See “#1 Basket Materials and Tools” and “#2 Prepping the Basket Frame” posts before you start “#3 Assembling the Basket Frame.”

I will explain a basic frame for a round basket with a handle here (Easter basket-style.)  After you are in love with this shape, you can experiment with other shapes and handles.

We will use 5 of the lengths of wire for this basket frame.  Take 4 of the 5 wires and snip them in half (3″ or 76mm lengths.)  The 5th wire will remain 6″ (152mm) long, in order to become the handle of the basket.  At this point, run your fingers along the wire lengths to straighten them as much as possible.  This is much easier the shorter they are, so I wait until the 3″ lengths have been cut.

Now take 4 of the 3″ lengths and lay them side-by-side, with the ends basically flush.  Using a small ruler, find the center of all 4, roughly 1 and 1/2″ (38mm) from the ends.  Smear a small dab of glue at this center point to unite them.  (See picture below.)  The width of 4 wires side-by-side is about 1/8″ (4mm.)  Therefore, you want to spread the glue about 1/8″ (4mm) along the 4 wires.  You will be surprised at how little glue it takes.  When I say “smear,” I mean it!  Tacky glue works better the more you work it.  Using a toothpick, I spread it around and get in between the wires to ensure a good bond.  When you are satisfied with these 4, lay them to the side to dry for a few minutes.

Now take 3 of the remaining 3″ lengths and one 6″ length.  The long wire should be one of the two middle wires in this grouping.  It is placed flush with the short wires at one end and extends 3″ past them at the other end.  (See the picture above.)  Spread the glue in the center of the 3″ long wires again (1 and 1/2″ or 38mm from the flush ends.)  Give this a few minutes to dry also.

The next step is to join the two groups of 4 wires at their centers to create the “plus sign” shape.  (See the picture below.)  Dab some more glue at the 1 and 1/2″ center mark and lay one set across the other (makes no difference which is on top at this point.)  Let this dry for a few minutes.  One way to maximize time is to create several frames at once, while one is drying you can make 2 more!  I always make several frames at a time and I tend to let the final armatures dry for a few hours to ensure strength.

The final step (we made it!) is to snip off one of the short wires on one side of the center union.  (See the picture below.)  It doesn’t really matter which one (not the long one!) but one of the outside spokes is easiest.  This is an important step!  All weaving must have an odd number of spokes!  Before clipping one, you should have 16 spokes and after you will have 15.  You can try any odd number of spokes in a frame.

Next post, we will start weaving!

=) honey