What I'm Weaving Wednesday: Breast Cancer Awareness Baskets

If you've been reading along with me since last year, you might remember The Pink Pot of Hope Basket, designed by Jennifer Rhodes of Basket Weaving Supplies.  

It was a beautiful basket she designed for a customer as a special request, and Jennifer took it a step further by committing to donating $1 for every sale of the pattern to breast cancer research.  In case you missed it, here's a photo of the basket I made following Jen's pattern.

 

A while ago I discovered another pattern Jen has available through her online shop, called the Breast Cancer and Yellow Ribbon  Awareness Basket .

This basket is designed by Pati English, and it was designed to honor her own mother.

I purchased that pattern and finally had some time to weave it late last week.

I need to mention that Pati's pattern includes instructions for adding an elaborate handle, but I opted not to put it on the basket.  Maybe someday....

I couldn't let October slip away without showing you these two amazing baskets, designed for a very special cause.

And I'd like to dedicate the ones that I have woven to two very special women who battled breast cancer....my beautiful Aunt Shirley, and my husband's wonderful Aunt Katy.

You're memory and your spirit live on in the lives of all those you've touched.

A Special Basket for a Special Someone

I wanted to weave a basket today....after spending half the day yesterday removing about a year's worth of dust from my husband's "man cave", I needed to do something enjoyable! (smile)

So as I was leafing through my patterns and books of patterns looking for something to weave, I came across a pattern that sparked an idea. 

You see, I have a really special fan, someone who loves my baskets and me, someone who appreciates the skill and work I put into them, someone who truly admires the finished product.

She is also very honest and will tell me when she thinks something doesn't look quite right, and I really value her opinion in that regard.  

She has quite an eye for design, and in fact, she wants to become an interior designer!  She's only 15 1/2 now, but I think she has that "raw talent" that people speak of, and will be successful someday!

Everyone needs a fan like that, but you can't have mine....she's my daughter, Alyssa!

So I knew I wanted to make a special basket, just for her.

As I was saying, I was inspired by a pattern, one that incorporates french randing into the basket, and since Alyssa loves anything/everything Zebra striped,  I altered the design a bit to make it look like........ zebra stripes!

It was just a matter of randing one way for a few rows, then randing in the opposite direction for a few rows.

I love how it turned out.

I hope Alyssa loves it, too.

You can never be too good to your Biggest Fan!

Her support means the world to me!

Love, From YOUR Biggest Fan,  

Mom

What I'm Weaving Wednesday: Coiled Baskets

Wow, that week went by too fast!  I've been busy canning apples, trying to organize photos, and picking the last of the spinach before our first frost(which we did get last night)....whew!  I don't know how I managed to get any weaving done in between all of that, but I did!

For quite some time, I had been wanting to give coiling baskets a try.  Maybe I was too busy, maybe I was just too chicken.  But whatever the reason, I just kept putting it off.  

Then late last school year, my daughter's art class did some coiling.  She brought it home to work on,  and I sat there fascinated, just watching her work.  That's when I finally decided it was time I tried it, too.

I have a confession to make.  

I  have always adored the look of a coiled pine needle basket.  They look so intricate and delicate and just....beautiful!

Strictly speaking, coiling is not weaving, although many people use the term when referring to making coiled baskets, but let me assure you....it is nothing like weaving!  It's more like sewing. 

Lots and lots of stitches, round and round in an endless circle!

But I found it strangely relaxing, and it's the type of basket making I can do when I have a few spare minutes...and frankly, that's all the time I can give it in one sitting....it's tedious and monotonous. 

But sometimes you need that.

So anyway, the first photo is the coiled basket my daughter made for art class.  She used coiling core wrapped in synthetic raffia and yarn with some fabric scraps added in for flare!

Isn't it gorgeous?  I think she did really well, especially for her first attempt at it!

Then there is my first coiled basket.  I decided to use pine needles and waxed linen thread.

Now here's a classic example of how I often approach things. 

Notice how my stitches are sometimes lined up and sometimes they aren't?  You can really tell on the inside of the basket. 

Ugh.  

The reason for that is, I got myself an instructional video and watched some of it, then decided I couldn't wait any longer, and just got to working. 

And for that reason, I missed the part that shows you how to line up your stitches! 

I thought I knew what I was doing, but obviously I didn't.

So I went back and watched the video again, and paid closer attention, and started on my second basket, this time using a stone center.

Much better! 

But as you can see, I haven't finished it yet.

  And that's because I was too anxious to get started on yet another basket, with a beautiful purple Agate stone center!

It reminds me of a giant eye!  

What I like about coiling is that there is no specific pattern to follow...you can easily make them as small or as big as you want.

What I don't like is that it takes days and days to make one basket.  

What I like is that it's relaxing and easy and doesn't make a big mess and the supplies take up very little space in my home.

What I don't like is that I probably can't make enough to give as Christmas Gifts this year.

If you've never tried coiling, I encourage you to do so!  Of course, you can buy one, but boy are they expensive!  I certainly understand why, now that I've tried it!

FYI...I purchased an instructional video and some supplies from Nadine Spier to get me started.

Here's the link:

Nadine's Basket Weaving Supplies

What I'm Weaving Wednesday

It's a beautiful fall day here in Central Pennsylvania....brilliant sunshine and crisp, cool air are the perfect backdrop for fiery trees of reds, yellows and golds against a clear blue sky.  

