A basket is any container that is made of hard, stiff, woven fibers and is made of a variety of materials, usually of wood, wicker, plastic, or metal. Most baskets made today are made of synthetic materials like plastics and canvas. Though most baskets are still made of plant materials, other more exotic materials like animal hair, horsehair, or wire mesh can also be used occasionally.
Baskets can have many purposes. In the old days, people would use them to carry eggs from the chicken coop to their home so they could fry them. Today, a basket is usually used to carry almost anything you can think of, with the exception of fruits (you probably only want a basket full of fresh fruit). A basket has a purpose, whether it is for carrying food, carrying clothes, carrying toys, or for carrying plants, and baskets have been made in almost every shape and size since the beginning of civilization. Even though there are specialized baskets that are designed for specific purposes, the base basket design is almost always the same, with the exception of the addition of handles.
Before you begin basket-making, you will need a few raw materials. First, you will need strong, flexible raw fibers, such as reed, straw, and grasses. These fibers will be the basket’s natural materials. The size of the basket you make will depend on the raw materials you have. If you have lots of raw materials but not many baskets, you might end up with some odd-looking baskets, so make sure you have plenty of space to work with before you begin.
The next raw material you will need to make baskets is woven fibers. The classic weave is basket weave, which involves braiding different fabrics so that they can interlock. Woven fibers come in a variety of weights and thread types, so you should choose the ones that are best suited for your project, and that will be easiest to work with. You can also use woven fibers in other ways, such as making rugs and mats, and other products that require sturdy, uniform-sized fibers.
After you have your raw materials and your basket, you can start weaving! You can choose the basket type and the fibers you will use to make it. However, if you would rather create something that looks more handmade, then you should consider buying a pre-made basket from specialty stores. Pre-made baskets have all of the components in standard sizes so that you can choose the one that will work best for your project. Once you have chosen the basket, then it is time to start creating!
Make sure you have all of the materials you need before you start basket weaving. If you do not, you may find that you do not get all of the products you need for your project, or that you cannot complete it. If you do not know how to weave baskets, then it might help to get some instruction books or videos that show you step by step. Even if you think you cannot weave baskets right now, just go into a store and pick up one!