Basket plaiting

Here is a tutorial on how to make a basket from newsprint. I got two pads of artist's newsprint at a garage sale for almost no money. YOu could use newspaper if you didn't mind getting filthy fingers. Or you could use just about any kind of relatively large, relatively sturdy paper. Paper grocery bags work wonderfully! (unfold the bag all the way and fold the print to the inside.)

Cut your paper into long strips four inches wide.

Fold them in half the long way.

unfold, then fold the outside edges to meet at the center crease.

And fold it up again. Your four-inch wide strip of paper is now four layers deep and one inch wide, with the cut edges tucked inside.

Weave a mat four by four or six by six or any even number by itself.

Ok, here's the tricky part. Take the center two strips on one side of your mat and cross them.

weave the next two strips up. then the next two and so on to the end of the side. When I get to the end of a strip, I clip in in place with clothes pins.

See how this works? Continue on the other side, weaving the strips over and under around the corners.

At the top, fold the ends over and tuck them under. I then use a bit of glue to secure the works.

And voila, you have a handy little basket. Weave it tall and narrow, stick in a pepperoncini jar, and you have a classy vase. Use long strips and weave a cat bed. The ones made from grocery bags have worked for my cats for years. (Remember, cats like a snug fit.) Recycle gift wrap to make trinket boxes. (Cut the strips for the top slightly wider than the strips for the bottom. Indulge your fancies!

Any questions?