Cotton Rope for Coiled Baskets, Braided, 3/8 in x 100 ft

A coiled rope basket is made by winding rope into a spiral and stitching each round to the one before. This braided cotton rope is made for that: soft, natural white, 3/8 in thick and 100 ft long. It needs no soaking, and because it is cotton, the finished basket can be washed.

It suits sewists who want a weekend project for their machine, beginners who would rather sew than weave, and makers of bowls, plant pot covers, bins and gift baskets.

Sewing a rope basket on a machine:

• Coil the end of the rope into a tight spiral and stitch across it a few times to hold it.
• Set a wide zigzag stitch, so each stitch catches the new round and the one beside it.
• Keep feeding the rope around the spiral, stitching as you go, until the base is the size you want.
• To start the sides, tilt the base up against the side of the machine. The steeper the tilt, the straighter the walls.
• Finish by trimming the rope end to a taper and stitching it down flat, or shape it into a loop handle.

Use a heavy needle and strong thread, and go slowly over thick spots.

By hand, stitch the rounds together with a large-eye needle and strong thread or yarn, or wrap the rope with yarn or fabric strips as you coil it, catching the round below every so often. It is slower, needs no machine, and gives a soft, colorful basket.

Cotton takes fabric dye, so you can dye the rope before you start or dip-dye the finished piece. To clean a basket, wash it gently, reshape it while damp and let it air dry.

3/8 in is a comfortable thickness for rope baskets: thick enough to build sturdy walls, thin enough for many home sewing machines with a wide zigzag. Thicker rope makes stiffer baskets but is harder to feed through a machine.

To estimate rope for a round basket, remember that each round uses a little over three times its width, and each round adds about 3/8 in of height. A small bowl uses far less than 100 ft, while a large bin or hamper can use more, so plan on a second length for big pieces. If you are unsure, coil a test base first and measure what it took.