Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a coil basket, based on the video:
- Gather your materials: You’ll need braided macrame cord (the video uses 5mm, but recommends 3mm for beginners), cotton piping (9.5mm or 6mm), a small needle, and scissors (0:40).
2. Cut the macrame cord: Cut a length of macrame cord. The creator suggests grabbing a “bunch” rather than precise measurements (1:40).
3. Prepare the cord end: Slip one end of your macrame cord through the needle (2:07).
4. Start wrapping the filler: Hold the filler cord (cotton piping) in one hand, about 3 inches from the end, and begin wrapping the macrame cord tightly around it. Ensure there are no gaps where the white filler shows (2:35).
5. Create the center coil:
Fold the wrapped section in half, squeezing it tightly (3:35).
Continue wrapping the macrame cord around the folded filler (3:54).
Take the needle with the macrame cord and stick it through the middle of the folded coil, pulling it through to secure (4:30).
Pinch the coil with your thumb and continue wrapping, moving your fingers back and forth. The creator typically wraps four times before repeating the next step (4:54).
Stick the needle through the middle again and pull to tighten the coil and close any gaps (5:22).
6. Continue building the base: Keep repeating the wrapping and coiling process. Each time you complete a set of wraps (e.g., four), go into the one right below it with your needle and pull through (10:01). This builds the flat base of the basket. Continue until the base is as large as you desire (10:40).
7. Adding new cord (if needed): When you run out of cord, wrap the old cord once, then place it underneath the filler. Line up a new piece of cord against it and start wrapping the new cord, catching the old piece underneath to secure it (12:16). Once a few wraps are done, you can snip any stray ends from the old cord.
8. Start building the sides: Once the base is the desired size (the creator used five rounds for her basket (14:30)), gently start lifting the coil forward as you continue wrapping. This will make the side piece go higher (14:43). As you continue rounds, the basket will naturally take shape and go higher (15:05).
9. Creating handles: To create handles, at the point where you want a handle to begin, continue wrapping the macrame cord around the filler without connecting it back to the previous round for a certain number of wraps (e.g., 17 wraps in the video (18:40, 19:56)). Then, resume connecting the cord to the previous round until you reach the opposite side where you’ll create the second handle (19:19).
10. Close off the basket:
When you are ready to finish, trim the end of the filler cord at an angle (20:16).
Continue wrapping the macrame cord around the angled filler end, ensuring it is completely covered (20:27). You may need to do several wrap-around loops to cover it neatly (21:13).
Slide the wrapped end to cover any remaining gaps (21:57).
Once fully wrapped, weave the end of the macrame cord back into the sides of the basket or tie it in a knot and trim (23:11).
