Directions for Swedish Woven Heart Baskets
Swedish woven heart baskets are a traditional Scandinavian Christmas craft. These woven baskets also work well for Valentine's Day, for which they can be used to hold cards or candy. The baskets have a particular type of weave that enables them to open and be used to hold things. Swedish heart baskets are traditionally made out of paper but can also be made out of fabric or felt for a longer-lasting basket.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 pieces of paper (different colors; wrapping paper or heavier craft paper works best)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil
Instructions
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Creating the Swedish Woven Heart Basket
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1
Select two pieces of paper in different colors or patterns. White and red are the traditional colors used for the basket, but you can use any colors you find appealing. Cut both pieces of papers into rectangles. Any size will work as long as both of the pieces of paper are the same size.
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2
Draw a semicircle on one end of each rectangle and cut the excess paper off. This creates rounded ends that will ultimately create the bumps of the heart.
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3
Measure the short rectangular end of each piece of paper and mark even spaces. You can mark as many as you want as long as they are the same on both pieces of paper, however making the strips too thin may increase the chance of tearing. Use the ruler to draw lines where the marks are. The lines extend to the beginning of the rounded edge on the other side of the paper. Cut the lines with scissors to form fingers that will be woven together.
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4
Place the two pieces next to each other with the rounded ends facing you. Imagine that the strips are numbered, with the closest strip on each piece of paper to you being number 1. Weave strip 1 through strip 1, around strip 2, and through strip 3. Continue until you are finished weaving that strip. This creates a through and around type of weave rather than an over and under type of weave, which enables the basket to be opened once it is completed.
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5
Continue weaving until all rows are finished.
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6
Add a handle by cutting a strip of paper and stapling or gluing it to the edges of the basket.
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References
- Photo Credit Heart to heart illustration image by Fenia from Fotolia.com
