My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Weaving a diagonal green grass basket

Once you figure out how to do the corners weaving a diagonal shape is actually not that hard to do.

Start weaving long blades of grass in the basic weaving pattern.

Create a large weave to form the base of the basket.

Continue weaving. This large flat weave will form the base of the grass basket.

To create a diagonal pattern turn the weave to shape a diamond.

Turn the weave to form a diamond shape. This will give you a diagonal weave pattern.

Fold the four sides flat to create the bottom edges

Fold the four sides flat to create the bottom edges. The grass should just snap but not brake.

To weave the sides create a sharp corner by folding and weaving the grass.

Creating a neat corner is always the hardest. Fold the corner blade over to create an edge and continue the weaving pattern.

Fold the next blade over and weave it down the opposite side.

Weave each blade all the way down the basket. Continue the weaving pattern to create the sides.

Continue to weave all the sides.

As you weave pull the blades of grass tight to create a strong basket.

Cut the loose strands shorter and weave it back into the design

When the sides are as high as you require it to be cut the grass a bit shorter and fold the alternating blades over the top grass weave to catch the blade and weave the blade down the outside of the basket

Now do the same folding the fold the leftover blades over to the inside of the basket to catch those weave blades and weave it in the inside. Cut any leftover grass sections short.

This creates a strong basket with a rugged top edge.

This creates a zigzag top edge for the basket.

You can finish the design by just adding the handle but I wanted a decorative edge.

Weave two long bands of grass.

To weave the decorative edge and the basket handle I wove 5 strands of grass into a long band.

The middle leaf is variegated to add a bit of contrast. You will need to weave two.

Stitch the first band around the rugged top rim of the basket with grass.

Stitch the band around the rugged edge of the basket using a long and flexible blade of grass.

Continue stitching the trim all the way around the grass basket

I find it easier to cut the harder section of the blade at an angle to make it easier to stitch with. Stitch the trim all the way around the basket.

Stitch the second strand to create a handle.

Stitch the handle to the sides of the basket.

Basket woven from monkey grass.

All done and ready to design with. The Monkey grass dried really well and kept it's healthy green colour.

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...

21 July 2011 Weaving a bird

I wove my bird from shaved wood but you can also use flax, coconut palm (more traditional) or paper or ribbon

20 December 2011 Weaving a gift box with a lid from palm leaves

A great all natural gift decorating alternative

Related Designs

1 February 2012 Steeling yourself against stealing creativity

I wrote this article for Wedding Business Success (an online meeting place for the wedding industry) exploring a positive way of looking at creativity and... stealing!

12 April 2011 "On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... two turtle doves"

Flax Christmas tree "cake" for the Floral Trends Design Group end of the year function.

7 April 2011 Weaving with Flax

Here are a few more examples of woven flax. I also use Typha, palm, iris leaves, Kyogi paper, boat orchid leaves and aspidistra to weave with.

8 April 2011 Large Open Weave Twig Basket

Easter Basket used in the Durbanville Flower Club Easter Parade Demonstration

20 December 2011 Our finest gifts we bring,

A small, all natural gift box woven from palm

12 August 2015 Catch of the Day

Weave a loose basket to display a single flower... or three

18 November 2015 Autumn is a mosaic of them all

Easy to assemble fall leaf and tissue paper gift bag

15 June 2016 One tug

Weave willow bark strips into a nest and weave a bird from flax

13 July 2016 Woven

Weave a canopy or parachute shaped armature for orchids to perch on

7 December 2016 Oh! So clever

My article and Bridal basket design featured in DIY Weddings Magazine

25 January 2017 What is in a basket of spectacular?

Weave a basket with dangling edges for a single orchid display

5 April 2017 Easter Bonnet

Weave a delicate Pillbox hat

11 April 2017 Well… we did it again!

Blossoms and chocolates for Easter

17 May 2017 Nobody move!

Weave a small basket with a lid to keep fluffy treasures in

9 August 2017 Hat tip

Tip a mortarboard inspired top at an angle for a glass design

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

9 January 2019 Magical Craftsmanship

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

27 February 2019 It’s a trap!

Weave a trap to keep your floral details suspended in a square container.

13 March 2019 How to avoid your wedding treasures from becoming “after the event trash”

My article and grass wedding basket design.

29 January 2020 Peekaboo

A light and airy (no floral foam but still long lasting) floral design for those days that you are really, really looking for signs of Spring.

8 April 2020 Don’t put all your Baskets in one Egg

A bit of a wrong way round pretty Easter design. Put the basket weave inside the egg instead of putting the eggs in a basket.

22 April 2020 Yes… but what would she put in it?

Some floral fashion inspiration: weave a pretty clutch purse

13 April 2022 Hop on… it’s Easter!

A cheery Easter basket for a new beginning

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.

1 May 2024 Favourite Take-Away

Basket weave container for some Spring floral treasures.