16. Woven Fabric Strip Basket with Wooden Dowel Rim
What This Idea Means
Utilizing a weaving technique, this basket uses folded fabric strips woven over a rigid base grid, topped with a hidden circular wooden hoop or split dowel rim. The structural wooden rim keeps the basket opening perfectly round and sturdy.
What You Need
- 1 yard woven cotton fabric cut into 2.5-inch wide strips
- 1/2 yard fusible interfacing (cut into 1-inch strips)
- 10-inch wooden embroidery hoop inner ring or round split dowel ring
- Fabric glue and sewing machine
- Heavy binder clips
How to Make It
- Prepare fabric strips: fuse 1-inch interfacing down center of 2.5-inch fabric strips, fold long raw edges to center, press, and stitch flat to create clean 1-inch thick structural fabric bands.
- Lay 8 to 10 bands vertically and woven horizontally in an over-under pattern to construct flat basket base grid.
- Bend vertical tail strips upward at 90 degrees to form vertical warp ribs.
- Weave horizontal fabric strips through vertical warp ribs in alternating over-under rows, securing ends with binder clips.
- Once desired side height is reached, wrap top ends of vertical fabric strips around wooden hoop ring.
- Fold strip ends inward around wooden hoop and stitch securely or fix using strong fabric adhesive to lock rim.
Tips and Variations
- Tip: Use heavy binder clips to hold woven rows tight while wrapping ends around wooden rim frame.
- Variation: Paint wooden rim ring in gold, white, or black enamel paint prior to wrapping fabric for a rim accent.