How to Make a Small Weaved Paper Basket

Weave a paper basket from strips of construction paper.

Make a small weaved – or woven – paper basket with your kids in the home or classroom to celebrate a holiday, learn about basket weaving or just for fun. Woven paper baskets are formed with strips of construction paper and glue. You can use multiple colors of paper to create themed baskets for holidays such as Easter, Valentine's Day or Halloween. Use the completed baskets to hold candy, cards or flowers for that holiday. Teach the children about the history of basket weaving while they are making their craft.

Things You'll Need

• 2 sheets of construction paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions

1. Lay two sheets of construction paper on a flat work surface. Use a ruler to measure 21 strips that are 1/2-inch wide and 12 inches in length. Mark your measurements with a pencil. Cut the paper strips out with scissors.

2. Lay five paper strips vertically side by side on the work surface. Weave five paper strips horizontally side by side through the vertical paper strips. Start by weaving the first strip over and under the center of the vertical strips. Weave a second strip under and over the vertical strips above the first. Weave a third strip under and over the vertical strips below the first strip. Weave the fourth and fifth strips, one on either side of the first three strips, in the same pattern as the first strip.

3. Slide the woven strips together so there are no spaces in the woven pattern. Fold the loose portions of the strips up against the edges of the woven square so that they stick straight up into the air.

4. Place glue on the end of a loose strip. Press the glued end of the strip against the bottom outside of a corner upright strip. Press the strips together until the glue sets. Weave the paper strip in front of and behind the upright strips around the sides of the basket. Trim the excess length of the strip so it meets the beginning end of the strip. Glue the loose end of the strip to the side of the basket.

5. Weave nine more strips around the sides of the basket in the same manner. Trim the excess lengths of the vertical side strips of the basket even with the top horizontal woven strips. Glue the tops of the side vertical strips to the top horizontal strip.

6. Apply glue to the ends of the last loose strip. Press one end to the inside top of either side of the basket to create a loop for the handle.

Tips & Warnings

• Use one color of construction paper for the strips used in weaving the bottom of the basket. Use a second color of construction paper for the strips woven around the sides of the basket.

References

• The Kid's Site of Canadian Settlement: Woven Paper Basket
• Jamboree; Paper Woven Basket; Wendy Lewis; 2002