “glue and cut” step of one of the remaining threads… TIP: that was some years ago now I prefer to sew it in into the basket because it hides better and requires no glue at all.
-
- STEP 34: use the leftover thread to wrap the handle.
-
- STEP 35: for the first times you can put some glue on the handle to help the thread stay in place, when you will be used to do it you can avoid the glue, the thread will stay in place also without glue…sure!
-
- STEP 36: wrapping…
-
- STEP 37: as for the loose thread end before, you can choose if “glue& cut” it or sew it into the basket by a needle. Do the same for the other handle and… there you have it!
-
- Some samples of finished baskets.
“Miniature Basket” di Manuela P. Michieli è distribuito con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione – Non commerciale – Condividi allo stesso modo 4.0 Internazionale.
Based on a work at https://manuelamichieli.com/?page_id=151.