PLASTIC STRAP HEXAGONAL BASKETRY - F

7. HEXAGONAL ROUND BASKET
First, take 3 short strips (they should be twice the length of the corners of the hexagonal base) and arranged in a six sided asterisk to form the centre. Then put 2 long stripes on the opposite sides of the first centre strip. Then single weave i.e. one up and one down, putting in the next two strips on the opposite sides of the second centre strip. Then add the other two strips on the third centre stripe. A hexagon will take shape with 6 triangles like a star.



First 3 yellow strips to form asterisk and add the next 6 green strips.
















Each time you weave in a new strip, weave or cross to change the direction of the existing strips so that it is in one way only. Add as many strips as you wish depending on how big you want your base to be. If you follow the nine diagrams above there is no centre asterisk. It only starts with the 6 green strips. ( The hexagon will form the base, now fold in the ends of the`six corners to end them. only if you follow yellow and green base. )







Base of hexagonal basket with the grey asterisk folded in.













Diagram 10
Now bend the six flat triangles to an upright position and interweave the six sides. Make sure the strips come up in one direction only, if not adjust them.


Diagram 11.
After that, put one horizontal stripe through the vertical crisscross strips all around the hexagon with the vertical strips in one direction. Put in the second horizontal circle with the vertical strips facing the other direction as opposed to the first row. Put the number of circles or rounds you want and end by turning in one strip on one side and the other on the other side. Reinforce the last row by putting one or two extra strips in to strengthen the top circle making it firm and strong.










My favorite combination is to start the centre with 3 strips of one color ie white, continue with 2 rows of another color ie green and end the hexagon with the centre color ie white.
Basket turned to show base. Note all the white asterisks. Add in white stripes in rounds to side to get design as shown.






Hexagonal basket with 3 colors following rows as shown in base design. Weave one color on one side so that you have three colors for the 3 sides.







Three colors but placed alternately so has different design unlike the one on top. Two color handles on both sides. Basket can also be made with a stand at the bottom like the other types.















Hexagonal vase or bottle basket with collar - When the base is big enough, the sides are bent up. The strips will be crossing in the same way as before. For the sides a new strip is inserted for each round. Weave 5 rounds. Basket on left, ie 2 blue and 1 white. To change the pattern x or to make just the basket smaller at the top xx you can interweave the basic strips without inserting a new strip to the height you want. End and single weave down a few rows so that the top looks thick like a collar. Unfinished vase on left is weaved with 1 yellow and 1 grey.















Note the difference between the two bases, yellow and grey basket has a stand by weaving one more round at bottom. This has no asterisk so a hexagonal hole in centre, while bottle basket has an asterisk giving it a different design.