Preparing the Basket
Step1
Dye 1/4-inch flat oval reed in pastel colors for Easter.
Step2
Make a God's Eye on each side of the basket to hold the 10-inch round hoops and ribs in place. (See "How to Make a God's Eye" in the Related eHows.)
Step3
Using #6 round reed, cut two pieces 16 1/2 inches long; two pieces 18 inches long; two pieces 19 1/2 inches long; two pieces 18 1/2 inches long; and two pieces 17 1/2 inches long. These 10 pieces will be the ribs of your basket.
Step4
Make pencil marks on one end of the ribs: Mark a "1" on both 16-1/2-inch ribs; a "2" on both 18-inch ribs; a "3" on both 19-1/2-inch ribs; a "4" on both 18-1/2-inch ribs; and a "5" on both 17-1/2-inch ribs.
Step5
Cut both ends of the ribs at an angle. This will make them easier to insert in the God's Eye. Cut with a pair of wire side cutters or use a pencil sharpener to sharpen the ends of the rib.
Step6
Dip the #6 round reed pieces in warm water for a few seconds. This will help prevent them from breaking.
Step7
Soak long pieces of 1/4-inch flat or flat oval reed.
Inserting Ribs
Step1
Insert the pointed end of the #3 rib into the back of one God's Eye and the other end of the rib into the opposite God's Eye. Position the rib in the middle of the hoops between the top rim and the bottom rim.
Step2
Place the #1 rib into the God's Eyes and position it close to the rim of the basket on both sides of the basket.
Step3
Insert the #5 rib into the God's Eyes and position it close to the bottom of your basket on both sides of the basket.
Weaving the Basket
Step1
After you weave your God's Eye, use the leftover piece of weaver to hold the ribs in place.
Step2
Use the same over-and-under weaving technique. If you went over the basket rim, then you will go under the next rib and over the next rib and so on.
Step3
Weave from one side of the basket rim to the other side. Keep the weaver firm and keep the ribs in a nice, rounded position.
Step4
Turn the 1/4-inch reed and keep the oval side or smooth side on the outside by twisting the reed as you take it over the hoop and start back over the ribs.
Step5
Adjust the ribs after you make a couple of wraps.
Step6
Add a new weaver by overlapping the new weaver on top of the old weaver about three or four ribs back.
Step7
Make four or five wraps and insert the remaining ribs following the pattern in steps #18 and 19.
Step8
Insert rib #2 alongside - but below - rib #1 with the sharp end of the rib inserted into the God's Eye. These ribs are usually inserted after weaving about 2 inches from the God's Eye.
Step9
Add rib #4 along the top side of rib #5 with the sharp end of the rib inserted into the God's Eye.
Step10
Continue weaving until the basket is completely filled. You may need to "fill in" when you get closer to the base of your basket. (See the next section, which covers filling in.)
Step11
Add ribs when needed by cutting the rib just long enough to cover the open area in your basket and sliding it next to the rib.
Step12
Fill in the larger spaces on the ends of the base by not weaving to the rim each time.
Step13
Weave up to the second rib from the rim and back to the second rib on the opposite side.
Step14
Turn the reed and weave to the third or fourth rib from the rim and back to the opposite rib of the same number.
Step15
Turn the reed and weave all the way to the rim, then turn the reed and weave back to the opposite rim.
Step16
Continue as needed until you've evenly filled in all of the empty spots on the ends.