DIY Coiled Rope Motif Basket

 

How often are you inspired to re-create something you saw online? I know I have lots of times! I often look around at my favorite stores to get ideas! Just take a look at this lovely Target basket! Isn't it fabulous with a pretty triangular design?

How cool would this be to make something similar? I love the design and wanted to make my very own version! Just in time for this month's DIY Challenge - And the theme for August is our choice for a project! 

If you're coming over from Carol @Blue Sky at Home wasn't her no-sew cushions fabulous!

So here are my thoughts on making a similar Target basket: The easiest way for me to make a coiled rope motif basket was to use sisal rope and yarn - things I already had on hand. I've made a sisal rope basket before that you can see here. And the best part, very few supplies including things you probably already have on hand are needed to make this beauty!

Materials:

• Small wastebasket trash can - 9"x8.5"(used as template)
• Sisal rope (50ft. 3/8")
• Chalk
• Yarn - 1 skein (Dollar Tree - 131yds in eggplant)
• Yardstick
• Large eyed needle
• Thimble
• Hot glue gun/glue sticks

 *Note - pictured is a roll of macrame cord - I switched it to yarn to make it easier to use and less bulky in making the motif. 

Another change is using parchment paper. At first I thought covering the can with strips of parchment paper would save the wastebasket finish from the hot glue sticking to it.

But once I starting coiling the end of the rope in a tight circle and adding hot glue as I coiled  .  .  .

it proved to be a nuisance with the coiled rope moving around on top of the parchment paper and the parchment paper getting in the way.

So, as soon as I finished coiling the rope around the base of the can and securing it in a circle with hot glue .  .  .

I removed the parchment paper. Then turning the can right side up, continued  adding lines of hot glue along the rope while coiling it around the can, making sure to keep the rope rows even. 

The glue didn't harm the plastic waste basket can. Any glue residue just popped right off.

Continue coiling and gluing the rope around the can, holding the rope firmly in place as you are waiting for the glue to dry until reaching the end of the rope.

Once you are near the end - I used all 50ft of the rope - cut the rope at a slant angle, adding additional glue to the end while pressing it down to blend in with the previous rope row.

Next, remove the rope basket from the plastic wastebasket by gently twisting back and forth until the wastebasket releases to pull off and out.

The next part might be a bit hard or tricky to understand. Let me just say that I am not a precise crafter. I don't use formulas to decide how much yardage I might need for a project. I do what I call guesstimate what I will need. 

To begin adding the triangular motif-I divided the top (circle) rope into four segments - 12,3,6,9 - marking it in chalk. Then decided how far down I wanted the design to end. I wanted the segments to have the same number of rope rows so I counted in groups of three rows with four segments  - counting down twelve rolls (3x4) to start. 

To guess how much yarn to cut for the first motif, I measured out each segment and doubled the amount - 23ft. and divided that by 3 to get the yardage - 7.6 and rounded that off to 8yards.  I took a yardstick and measured out 8 yards to thread on the needle each time I needed more yarn.  Then I started at one of the chalk marks, down 12 rows and stuck the needle in through the inside, leaving a couple of inches of yarn while wrapping by pulling the yarn up and over and down again.  

I wrapped the yarn around five times up and over and through the rope rows and beginning on the sixth time, counted up three rows to start the next segment from the inside.

Continue wrapping yarn approximately five times, keeping the yarn straight, trying to maintain the same size for each segment - while moving up towards the top of the basket .  .  . 

creating decorative segments .  .  .

in a triangular motif design.

The first triangular motif is complete in this picture.

To add additional yarn, remove needle from yarn and connect the end of the wrapped yarn with another eight yards by tying together in a double knot (inside basket). Measure enough of the yarn that's left so that the knot is inside (cutting off excess). Then thread needle onto new end of yarn piece. 

Hide knot and ends by pushing needle through inside wrapped yarn.

Continue wrapping yarn in equal segments - following the previous design while moving around basket. 

