Woven Felt Basket Tutorial & Pattern

One of my new living room purchases includes a large woven felt basket that I got from Target of all places, and absolutely love (perfect for storing my knitting projects). And I basically can’t spent more than 90 seconds on the presence of a potential DIY project without at least brainstorming how I could make it myself. I don’t always move on to the execution stage, but this particular project really intrigued me. And I correctly assumed that it really couldn’t be that hard. Well, it wasn’t.

I don’t often say this, but I actually think these little baskets look better without stitching. I prefer the cleanly woven look. Oh, and did I mention that I love the fall?! Well, these also make for lovely autumnal decor filled with candy.

These almond M&Ms lasted about 8 minutes after my husband returned home from work.

But you could also use these little bowls for a more practical purpose– keys, lip gloss, spare change. Definitely one of those quick, easy, and sew-free projects you can whip up in less than an hour.

Materials: 9″ x 12″ felt sheets, a hot glue gun, a ruler, and scissors or rotary cutter and mat.

1. Select felt sheets of your basket colors. You can use as few as one or as many as nine; the number of colors will really change the look of the weave. In this example, I used four.

2. Cut nine 3/4″-wide by 12″-long strips. You need six base strips and three top strips. In the example shown, I cut three red base strips, three purple base strips, two blue top strips, and one green top strip.

3. Weave your base. Lay three of the base strips next to one another, then weave the other three into them perpendicularly. You want the woven base to be in the center of the strips but don’t stress about measuring this exactly. You have some wiggle room here.

4. Create your top rings. Trim 1 1/2″ off of each of the top strips, then glue them together to form rings, slightly overlapping their edges. Work carefully with the hot glue and use just enough glue for a sturdy seal. You don’t want it to bleed out and dry visibly on your basket.

6. Lay the first top ring on your base and begin weaving. Insert every other base strip through the center of the ring and lay it over the top.

7. Take every other remaining base strip and lay it into the basket center.

8. Place the second ring on top and continue weaving. Take the base strips laying in the center and pull them back over the top ring, then take the other base strips and lay them over the top into the basket center. You’re basically just reversing the previous strip.

9. Repeat with the third and final top ring.

10. Pull all your strips so the basket is nice and snug. Take one of the base strips that’s wrapping out from inside and lay it down along the outer edge of the basket.

11. Trim this strip so it lies about 1/2″ longer than the bottom of the top ring. Then tuck the tip of the base strip underneath the top ring, and hot glue it in place. Again, glue carefully so you don’t have any excess bleeding out.

12. Take the next base strip, which should be wrapping from the outside in. Trim this strip flush with the top ring, and glue it in place.

13. Repeat all the way around the top of the basket, securing the base strips in place. Make sure you check the weave placement and snugness of your basket as you go. And voila!

Go ahead and try out different color amounts and combinations. The world is your woven oyster.