Round Cardstock Basket Using Silhouette

I wanted to make a paper basket, and I couldn't find any designs online that were for circular baskets that didn't also require adhesive of some kind to hold on the bottom. So I made my own.

Don't be fooled by the number of steps. It's easy to make, and faster to cut with a Silhouette than by hand!

Here is the PDF version for those of you who don't have a Silhouette and want to cut it by hand with an X-Acto knife. It took me a little over 30 minutes to cut it by hand.

Step 1: Step 1: Prep and Load

Load the Silhouette Studio software with the provided file.

Use a slightly tacky but not sticky (think Post-It Note) Silhouette mat. Use lint-heavy fabric to get rid of the stickiness if you have a brand new mat.

Set your knife to 3 depth. Do test cuts ahead of time to make sure it's the right depth for your cardstock.

Load it into your Silhouette.

Step 2: Step 2: Cut

In the Advanced settings of Studio, tell it to print only the red lines, not the blue.

Tell it to cut cardstock (this makes a great paper basket too - cardstock is just more sturdy).

Tell Studio to send the design to the Silhouette.

Step 3: Step 3: Watch It Cut

Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get stuck anywhere.

Step 4: Step 4: Remove the Mat

Take the mat out of the Silhouette and make sure your cuts are good.

Step 5: Step 5: Peel Off the Negative

Carefully peel off the negative. You may need to use the Silhouette's scraper. Take your time - you don't want it to tear.

Step 6: Step 6: Start Weaving the Bottom

Take one of the shorter strips and slide it under the "wheel" and poke it up between one of the "spokes."

Step 7: Step 7: Weave the First Strip

Continue weaving the strip over the center, under the wheel, and out until it is even with all the other spokes. You might notice tiny notches in the strip. Those represent where they should be folded later, but you can use them to align the strip with the edge of the wheel.

Step 8: Step 8: Cross

Take another of the short strips and do the same thing making an X with the first strip.

Step 9: Step 9: Start a 2nd Cross

Take another short strip and start weaving it through just like the others.

Step 10: Step 10: Finish the Spokes

Continue the pattern - take the last short strip and weave it through the last "holes" between the spokes. It should look like the picture.

Step 11: Step 11: Fold the Spokes

Fold up all the strips up (us the notches if necessary to make sure they are centered)

Step 12: Step 12: Fold the T's

Fold up all the "t's" just like you did the strips. Make sure they're folded so that if you folded them all the way over, they would line up straight.

Step 13: Step 13: Open Slots

Use a toothpick or X-Acto knife or some other tool to just wiggle the slots open. Be careful - do not cut them larger! Just get them to pucker a little to make space for the tabs.

Step 14: Step 14: Attach Tab

Slide a tab from one of the "t's" into the slot.

Step 15: Step 15: Marry Tabs

Take the "t" on the other side of the slot and put it's tab in the slot behind the first tab. It isn't strictly necessary for it to be behind, but it's easier.

Step 16: Step 16: Wash, Rinse, Repeat

Repeat the tab process all the way around and then fold down the strip toward the inside of the basket to lock the tabs in place.

Step 17: Step 17: Basket Weaving

This is a normal weave - over, under, over, under, etc.

But it matters where you start.

Start going over the strip with the tabs sticking out. Then go under the next one. Then over. Then under... Go all the way around.

When you get to the end, make sure the seam is on the inside of the basket.

Slide the strip all the way to the bottom so there is as little gap as possible all the way around.

Note: If your mat made your paper too sticky, it might be quite a challenge to slide the paper through.

Step 18: Step 18: Second Strip

Take another long strip and weave it through, doing the opposite of the previous row - under, over, under. See photo. When your strip is on the inside of the basket, make sure you trap the folded pieces. But if you don't, you can always tuck them in afterwards. Again, when done, make sure the seam is on the inside of the basket.

Slide the strip all the way to the bottom strip so there is as little gap as possible between the two all the way around.

Step 19: Step 19: Tuck In

Go all the way around the basket, tucking the remaining spokes toward the outside, but into the 2nd strip you just finished weaving.

Step 20: Step 20: Last Strip

Weave the last strip all the way around just like you did the first one. It will be over the tabs sticking out (you were wondering how we were going to hide those, weren't you? Once again, put the seam to the inside.

Step 21: Step 21: You're Done!

This basket is pretty sturdy if made with cardstock. Mine held buttons pretty easily. Coins might be too heavy if you filled it to the top.

I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think. Should I design a handle or lid?