The Recycled Paper Basket Tutorial

In this lengthy tutorial I am going to show you how to make this basket out of newspaper:


What you need:

• 12 newspaper pages
• Stapler
• Clothespins
• Ruler
• Felt tip pen
• Scissors

First we have to fold the newspaper pages to strips. Lay out the page in front of you.

Fold top and bottom edge to the middle.

Fold again.

Fold again.

Fold in the middle.

Congratulations. You have completed one strip. Now repeat 11 times, so you have 12 in total.

Now lay two strips down in a cross.

It is helpful here to mark the center of the two strips. Be aware that you are now going to weave a 6x6 square with 3 strips on top, bottom, right and left of the center point.

Add a strip to the top and right of your marked center.

Do not forget to weave over and under the already laid out strips. (Note the position of the marked center).

Add on all sides another strip to get a 4x4 square. Note that the strips always go over and under.

Finally add the last strips to complete a 6x6 square.

Staple the 4 edges to hold everything in place.

Mark a square on your woven part. This square is going to be the bottom of the basket.

Fold the edges along the lines you drew.

Now to the tricky part. Fold two sides up and start to weave the strips together, Secure with a clothespin. Here you can see the outside…

… and the inside of the first corner.

Continue with the other 3 corners. Use clothespins to secure the weave.

When you are done you should have a loosely woven basket.

Attention: If you have a cat, do not leave your weaving project unattended. The cat will try to fit into it.

Remove the staples. Going around the edge of the basket, start tightening the strips, so your weave gets tighter.

Now you can start to make the rim by folding own a pair of crossing strips. Be sure to leave enough length .

Go on folding over the second pair.

By weaving in one strip of the second pair you secure the first pair.

Go on folding and weaving.

Done!

Now start weaving in all loose ends. This gives the basket more rigidity.

Cut off the ends and you are done!