Does
your log basket look like this along its top edge?
Thinking of
throwing it out? DON'T.
Make
one of these and let's repair it!
Can't
remember what this is called but hubby made me one for my basket
making course. Take around 18” of coat hanger wire or slightly less
diameter if you have it. Bend it in half leaving a gap at the bend of
around 1/2” or so. Then seal the two ends together (he used heat
shrink wrap) making sure the handle and loop lay flat on the same
side. Now you are ready to rock and roll.
First
of all, trim any bits of cane sticking out at the top. You don't need
to worry too much about the horizontal bits, they will disappear in
the weaving.
Choose
some scrap fabric and tear or cut into 2”-3” strips. Push the
tool
a few inches through the basket from the inside to the outside. Make
sure you do this with at least 1” of reasonable willow weaving
above. Apologies for a few slightly blurred photographs.
Thread
a corner of material through the loop and gently pull back to the
inside of the basket.
Unhook from tool then leave a piece of fabric several inches long
hanging on the outside of the basket for
this first bit of weaving.
Wrap
material over the top of the basket and repeat previous movement to
pull it back through to the inside. Ensure material lays reasonably
flat and that you hang onto the extra tab of material so you
don't pull the whole thing through!
Now
keep hanging onto the spare tab of material and pull tightly until your wrapped piece lays flat. Lay the tab of material on top of the basket to
ensure it gradually gets covered by subsequent wrapping.
Push
the tool through, grab material that should have been flipped onto
the outside of the basket, pull it through again to the inside. Pull
tightly to begin to cover the tab. Repeat until all the tab and the
whole top of the basket is covered.
When
you run out of fabric, leave a tab several inches long of the old
strip on the outside of the basket, then add a new piece as
previously done at the start. Now you need to ensure that both tabs
are laid on top of the basket, then continue wrapping.
When you get
to the end go over the beginning then pull the final bit of material
through to the inside and up through couple of the top wraps to lock
into place. Trim. You can also repair the
sides in a similar manner by weaving plaits or twirls of material in and
out each vertical piece of willow. The bottom of our basket isn't the best either but hubby attached a round solid mouse mat to the bottom.
Now you have once again,
a functional and dare I say it, a rather lovely looking log basket that
should last for quite a bit longer.
Excellent tip!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to save a basket and avoid tears on the clothes. Thanks for the
ReplyDeletehow to.
What an excellent solution!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant tip, safely bookmarked for when the need arises.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing with us.
Rose H
x
Glad you have found it usual. Hadn't thought about using this technique to repair other types of baskets such as a shopping one or a washing one!
ReplyDeleteThats a great idea. I wouldnt have thought of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. I was just going to buy a new basket at great cost. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Mine looked exactly like yours at the top. Not surprising as I know it to be half a century old! I was just going to drive to Somerset to buy a new one. Now I can have a lovely creative Saturday at home and save a fortune. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteYou are all welcome. Glad the instruction is to be of use.
ReplyDelete