Adam shows how to weave a handy container for the garden
I often stand looking at the garden and what I have lying around the shed looking for inspiration for what I can make next. I love making items out of leftover bits and bobs and turning what could be seen as rubbish into something useful in some way for the garden. It’s incredibly rewarding. Yes, the final item might not be polished or perfect but the sense of ‘ I made that’ is truly hard to beat.
When coming up with an idea for this issue I stumbled upon a pack of long bamboo canes and an idea immediately popped into my head and I had to give it a try. This week I’ve created something that I’ve never seen before, and I’m sure I’m not the first to do it but I’m pleased to be sharing my idea for this simple yet effective, and thrifty, garden basket made from bamboo (or you could use sticks and twigs too from hazel, bamboo or willow).
While it’s a very quick make, the end result is rather effective and something unique to add to your gardening arsenal. It could also be coloured and turned into a nifty Christmas side table display, maybe filled with cones and foliage from the garden if you are starting to feel all festive.
Step 1
Your first task is to decide on the size of your basket, then cut yourself two lengths of bamboo (or sticks) the length of how long your basket will be. Once you’ve done that, tie two lengths of string or twine (the thicker the better) to the ends to create a rectangle shape and then flip it over to make an x shape with the twine.
Step 2
Then it’s time to add your canes in layers, to build up the shape of your ‘basket’. Do this by lifting the twine up slightly and inserting them in parallel layers to each other, one at each end of the layer. Your aim is to add two new canes to each layer before moving onto the next layer, alternating which way they face with each new layer. Each new layer should have canes that are slightly shorter than the last to give your basket some shape.
Step 3
Finish off your basket by adding a full row of sticks on the final layer to create a base that can sit flat on a surface.
Step 4
If you’ve added enough sticks and you’re confident it is all rigidly built, then you can flip it over and you’ve got yourself your very own handmade harvest basket or trug.
Adam with his quick home-made basket
(@viewfromthepottingbench)
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