As an experienced crafter who's upcycled countless textiles, I've found receiving blankets make perfect material for these sturdy baskets. Old sheets or fabric scraps work beautifully too, turning waste into functional home decor.
Slice your receiving blankets into 2-inch-wide strips. Precision here ensures even wrapping later.
Keep cutting until everything's stripped. Take a moment to reminisce—babies grow so fast!
Grab one end of your rope and three fabric strips.
Bundle the three strips together. Align the bundle's end against the rope's end with a 2- to 4-inch overlap for security.
Fold the strips over the rope end, fully covering it.
Tightly wrap the fabric strips around the rope, overlapping securely to hide the end completely, including the fold.
Pin the strip ends with bobby pins. If it loosens, rewind with a 4-inch overlap. Pro tip: Tension is key for durability.
Wrap continuously, pulling taut. At strip ends, add three more, growing your fabric-covered rope steadily.
Bundle new strips and overlap the previous ends, wrapping as before.
Wrap new strips over old ends, repeating until all fabric is used. You'll have a long, robust fabric-wrapped rope.
At the end, pin through fabric and rope to hold secure.
Thread a darning needle with crochet thread. Stitch the rope's starting end multiple times for a strong base.
Coil the wrapped rope into a tight spiral. Stitch as you go, securing firmly.
Sew needle through inner and outer coils, pulling tightly. Repeat for a solid foundation.
Spiral outward to your desired base size, adding one final loop.
Gently angle the last coil upward over the previous one to transition smoothly.
Stack coils upward, stitching securely to build sturdy sides.
Reach height, then for handles: Stitch a secure loop five times where the first handle starts.
Coil freely for 8 inches without stitching to the body.
Reattach with five tight stitches, repeat opposite side, then resume basket top.
Unravel fabric ends, cut rope shorter than needed to reach the end point. Leave fabric intact.
Wrap fabric over cut rope end. Thread loose ends through top two coils, using a knitting needle if tight.
Tug firmly through. Loop extra fabric through coils elsewhere if lengthy.
Route a fabric strip through the nearest handle and pull tight.
Tie all strips into a secure knot.
Trim frayed ends. Tie longer strips into a bow for an elegant touch.
