Free Pattern for the Fourth of July

So I know I've been absent from the blogosphere recently....it's been an unusally busy summer for me so far, and it probably won't slow down until late August, after my daughter is married and my son is shipped off to his first year in college!

I mentioned in my last post that I was taking classes with Emma Hughes, a weaver from Louisiana....I had such a good time and met some ladies who caught the basket-weaving bug and want to learn more, and naturally, I am happy to oblige!  One of my new friends had an Americana Basket that she wanted to try to duplicate, so she sent me some photos and measurements and I wrote up a pattern for it, so I thought I'd share it with all of you!

Americana Basket

Base: 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

6" tall to rim, 12" to top of handle

Materials:

5/8" flat, natural - spokes and rim row

3/8" flat, dyed red- weavers

1/2" flat, natural- weavers

#2 round reed, natural- twining

3/16" flat/oval, natural- lashing

7/8" flat, dyed navy - outside rim

7/8" flat, natural- inside rim

#3 seagrass- rim filler

10" wide x 11" tall notched handle, dyed navy

1.  From the 5/8" flat reed, cut 15 spokes @ 30".  Mark the centers and soak.

2.  Lay out the base with 7 horizontal spokes and 8 vertical spokes.  True the base to measure 8 1/2" square.  Twine once around the base and upset spokes.

3.  Weave rows as follows:  Beginning  and ending with 1/2" flat natural, weave a total of 13 rows, alternating rows of 1/2" flat natural with rows of 3/8" flat red.  You will end up with 7 rows of 1/2" flat natural, and 6 rows of 3/8" flat red.

4.  At this point, push the handle down along the center spokes (on the sides that have 7 spokes).  Push handle down until the notch lies just above the last row of 1/2" flat.

5.  Weave the rim row with 5/8" flat, natural.  Cut off the spokes that are in front of the handle so they are even with the top of the rim row.  Cut and tuck the remaining spokes as usual.

6.  Rim the basket with 7/8" flat navy reed for the outside piece, and 7/8" flat natural for the inside piece.  Add the seagrass rim filler.  Lash with 3/16" flat/oval reed, forming an "X" at the handle.

7.  Stencil some white stars across the handle and the rim, if desired.

ENJOY!

Here are some photos of the baskets I made in class.  My daugher added the "basket filler" when I got home!  :)

Double Wall Basket with twill woven base

Gift Carrier Basket with Braided Border

Have a Happy Fourth of July!