We used receiving blankets to make these handy baskets, but you can also use old sheets or extra fabric scraps.
Cut receiving blankets into 2-inch strips.
Repeat until you have cut them all. Now shed a little tear for a moment about how big your baby has gotten, how did it happen so fast?
Gather one end of the cord and three strips of cut fabric.
Combine the three strips into a bundle. Take the end of the bunch and place it against the end of the cable. Allow at least a 2-inch overlap, but 3-4 inches is recommended.
Fold over the other end of the strips around the cable, completely covering the end of the cable.
Start wrapping the strips of fabric around the cable, over and over, so that the end of the cable is completely covered. Wrap around the folded part as well.
Use a couple of bobby pins to secure the ends of the strip so it doesn't come loose. If it loosens (don't worry, that will happen right away if it does), start over and be sure to wrap with a longer overlapping fold, about four inches.
Continue wrapping the fabric, making the cord grow longer and longer with the fabric wrap. Be sure to pull the fabric so it doesn't come loose. You want it to stay in place. When you get to the end of the strips, take three more..
With the three additional fabric strips bundled together, add them to the ends of the previous fabric strips.
As you did at the beginning of the cord, wrap the new strips of fabric around the cord, covering the ends of the first strips. Continue wrapping until you have used all the strips of fabric. You will now have a very long piece of wire wrapped in cloth.
When you get to the end, use a couple of pins to secure the fabric in place. Pin directly through the fabric and cord.
Use a darning needle and crochet thread to begin securing the beginning of your strip of cord (where you started). Pass the thread through several times.
Begin folding the fabric-wrapped cord into a spiral, taking care to wrap it very tightly. As you wrap, use the needle and thread to secure it in place.
When sewing with the needle and thread, push the needle through the front ring and secure around the outer ring. Pull very hard and continue to spiral with this repeating process.
Continue the spiral until you have a circle large enough for the basket base you want. Make one more spiral around your base.
Use your fingers to gently pull the last spiral up and over the previous one. This helps line up the coils to start making an upward motion.
Continue to spiral, securing with needle and thread as you go. Place the spirals one on top of the other. You are climbing up the sides of the basket..
Continue up the sides until you have reached the desired height of the basket. If you want your basket to have handles, follow these steps. Using the needle and thread, make a very secure loop around where you want your first handle to start, go through the same stitch and pin it in place at least five times.
Continue the yarn around the handle, simply wrapping the fabric in place, but not securing it to the previous coil. Do this for about eight inches.
When you reach the end of eight inches or the desired length of the handle, place the loop back in the basket and secure it in place by wrapping the thread and needle in the same place at least five times. Once you've secured both handles in place, it's time to start finishing the basket.
Unravel the ends of the fabric and cut the cord to size. You want it to be shorter than the amount it takes to get to the opposite point. DO NOT cut the fabric strips, just the cord.
Wrap the fabric around the end of the cord, covering it completely. Take the loose ends of the fabric strip and thread through the top two loops. If your basket is nice and tight, as it should be, you may need to use a knitting needle or some other pointed object to pry the fabric apart.
Firmly pull the fabric through the layers. If you have a long length of fabric left, consider looping the top two coils again in another location.
Take one of the fabric strips from your bundle and wrap it through the nearest basket handle. Pull hard.
Make a knot by tying all the fabric strips together.
Cut off the frayed ends of the fabric strips. If your straps are long enough, tie them into a bow for a classic finish.
