DIY Rope Basket ~ Pinterest Challenge

Welcome to the April Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants of this hop {and y’all too} to not just pin, but to make it happen! Look below for a list of past Pinterest Challenges.

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Past Challenges

• January ~> Making Decorative Paper Clips
• February ~> Recycled Paper Basket
• March ~> Recycled Drawer Paint Storage

So this month, I chose to make a rope basket. I know you’ve seen them all over Pinterest! I’m actually taking things from 3 different pins that I like ~>

• This Pin from Hungry Hippie Sews, which is actually for a rug, but I like the addition of the fabric scraps.
• This Pin from Alice & Lois, which is a no sew basket, but I like the handles.
• And this recent Pin from The Renegade Seamstress, which is for a rope bag, but shows how to sew on the sides. I also love how she used thread to give it an ombre effect!

So, let’s see how my rope basket “pieces” together! : )

To join next month’s #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ May Pinterest Challenge

Basket Pieces

I’m using my 2″ & smaller scraps, 100′ of cotton rope {or clothesline}, & an old belt my husband was trying to throw away. Did he forget who he’s married to??  : O

The base of the basket starts out by coiling the rope & stitching it with a zigzag stitch. I set my stitch length to 2 & width to 6. I did not use the measurements for the fold from either pin above. A smaller fold was better for the shape I wanted – between 1″ & 2″.

This part goes pretty fast! I will be buying more rope to make a rug next, especially after seeing all the colored rope on Amazon. Yay!

Once I had the base to the size I wanted – about 7 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ – I needed to change thread to start the ombre. I chose blues & greys for the thread & fabric. Be sure to change the bobbin too!

When I started tilting the basket, I didn’t quite get it to a 90 degree angle. I think it’s because it’s smaller & didn’t tilt as easily as the larger purse from the last pin above.

When I filled my bobbin, I only filled it about halfway. This way when the bobbin ran out, I knew it was time to change colors.

I continued like this until I got halfway up the basket, using grey thread as my last color.

Adding Fabric Scraps

I sorted the fabric scraps I picked out into similar groupings so I could mix them better on the basket.

When I was ready to add a square, I put the edge just under the attached rope, so the stitches would catch it.

I started the squares on the last row  using grey thread & changed to a neutral thread after one round.

Some of the squares go over & under the rope…

The further up the basket I went the more it looked like my machine was wearing a hat!

Finally finished! Here are some views all around the basket…

And inside the basket…

Now this basket just needs some handles!

Leather Belt Handles

I cut the old belt into sections & will repurpose the pieces at the top in a future project. The long section is what I’m using for the basket. You will definitely need some heavy duty scissors for this!

They used a leather punch & rivet to attach the handle in the pin above, but I don’t have a leather punch {yet!}. So I used a hammer & nail to put holes in the leather.

Then I grabbed an upholstery needle & some heavy duty thread to stitch the handles on.

Stitches from the outside…

Stitches from the inside…

Handles attached!

Time for some glamour shots…

I’m loving this basket! It holds quite a few fat quarters…

So many fat quarters…

This basket making me so happy!

I see a future with more rope baskets & a rug!

Now let’s see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!

 Erlene – My Pinterventures • Lauren – Mom Home Guide
Debbee – Debbee’s Buzz • Laurie – My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
Marie – DIY Adulation • Julie – Sum of their Stories
Marie – The Inspiration Vault • T’onna – Sew Crafty Crochet
Pili – My Sweet Things • Debra – Shoppe No. 5
Roseann – This Autoimmune Life • Terri – Our Good Life
Lisa – Blogghetti • Marci – Stone Cottage Adventures
Leslie – Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Rebecca – Simple Practical Beautiful • Cherryl – Farm Girl Reformed
Kelley – Simply Inspired Meals • Joanne – Our Unschooling Journey
Jenny – Cookies Coffee and Crafts • Gail – Purple Hues and Me
Sam – Raggedy Bits
Beverly – Across the Boulevard • Samantha – Little Bits of Home
Kristie – Teadoddles • Shirley – Intelligent Domestications
Kelli – Olympic Nest • Chelsea – Making Manzanita
Ola – J’adore Le Decor