A base gives your coiled basket a flat, sturdy start. The holes are already drilled, so you stitch your first round straight through them instead of building a tricky center coil. It’s the easiest way to begin, and it also gives you a pretty bottom to show off.
The store carries a lot of bases, so here’s how to pick one. If you’ve never coiled before, start with my step-by-step beginner coil basket guide, then come back to choose your base.
Ceramic bases: handmade and one of a kind
Ceramic Base for Baskets comes in 3.5-inch and 5-inch sizes, in designs like honeycomb, blue stars, weave, koi fish and beach waves. Every piece is handmade, so no two look exactly alike. The glaze and the shape of the base show through your finished basket, which makes ceramic a nice choice for gifts and display pieces.
The Ceramic Basket Base for Yarn is about 3.5 inches across. Its predrilled holes are roughly 1/8 inch, which suits a metal darning needle and your favorite yarn. It also works for pine needle and raffia baskets.
Ceramic designs are often limited editions and sell out, so if your favorite is gone, check the ceramic bases collection for what’s in right now.
Decorative 6-inch bases: animals, flowers, seasons and more
If you want a theme, the larger 6-inch bases are the ones to browse. Most have 8mm holes, so a needle and cord pass through easily, and they work for both coiling and crochet. They come in animals, flowers, stained glass designs and personalized and name bases.
The stained glass designs are not actual glass, but they look the part. Handle them with care and don’t bend them.
Seasonal bases are a great way to start a gift basket early: Christmas, Halloween and Easter.
Pedestal bases: a raised, centerpiece look
A Pedestal Basket Base lifts your basket off the table. It comes in two sizes: the 6-inch stands about 1 inch high and the 8-inch about 2 inches high. Both have 8mm holes. It’s a good pick for fruit baskets, centerpieces and anything you want to display.
Oval and mini bases
The Oval Base measures 6 by 9 inches and has 8mm holes. It’s good for storage baskets and trays, and it pairs well with my 4mm braided ribbon cord.
For a small project, try the 3-inch Scalloped Edge Mini Base. It works best with 1/4-inch filler cord. Want your own shape? Browse the blank bases.
How to choose your base
- Size: 3 to 3.5 inches suits small trinket baskets. 5 to 6 inches makes a classic bowl-sized basket. Go for the 6×9 oval or an 8-inch pedestal for storage and centerpieces.
- Holes and needle: ceramic bases have smaller holes (about 1/8 inch on the yarn base), so use a metal darning needle. The 6-inch decorative bases have 8mm holes, which are easier for thicker cord.
- Cord: match your filler cord to the base. The mini scalloped base likes 1/4-inch filler cord.
- Style: choose a base you love, since it’s the one part of the basket you see in the finished piece from every angle.
What else you’ll need
Besides the base, you need filler cord, something to wrap with, and a needle. Here’s what I recommend:
Want to watch before you buy? My 13 easy coiled basket tutorials include several videos that start with a ceramic or metal base.
Ready to start?
Browse every base, or grab a beginner kit that has everything in one box.
Common questions
Do I need a base to coil a basket?
No. You can start with a center coil instead, which is what my beginner guide shows. A base just makes the first round easier and gives you a decorative bottom.
Can a beginner use a ceramic base?
Yes. A ceramic base takes care of the trickiest part, the very first round, because you stitch straight through the holes.
Do bases work for crochet too?
The 6-inch decorative bases and the oval base have 8mm holes made for both coiling and crochet.
