“End of Day” Quilters Small Gathering / Gift Basket.
I recently found a very old, small antique cane basket in a thrift store. I was rather taken with it, so I purchased it for the grand sum of three dollars! When I waked into another store holding this basket, another lady, exclaimed “I want that basket”. There is just something about it, even with decades of dust. So that little basket came home with me. I gave it a good wash and it became my inspiration for today’s basket. There is just something so appealing about the size and the shape … so I am sharing this idea with you.
Now when the strings have been saved, and the rope has been wrapped, here is a small basket project! See the links below on preparing the strings and wrapping the rope.
For this basket, you will need about one skein plus a little more of wrapped rope.
Begin by folding back a length of about three inches of the beginning of the rope back on itself. Today I’m using a red thread, and I am sewing this basket on my early 1960s Myer Victor Zig-Zag sewing machine. Begin zig-zag stitching ensuring that each side of the rope is caught into the stitches.
Work slowly, keep the needle in the down position when stopping and turning the piece. Continue in the same manner and complete 11 rows.
Once the 11 rows for the base are completed, tilt the base for the nex row and continue to stitch keeping the base vertical to the machine.
Continue for.another 20 rows or until the side = approximately 5 1/2 inches.
Stop about half way along one long side, Move the rope so that there is a 17″ length at 45 degrees to the basket the double it back. Sew along the centre to make the handle.
Attach to the opposite side of the basket. Continue sewing the rope for the remainder of the row. Trim and finish at the beginning of the handle.
Reinforce the handles to the basket with some hand stitching.
Fill with whatever you like, fruit, hand made preserves, Christmas gifts … it’s up to you!
Merry Christmas to you all!
