Free Pattern

Beaded Fruit Basket
Basket design by Linda Chmelar

Materials:

            #2 Round reed

            Beads

Prepare the materials:


  Cut from #2 round reed 16 piece (spokes) that are 30 inches long, and two pieces (spokes) that are 18 inches long.  Mark the centers on the 16 that are 30 inches long. Soak all 16 until flexible.

Laying out the base:

            Divide the 16 spokes into 4 groups of 4.  Lay two of the groups horizontally on your work surface about ½ inch apart.  The spokes in each group should lay close together. The marked centers should be lined up.  Next weave a group of 4 under the top group and over the bottom group, again keeping them close together.  They should be placed on the left side of center.  Next take the last group of 4 and weave over the top group and under the bottom group and place on the right side of center.  Again line up the centers so they are in between the two horizontal groups.

Weaving:
            Soak a long piece of #2 round reed and place the very end on top of the vertical group that has the horizontal group that goes under.  You will weave over and under each group for four rounds.  When you come back to the beginning weave over two groups and continue weaving over and under the groups of four for four more rows. 
The groups of four will now be divided into groups of two for the rest of the weaving.  Soak the two spokes you cut earlier and add them in any space going under the last four rounds and on top of the first four rounds.  This will be a continuous weave with now an odd number of spokes. 

Twining:
            You will now start to bring up the sides gradually.  Turn the base over so you are weaving on the outside as you bring up the sides.  Add another strand of #2 round reed with the first one you were using and twine for ten rows.  To twine, one strand of round reed will be on the bottom of the spokes and one on top.  Take the one on the top and bring under the next group of spokes. Drop that weaver and take the next one that is on top and go under the next set of spokes.  Always take the one on top and under the next set. 


Weaving:
            The next few rows are simple weaving using two strands of #2 round reed together.  Weave for 7 rows. 

Twining:
            Twine like the first few rows for a total of 5 rows.

Beads:
            Add a bead to each group of two spokes. 

Twining:
            Finish with twining above the beads with two new strands of #2 round reed.


Border:

            This is a simple border.  Take a group of two and bend to the right, then go behind the next or second set of spokes and to the outside of the third and behind the fourth. Continue with this pattern and finishing the last two by gently lifting the first two groups of spokes up and slip the remaining under the border continuing with the same pattern of inside, then outside, the inside.  Trim long enough so they go behind a group of spokes and won’t pop out.