Crochet Wicker-look Wire Basket

by StickKnitting

1.9K409

Intro: Crochet Wicker-look Wire Basket

I had some broken wired items that I was throwing away and I thought it would be neat to knit with the wire, instead of just trashing it. After preparing all the wire I realized crocheting might be an easier way to try my first attempt. I was considering making a bag or water bottle sling, but the wire was slightly stiffer than I would have liked for those items, so I settled on trying to make a basket. Also, the wire gives the finished piece a bit of a wicker look so I thought a basket suited the project well.

STEP 1: Gather Old Wire

Ideas for where to find appropriate used wire: speaker wire, old landline telephone wire, chargers (for cellphones, laptops, keyboards, computer mice), old heating pad wires, old lamp wires, wires from speakers, headphones and stereo systems, etc etc. The idea is to use wire that is sturdy enough to hold its shape but pliable enough to be crocheted. Cylindrical wire is best, but some "flat" wire can be made cylindrical as shown in next step.

STEP 2: Prep Wire

Flat wire needs to be split. If you snip the end with scissors, it should easily pull apart. I wound it into rolls to make it less likely to tangle and easier to use.

STEP 3: Make Beginning Circle

Strip approximately 1 inch from end of wire. Make a circle about 1 1/2 inches across and wrap bare wire around to hold it in place.

STEP 4: Begin Crocheting

Stitch glossary: Ch=chain. Sl st=slip stitch. SC=single crochet. St=stitch.

Begin crocheting as follows:

Make a sl st in circle and ch 1 (This counts as first st). Make 7 sc in circle. Make one sl st in first st.

STEP 5: How to Attach More Wire

When you come to the end of one wire, you need to attach another to continue crocheting. To do so strip about an inch off of the end of both wires and splice them together. Wrap with tape.

STEP 6: Continue Crocheting

Continue crocheting as follows:

Round 1: 2 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Rounds 2 and 3: Repeat round 1.

Rounds 4 and 5: 1 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Round 6: 2 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Rounds 7 until basket is desired size: 1 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

STEP 7: Make Handle (optional)

At this point you can stop and not put on a handle. The basket is wirey so you can shape it into a bowl if you want but I think it looks better as a basket. (If making a bowl, skip to step 8).

Crochet handle as follows: Ch 34. Attach ch to other side of basket so the handle is at the center point of the basket.

Sl st in next sc over on basket. Turn and work 1 sc in each chain on handle.

Sl st into sc beside beginning of handle.

STEP 8: Finishing Basket

Feed wire through inside loops:

Insert end of wire through loops inside basket (I stripped the end to make this step easier to see, but you will likely find it easier to feed it through if the end isn't stripped).

Tighten wire by pulling it through the loops and snip end closely to the inside of basket.


STEP 9: Enjoy Your Creation

All done! Now pick some fruit or flowers to put in your basket (or bowl) and enjoy!

9 Comments

Corbeucat 1 year ago

Awesome! But be careful what you put on it, some cords can have lead in them, especially old ones.

StickKnitting 1 year ago

I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for pointing it out. Good tip!

shinetam 1 year ago

That is a super clever idea! I LOVE it!

StickKnitting 1 year ago

Thanks so much. In the future I'd like to try different colored wire and see how that turns out.