Confession. I have a bunch of desk toys at work. This project was inspired by needing somewhere to keep them all because my collection keeps growing. There's only so many squishy stress balls that you can balance on a monitor stand. I made the one for work with no pictures but I had enough supplies left over to make more and take pictures.
Supplies:
Cotton cord.
I've had this quite a while but the ticket was still stapled to the bag so I know I paid $0.29/yard at Hobby Lobby. I would guess it's 1/2 inch. I had 20 yards (better safe than sorry!) and this is what was left after the first basket I made. I'm guessing about 10 yards left.
String and a big fat needle.
I was going to use embroidery thread but I found this crochet thread on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $1.89. Worked well enough and I had a ton left over. I had the needle in my sewing supplies and it was very blunt. It worked but my fingertips wished I had splurged on a sharp one.
Fabric.
I raided my stash of fat quarters. For the toy basket I used a little over 2 fat quarters all together. On this one I used one whole and 3 or 4 strips of a second one.
A cute doggy.
And last but not least, a couple of good movies. This takes a while.
I did not cut a length of cord for these baskets. I started with the end, worked until I was happy with the size, and cut it off.
Bonus Project!
Swapping out the cotton cord for this clothesline and the crochet thread for bright colored embroidery thread I made smaller ones! I bought a 50 ft package of clothesline at Mighty Dollar for $1. Worked perfect for this project. I made a pencil cup for my desk and a tiny basket with handles for pictures of steps I forgot to capture on the big basket.
Step 1
Cut strips of fabric. Make small cuts in the end and then rip. I like the frayed edges.
Step 2
Cover the end. This cord stuff frays like crazy.
Step 3
Start a coil, wrapping the fabric around the cord as you go. I went with a bit of an oval for this one.
Step 4
This is the only step where I tied a knot at the end of the string. With the long tail of the cord at the top stitch through the coil from the bottom to the top. I only did it once for circles but for the oval I did it 3 times, that's why it's off center. For a circle go straight through the middle. Or not. Whatever you want to do.
Step 5
Start stitching. Like a dufus I didn't take a picture of this from the big basket. Project 2. I'll get better.
Pull the needle and thread through, wrap behind the top row, bring the needle up through the fabric of the top of the row below it, repeat. Sometimes I went 2 or 3 rows down to tighten up the coil.
When you get to the end of one strip, just overlap the edge of the previous and keep going.
To end a string, leave a little bit of a tail and pull through the cord. Pull it tight and cut it off or leave the tail and wrap it with the next bit of fabric.
To start new string, don't tie a knot at the end but go through and inch or so of cord and come through. The tension of the next few stitches will hold it in place.
I got to the size of base I was happy with and got ready to start working on the height. These could totally be made for coasters. Or a rug if you have like a million hours to spare.
Step 6
Build the sides. Once again I don't have a picture of the transition from base to sides on the big basket.
Instead of keeping the cord level just start overlapping the row below it.
To add handles, double stitch before the handle, make a handle shape, wrap the thread (or not), and double stitch on the other side.
Keep going until you have the height you want. I used a whole fat quarter and then stopped. I switched to a different color for one row at the top and ended it with a swirl on the front. Wrap the tail end just like the beginning end and stitch it down.
Done!
For my first basket I went with round and a height I thought would be be tall enough. It is about 8 inches wide and 8 inches tall. No swirly on the front of this one. I just wrapped the end and stitched it down.
I love how this turned out. The curved shape was completely unintentional at first. I noticed it happening by the red thread and then I just went with it and made it smaller on purpose at the top. I decided the shape makes sense so it won't be as likely to tip over when I fill it with pens.
Until next time!
EDIT:
Got them on my desk and put them to work!
How adorable is that tiny basket full of paperclips?!
Looks like I already need to make a bigger one.