Use a thimble to help push needle through glued rope.

As I continued moving to the right of where I began adding the motif. I realized that the segments would not be even when they meet because of how the top rope row ended. There's an extra row or half a row at the top.

So I began adding segments over the end of the rope on the left side wondering how it would look when the segments meet.

Nearing the end! What do you think? Not too noticeable, huh?  Let me just say that it took me all day long - from morning to night - to complete adding the yarn design to the basket. It was very time consuming. But I loved every moment! That's what crafting is all about!

Inside finish.

Can you believe there's still yarn left over from using just one skein of Dollar Tree yarn. Amazing!

Welcome to our monthly DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! On the first Wednesday of the month, Terrie hosts a DIY Challenge with a group of talented bloggers who love to create budget friendly décor for their homes. 

Up next is Tammy @Patina and Paint sharing her step by step tutorial on making an adorable lazy susan! How cool is that!

And be sure to click on each of the Bloggers listed below to see their magnificent creations, too!

                                               

DECORATE AND MORE WITH TIP                        K'S OLYMPIC NEST                                      BLUESKY AT HOME

                                                 

PURPLE HUES AND ME                                               PATINA AND PAINT                                            THE HOUSE HOUSE

                                                    

           BLESSINGS BY ME                                           THE HOUSE ON SILVERADO                                   LECULTIVATEUR

                                                                  

                                                                                                  CLOCHES & LAVENDER

 

How to Make a String Ball with Bow Ornament

This post first appeared on Bowdabrablog.com where I'm on the Bowdabra Design Team.

Make this adorable string ball ornament to put on your tree this Christmas! It's easily customized with your favorite decorations like this Bowdabra bow! And it's a fun craft to make right now during Christmas in July! 

You can easily make this adorable string ball with bow using  a few items:

• Crochet thread
• Balloon
• Aileen's Tacky Glue
• Heavy duty thin upholstery needle
• Ribbon - 1"wide 
• Floral trim
• Mini Bowdabra and wand
• Bowdabra bow wire

First, blow up a balloon to your desired size. Next, I'm going to describe the easiest way I've found to wet the thread and at the same time remove excess glue while wrapping the balloon. Virtually no mess, and it also keeps the string from tangling. Do this by taking a thin upholstery needle and thread it with the end of a ball of crochet thread (don't cut the thread). Next, take a small bottle of Aileen's Tacky glue (Dollar Tree) and punch the lower portion of the bottle with the threaded needle - 

pulling the needle and thread through the bottle. Remove the thread from the needle and tie the end around the knot on the balloon. 
Begin wrapping the balloon with the thread while holding glue bottle - first vertically and .  .  .

then horizontally until you're satisfied with the look. You can add additional tacky glue over the thread by dabbing on with a sponge. Secure the string around the balloon knot, and cut leaving a length to hang. Dry for several hours or overnight. 

Once the string ball is thoroughly dry, pop the balloon with sharp end of scissors.

The balloon will separate from the string ball .  .  .

then pull the deflated balloon out .  .   .

How to make the Bowdabra bow to decorate the top of the string ball:

Fold a 24" piece of Bowdabra bow wire in half and lay in the Bowdabra, tucking ends under. Next, insert sparkling floral stems randomly into the Mini Bowdabra. Then pinch the end of a 1" wide ribbon and insert down into the Bowdabra. Fold over a 2.5" inch loop and press into the Bowdabra. Then fold the ribbon on the opposite side making another 2.5" loop.

Continue making  more 2.5" loops for a total of six on each side. Then scrunch down the ribbon using the Bowdabra wand.

 While the bow is still in the Bowdabra, tie off by threading the two loose ends of the bow wire through the loop at the other end. Pull the bow wire tightly and tie into a knot before removing the bow from the Bowdabra. 

Secure the bow wire with another knot in front while creating a hanging loop - cutting off excess and tying ends in a knot. Fluff out bow and trim. 

Attach to top of string ball with hot glue for the cutest holiday look ever!

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!