How to Make Baskets with Plastic Strips

Perhaps you are concerned with preserving the environment and are a crafty person. Why not combine the two and make something beautiful by using plastic strips to make baskets. You probably have all you need around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic shopping bags
• Scissors
• Scotch tape
• Clear fishing line
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Lay plastic bags flat on your work table and cut off the handles so the bag forms a perfect rectangle. Do this with all of your plastic shopping bags.

2. Roll each individual shopping bag up from the bottom so it forms a long, thin plastic strip. Wrap the plastic strip with tape so it will not unwind. Do this with all of the shopping bags.

3. Create one long, continuous strip by taping each individual strip end to end.

4. Begin forming the basket by coiling the plastic strip into a small circle. Secure it with the clear fishing line, then continue coiling and sewing the plastic strip around the circle, forming the bottom and sides of the basket. You can either sew the basket together by sewing directly through the plastic strips or by looping the fishing line around them. The size of the basket is determined by the number of shopping bags you possess.

5. Create a handle by creating a plastic strip (see Step 2) and feeding the ends through the coils near the top of the basket and sewing it in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using colored fishing line to add beauty to your basket design.

References

• Beautiful Baskets
• Native American Basketry

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Yarn Store has tapestry needles
• All Waters Fishing has clear fshing line