This is my absolute most favorite time of year!  

After a summer of weaving almost nothing, thoughts of upcoming Holidays and more time spent indoors has somehow re-kindled my desire to weave!

So I thought I'd try to make a weekly thing of sharing with you what I'm weaving!

Today, I made a basket for which I have had a pattern for a LONG time.

When I first saw the pattern, I was drawn to the striking contrast of the colors and the use of a technique I had never seen or tried before.

So finally, today, I made the basket.

This is called the Midnight Illusions Market Basket, and is designed by Laura Weinkamer. (Available at Basketpatterns.com for $3.50)

I just love the contrast of midnight black reed on  creamy natural with a hint of burgundy!

From a distance, the pattern is remiscent of a diamond quilted pattern, but if you stare at it and let your eyes go out of focus, steps begin to appear!

The best thing about it is, it's super easy to achieve this affect!

Now I don't want to be giving away someone else's pattern, so I can't tell you how it's done.

But trust me, buy the pattern, and you will absolutely LOVE it!

The pattern is well-suited for a beginner, and is a generous 8 x 11" basket woven on an 8 x 12 "D" handle.  

Very often, beginner patterns that are offered are just kind of boring.

But give this pattern a whirl and you will impress everyone with your basket prowess!

You'll probably have most of what you need on hand to make this basket, but here's the list so you can make sure you order anything else you need when you order the pattern:

5/8" flat natural reed

1/4" black and burgundy reed

1/2" black reed

3/8" flat natural reed

#2 round reed

1/2" flat oval reed

3/16" flat oval reed

8 x 12 "D" handle

In a land where all baskets start to look the same after a while, this one is truly a stand-out!

Happy Weaving!

 

Free Jingle Bell Basket Pattern!

A few weeks ago, one of my reeders readers told me about a basket she had seen while shopping.  It had jingle bells sandwiched in the double base of the basket.

  She was intrigued by the basket but not quite sure how this was accomplished, so I promised I would try to figure it out and then post a tutorial.

  While I was at it, I thought I would just create a new pattern and share it with you.  This would make a really cute Christmas gift basket or decoration for the Holidays!

The basket is 6" in diameter at the base and is 5" tall.

So here we go!  I call this my

Jingle Bell Basket

Materials Needed:

3/8" flat natural - spokes and weavers

3/8" flat dyed red -  spokes

1/4" flat oval, natural - weavers

1/4" flat, dyed green -weavers

#2 round reed, dyed red -triple twining accent

#2 round reed, natural - twining the base

Several small (1/4") jingle bells

From the 3/8" flat natural, cut 6 spokes @ 24" long.  Also cut 6 spokes from the 3/8" flat red @24" long.

Mark the centers on all spokes.  Soak the spokes and two long lengths of #2 round, natural.

Lay out the six 3/8" natural spokes in a wheel pattern, centers lined up. 

Begin twining as close as possible to the centers with one of the pieces of #2 natural RR for about 7 rows, or until the diameter of the base measures 4".  End twining.

Repeat this process with the 3/8" flat red reed spokes and #2 natural RR. End twining.

You will have two separate bases, each 4" in diameter.

Punch up the center of the base with the red spokes as much as possible.  Leave the other one flat.

Place a few jingle bells on the middle of the first base. (I used 5)

Take the second base and lay it on top of the first, with the red spokes between the natural spokes.

Take another long piece of #2 RR and begin twining the two bases together,  Twine together for about 5 more rows, or until the diameter of the base measures 6".  End twining.

Your base will now look like this:

 Weaving the sides:

Weave  6 rows start/stop weaving with 1/4" flat oval, natural.

Weave one row with 1/4" flat green in a zig-zag pattern as shown below:

Begin on the outside of any spoke.

Bring the weaver over the next spoke to the right of the starting spoke, take it to the inside of the basket, loop it around the back of the second spoke, towards the left, and come back out to the left of that spoke:

Continue this pattern all the way around.  You will always be going in front of two spokes, then looping the reed backwards around the second spoke.  When you get back to where you started, bring the reed over the starting spoke, overlapping it, and tuck to the inside of the basket as shown:

Next, weave one row of triple twining with the #2 red RR, and one row of reverse triple twining, also with #2 red RR.

  (This creates an "arrow" pattern.)

Weave one row with 3/8" flat natural.

Weave one more row of triple twining and one row of reverse triple twining with the #2 red RR.

Weave another row of zig-zag with the 1/4" flat green reed.

Weave 3 rows with 1/4" flat oval, natural.

Finish the basket with a "sawtooth" border:

Lay a piece of 3/8" flat natural reed on the inside of the basket, above the last row of weaving.

Bend any spoke down towards the inside of the basket, angled to the right, and bring it out UNDER the 3/8" flat reed.  Do this all the way around the basket.

Next, bend any spoke up and angled to the right, going over two spokes.  Cut the bent spoke flush with the side of the second spoke. 

Loosen up the second spoke and tuck the bent spoke under it.  Re-tighten the spoke.

Continue all the way around the basket.  When you get back to where you started, you will need to trim off some of the width of the reed to fit it under the last spoke.  See the photo below.

You're done!  

I hope you've enjoyed this pattern/tutorial!  As always, if you have any questions or problems, just email me or send a comment my way!

Happy Weaving!