wire mesh basket
For those new to basketry, wire mesh baskets may be the easiest basket to create. Wires tend to stay in place better and the medium is very forgiving.
The materials are also very inexpensive, which is good for the newbie who doesn't want to invest in equipment or materials just yet. This particular basket weave is just a simple over and under process that can be mastered quickly by most people. The weave creates a mesh effect, which works well for holding larger items.
Cut eight lengths of wire that is all the same size. The lengths should be four times as long as the height you want your wire mesh basket to be.
Lay one length on your workspace and lay another on top of it, at a right angle. Clip the two where they meet with a bulldog clip.
Half an inch away, lay another length beside the second one, but place it underneath the first length. Clip it in place with a bulldog clip.
Half an inch away, lay another length beside the third one, but place it on top of the first length. Clip it in place with a bulldog clip.
Half an inch away, lay another length beside the fourth one, but place it underneath the first length. Clip it in place with a bulldog clip. Now you should have four lengths of wire, evenly spaced, clipped to the first wire. It should look somewhat like a comb.
Take another length of wire and thread it under and over the four wires that you just placed. Make sure that this is parallel with the first wire and is half an inch away from it. Clip it to the first and last wire with bulldog clips.
Repeat the last step until all of the lengths of wire are used. Your wires should look like a wire mesh basket now.
Place the wooden block at the center of the grid. Make sure that the edges of the block and the ends of the wires are parallel. Fold the wire upwards using the edge of the block as a guide. This will leave you with an almost star-shaped bowl.
Weave the rest of the spool of wire in and out of the spokes you created in the earlier steps until the wire mesh basket is as tightly woven or as loosely woven as you like. The more wire you use, the tighter the weave will become.
Finish the wire mesh basket by grabbing the end of each wire with the pliers and twisting the end downwards so that it touches itself and makes a loop. Remove the bulldog clips and the block, as well.
