repairing a basket

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repairing a basket

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Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 11:31 am Post subject: repairing a basket

I've a lovely old basket I use for shopping. Its actually the basket I use to use for cookery at school. I notice that the handle is getting wobbly where it is fixed to the sides, and I think it could do with strengthening or re-fixing as I think otherwise it will break/come undone. I'm keen to do this as I guess this will be a simpler repair than trying to sort out a broken handle - not knowing anything about basketry.
How would you mend it?
If I need some wicker or whatever its made off ( its quite a stiff basket in a chesnutty sort of colour - that doesn't help does it?) where do I buy a couple of lengths if thats what I need?

I actually have another basket, a softer one this time, who's handle has come undone but I can see that it was a cheaper one and it just needs the wire that holds the handle together re-tightening with some pliers but this was covered with again some sort of reed or similar, more like a string type stuff, so I need to replace that to cover up the wire.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 12:17 pm Post subject:

How about rawhide? That can work well if its mostly the bindings that have worked loose. Basically, you take some dog chew, soak it until you can unroll in, cut thin strips then wriggle it through the basket and bind the handle down tightly (follow roughly the pattern of the existing binding), then either tie off the end or use a small panel pin to secure it. When it dries it will shrink and harden and will really pull the binding tight.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 4:23 pm Post subject:
and every dog at the farmers market will try to chew your basket! You could cut something from the hedge - hazel is good for most things, and needs a good soak (leave it out in the garden for a few weeks somewhere shady, and chuck water on it if it doesn't rain - fat chance!)

barefoot_boo

Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 399
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 05 6:43 pm Post subject:
I'm currently waiting for a book on basketry to arrive courtesy of ebay - when I get it I'll see what it says about making repairs. If I forget, please remind me!

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 7:52 pm Post subject:
thanx for all the ideas, I'll look out for hazel -we've a contorted one in the garden but I'm not sure if that'll do? I've absolutely loads of weeping willow, will that soften in water do you think ( root probably! )

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