My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Weave a heart shaped basket

Soak the strips of cane in warm water.

Soak nine strips of cane in warm water...

Bend each strip in half

... bend eight of the nine strips in half. Set the last strip aside to bend and shape as the handle later.

Start to weave the strips together to create an open heart shaped basket.

Hook the first strip over the top half of  the second strip

Hook the first strip over the top half of the second strip

For more detailed weaving instructions see the Tutorial below

Hook the third strip over the second strip

Hook the third strip over the bottom half of the second strip

Weave both the back and the front strips

Weave both the back and the front strips. Do the mirror image of the front at the back so that the basket weave continues.

Add the next strip and weave it in

Add the next strip and weave it in

Weave in another strip

Weave in another strip...

Weave the strips as they cross

Weave the strips as they cross.

Each strip creates a mirror image of the weaving pattern on the other side of the basket. As you add the strips make sure the hook together.

Space out the cane weave

Space out the cane weave to create the heart basket.

Gather each half to create the open "V" part of the heart

Cut the dangling bits of cane shorter, divide in half and gather each half to create the open "V" part (Cupid's bow) of the heart. Curve the strips slightly so that the heart shape puffs out. Glue the end pieces and clip it together to keep it in place while the glue dries with a butterfly clip

See Tutorial below for more details on how to use a butterfly clip

Add another cane piece over the heart shape for a handle and glue

Add another cane piece over the heart shape for a handle and glue. Again clip the glued sections to keep it in place while it dries

Set the basket aside to dry completely before removing the clips

Heart shaped Midelino Cane basket ready to design with

Heart shaped Midelino Cane basket ready to design with.

Weave in a few twigs, sprigs and flowers

Weave in a few hazel twigs and add small drinking straw test tubes (see Tutorial below) to keep the fresh sprigs of jasmine and freesia buds hydrated

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

18 January 2012 Butterfly hairclip claws to hold twigs in place while glue dries

Butterfly hair clips are the perfect little claws to help you hold tiny items in place while you wait for glue to dry

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

3 August 2011 Weaving a heart from shaved wood strips

I wove my basic heart shape from shaven wood strips but you can use flax, grape vine, willow or any other flexible plant material

6 February 2013 Fold a Foliage Fish

Fold and weave a fish from two blades of grass

Related Designs

4 September 2013 Been there, Seen that

My article and woven heart basket design featured in the third anniversary issue of DIY Weddings Magazine

21 March 2018 Bring some Spring

Just like the weather is only hinting at spring, so is this design only hinting at being a basket

22 August 2018 FreestyleFreesia

Dutch floral designer Pim van den Akker, from Flower Factor invited me to participate in a FloraHolland initiative promoting the versatility of Freesias entitled ...

9 January 2019 Magical Craftsmanship

My article and winter white Tulle bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine.

25 November 2020 Have yourself a Merry Cellulose Fibre Christmas: Santa’s gift bag wreath

...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box gift bag wreath… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes...

19 April 2023 Short Cut

A tiny carry basket to gather the shortest stems from your cutting garden... with a place for water and your cutters.