Colorful Basket for a Rainy Day

Today's rainy, dreary day seemed the perfect time to weave a basket kit from Blue Moon Baskets called Donna's Delicates that I won from a CPBWG Odyssey raffle . You can contact Peggy Adelman at Pegs914@aol.com if you want to find out more about the basket kit or directions.

Smoked reed stakes were inserted into an 8 x 12 wooden base.   Rows of brightly colored flat reed were accented against the smoked reed stakes.  Leather handles were attached to the short sides.  The rim was made with four rows of triple twine round smoked reed. A piece of flat reed was placed inside and the rim was lashed with a piece of smoked flat oval reed. The basket stands 10 1/2 " high.

Basket Shopping Cart

The Central Pennsylvania Basket Weavers Guild February workshop featured a Basket Shopping Cart.  Guild member Becci Melcher lead the session.  We worked from the Basket Buggy Shopping Caddy pattern by Pam Feix (www.feixbaskets-crafts.com )













Step 1 - attach the frame to base

Using a Knalla Shopping Cart on Wheels sold by IKEA
 we first attached a slotted wooden base to the frame. 






Step 2 - Insert spokes

 Forty-two spokes were evenly spaced and inserted around the base.  After the spokes were glued in place some members followed the pattern as written.  Other members used reed, colors and patterns of their own choosing while following the basic form of the pattern.


 

 

 

 

I was not pleased with my weaving or color selection so I went home early with the project unfinished.  This was a first for me.  After stewing over the basket for a while, I decided to take it apart and start again.   Have you ever done this?  Sometimes it is the best solution to get the results you want. 

I am much happier with my second attempt.  I changed the color scheme and included bands of burlap and navy ribbon for accents.

Finished dimensions: 16"L x 10"D x 20" High





2018 Service Project - Sleep Mats

 
 
 In addition to weaving baskets this winter I have been working on a community service project. 


Using recycled plastic shopping bags I am crocheting  large 4 foot by 6 foot sleep mats. The matts are given to the local police to distribute to the areas homeless as needed.




It takes about 600 bags to make a large mat.  Friends save their shopping bags for the project.  Once a week I join a group of ladies to fold bags, cut strips, join strips and roll them into the balls. I usually crochet a little in the evening as I watch television.

Step 1 - fold bags

Step 2 - cut strips

Step 3 - connect strips

Begin to Crochet

Random color pattern from colored bags