Woven Felt Baskets

Finally getting this one up! OK here we go..................

What you'll need to do this project: 

1 1/2yards 36" or bigger felt off the roll. (the grey basket was 36" and the blue was 72")

scissors/rotary cutter and cutting mat

sewing machine 

thread

 

1. So to start, cut your felt into 2" strips. For my baskets I used a ten strip base with 3 or 4 wall strips. Since I plan using them for utility purposes around my house and not just to sit and look pretty, I took 2 strips and top stitched them together to make them stronger. So in total I cut 28 strips to ended up with 14 doubled strips for the project.   

 

2. once all your basket strips are prepped lay out the first 5strips flat on the table going one direction. 

 

3. From the middle of you first 5 strips weave your first strip over, under, this is the center of you basket. Then on both sides of that center strip weave two more strips in to the base for a total of 5. Laying flat on your table, push your strips together from all sides to tighten the weave. I wanted mine very tightly woven so I pushed and worked the felt till there was almost no gap between the felt strips, but not so much that they bunched together. 

 

4. Your next strip will be the first of your wall rings. take your strip and lay it out on your base. pin it size, and trim. Use the trimmed strip to measure out your other wall rings. one all your rings are trimmed, over lap them about an inch and sew ends together . I used a zigzag stitch on mine.

 5. Now your ready to start weaving! Start by folding every other strip into the center of the basket. Then pull the remaining strips through and fold them over the ring. Once this is done place your next ring on top. Flip the strips in the middle, out over the second ring, then flip the strips from the bottom of your ring into the middle of the basket, before adding the next ring. repeat process until your happy with the height. i had 3 ring in the grey and 4 on the navy .   

 

 

6. Fold and pin your strips over 2 sides of your top ring. From the other 2 sides gently tug your strips to help tighten your weave, before folding and pinning them over the top ring also.  Trim excess before top stitching your basket. Again I used a zigzag stitch for this.

 

 

for the handle take your last strip you cut ( or some of your longer trimmings for small side handles like the navy basket.) and pin it to on toe side of your basket. attach with a zigzag stitch. repeat on the opposite side. 

And your done! 

Hopefully this was helpful, and you'll be making felt baskets out the wazoo, but if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below.