Welcome to October's Pinterest Challenge hosted by Alexandra @EyeLoveKnots. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate us to actually make something that we have pinned! This month's challenge topic is Gift in a Basket! The holidays and gift giving season is almost here! Gift baskets - big or small - are quite appropriate for almost every occasion. When all else fails, give a gift basket! You can put together a gift basket so special and personal making it the perfect all time gift!
So I'm going to start with the basket itself - it's the most important item in a gift basket. One of the best ways to ensure the present you give is unique is to make it yourself. Including the basket itself! Especially one that's distinctive like a beautiful intertwining of knots based on a nautical mat. A knotted rope gift basket! How cool is that! I was inspired by this basket I saw on Pinterest and really enjoyed watching the video. I never thought you could turn a mat into a basket!
And explaining how to make one maybe somewhat confusing or seem complicated. I have to warn you that this tutorial is rather lengthy! I'm so sorry. I don't want you to miss out in learning how to create a lovely basket like this one! Just take it slow - taking your time going over the steps and pictures and you will figure it out - just like I did. Although this is not the first nautical mat that I have made. You can check out my first one here.
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so much for your support!
Materials Needed:
- Rope - 36ft. 10mm
- Masking tape/cellophane tape
- Scissors
- Multi purpose glue
To start, I cut 36 feet of rope from a 50ft roll of 10mm twine rope. At first, I thought I would use the entire roll to make a bigger basket, but when I tried folding the rope together to get the center, it look like it was way too much rope to pull through the loops to make it. Anyway, place the ends of the rope together to find the center loop.
Tape down the cord on the left - we will call that the standing cord - and make a loop crossing over the standing cord with the cord on the right. We will call that the working cord. And the loops will be the petals of the basket.
Then take the cord across the entire loop . . .and make another loop on the leftWhile holding everything down with your left hand, tuck the working cord underneath the bottom loop cordThen take the cord around to the left and up under the cord to the right where it's taped down, pulling the cord through.Make sure to lay the cord right on top of the loop on the left and go up and under.Then take the cord end and weave across - over and under, over under, over under . . .and out the last loop on the left, creating five loops or petals.Then, take the working cord end and follow the taped down cord, over, under, over around . . .until creating a total of six loops or petals as you double the cord. Tighten (make smaller) the cord loops or petals as you follow the cord.Un-tape the standing cord and take the end to follow the cord down . . .and around . . .for a third time.Go through the entire knot to create four round . . .
then five until the cord ends. Tighten the mat by starting with the end cord, adjusting all around and moving on to the next cord to tighten. Be sure to tighten one cord at a time as to move around . . .until satisfied with the look.Flip mat over and pull the end cords out - they should end up being near each other. Use cellophane tape to cut off excess cord to keep from raveling.
Front of mat
Shape mat into bowl by pulling up on the sides while pushing in the middle with hands.Then starting with one of the end cords . . . and pull to tighten around entire mat into a bowl shape. Try to close as many open areas as possible by tightening the cord.To attach the handle, tape rope ends on a piece of rope so the ends won't fray at the 24" length mark and cut out. Insert one end through a hole where petals crisscross (as near to the top edge) and fold rope end up to press handle together. Then insert other cord end on the opposite side and fold end up against rope handle.
To secure handle ends, Unravel 18" of rope . . .and remove two of the threads, separating them.Fold thread in half and take the two ends through the loop around the handles - creating a slip knot - pulling tight to secure. Then wrap thread around handles ends several times and secure ends in place with glue.I loved how the basket turned out! But I wished I had used a stiffer rope. The basket would have been much firmer and not as flexible as it turned out.Decide on a gift theme - mine is spa items - cause everyone likes to be pampered!
PLEASE VISIT ALL OF THE HOSTS TO SEE WHAT AWESOME INSPIRATIONS THEY CREATED!
