How to Create an Easy Double-Weave Spring Vase

Tina Hilton, contributor

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Hang the basket on the wall to celebrate the season!

Tina Hilton

Choose a basket with an open weave so you can fill in with beautiful yarn.

Tina Hilton

Weaving is simple and relaxing.

Tina Hilton

Hang the basket on the wall to celebrate the season!

Photo: Tina Hilton

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There is nothing prettier than a simple yet elegant handwoven basket, except maybe one that has been overwoven with hand-dyed and hand-spun yarn! An open-weave basket is a perfect medium for weaving those precious lengths of handcrafted yarn you have been saving for just the right project. Insert a vase, and you now have a wonderful way to display the first blooms of spring!

Choose a basket with an open weave so you can fill in with beautiful yarn.

Supplies

• Open-weave basket (I used a locally handwoven garlic basket by Alyssa Rudolph, but any store-bought basket will do the trick!)
• Lengths of yarn in two different colors and textures (I used yarn from a local fiber artist, Nancy Hoffman, who made it from her flock of sweet Ramboulliet sheep. The yarn used to weave horizontally [weft] was machine-spun and hand-dyed for a smooth foundation. The yarn woven vertically [warp] was a hand-spun and hand-dyed yarn with a lot of textural interest. Most commercially available yarn would also provide a lovely effect.)
• Large-eye tapestry needle for weaving in the yarn
• Scissors
• Glass vase or receptacle for flowers

Step by Step

Cut off a length of yarn you will be using for horizontal weaving. To determine the length needed, wrap the yarn around the basket from top to bottom along the areas you will be weaving in, and add a couple of feet for the final embellishment. Leave the surplus yarn length at the top of the basket.

Thread a needle with the yarn you will be weaving in horizontally.

Beginning at the top of the basket on the side, weave the yarn over and under the vertical basket spokes until you reach the base.

Weaving is simple and relaxing.

Weave in the surplus yarn at the bottom and cut.

The first layer is complete!

Cut off a length of yarn to use for the vertical weaving. To determine the length needed, wrap the yarn from top to bottom around the basket along the areas you will be weaving in, and add several feet for the final embellishment. Leave half the surplus yarn length at the top of the basket.

Thread a needle with the yarn you will be weaving in vertically.

Starting at the top of the basket on the side, weave the yarn over and under the horizontal basket reeds until you reach the top where you began.

Weave yarn over and over.

The contrast of the smooth reed and the soft yarn is pleasing.

The rest of your surplus yarn will now be at the top of the basket.

Make sure your yarns begin and end at the same place on the basket.

There should be three lengths of yarn at the top of the basket: one strand from the horizontal weaving and two strands from the vertical. Braid those strands together and wrap the braid around the top of the basket and secure.

The braided yarn trim completes the look.

A small glass bottle makes a perfect vase.

Finishing
Insert the vase, fill with water and flowers, and enjoy!

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Comments (11)

EchoLin writes: nice project! Thank you for sharing!
Posted: 1:11 am on April 10th

matiola writes: Super idea. I would like to be so gifted(-:
Posted: 6:12 pm on February 13th

Paws2 writes: What a terrific idea for my home and a friends'! I 'm always looking for gift ideas that are unique and the vase really fills that bill. Thanks!!!
Posted: 10:05 am on June 18th

Wendy_G writes: LOVE IT ! Looks so pretty, yet simple to make. I'll have to keep my eye out for baskets that will work. Maybe even make some of my own ? I want to make some for myself, my mom, MIL, and others. Thanks for the idea and directions.
Posted: 11:16 pm on June 17th

SMVG writes: I LOVE THIS! I made one for my Mother and another for my Mother-in-law for Mother's Day. I was the favored daughter in their eyes!!!!!

Thanks Tina
Posted: 6:01 pm on May 14th

Tina_Hilton writes: You make me blush Ewephoric. It's so gratifying that folks are inspired by my simple little projects.
Posted: 8:30 pm on April 23rd

Tina_Hilton writes: Hi Devona,

Thanks for your nice comment. I love the innovative projects you are doing on clevernesting.com and have subscribed to your feed.
Posted: 8:28 pm on April 23rd

ewephoric writes: As usual Tina, you have done it again. Fabulous idea, great pictures, and clear instructions. I keep you blog on my home desktop so that I can see your latest ideas as soon as they are posted.
Keep up the good work!
Posted: 4:29 pm on April 8th

DevonaLynn writes: This is a great thing to do with second hand baskets to spiffy them up for Easter. It's also very useful for getting rid of some of my micro balls of yarn! Thanks for sharing this project. I'm going to link to it on my blog.

http://www.clevernesting.com
Posted: 10:55 pm on April 4th

Tina_Hilton writes: Your baskets are beautiful Basketmaker! Learning to handweave baskets is on my how to, to do list! Send us a photo of how you incorporated yarn into your work!
Posted: 6:50 am on April 3rd

basketmaster writes: I love this. I weave baskets and this is great incorporating yarn. Thanks for the inspiration.
Blessings,
Nancy
www.basketmasterweavings.blogspot.com
Posted: 11:35 am on April 2nd

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