How to Weave Aromatic Lavender Baskets

Summer is the season for floral weaving.  Fresh lavender's long, flexible stems and lasting fragrant aroma make it a favorite for this purpose.  Similar to Lavender Wands, creating a beautiful Lavender Basket with flowers from your garden is a charming way to spend a summer afternoon.

 

How to Make a Lavender Basket

 

Materials:

• 22 long stems of freshly cut lavender
• 1 1/2 yards of ¼” satin ribbon (additional 12" for a bow - optional) 
• Scissors
• Patience 

Give yourself time and space to enjoy crafting.  It can be a little tricky to work with fresh flowers in this manner, so don't hesitate to undo a step or two and start over.  Perfection isn't the goal, rather joy in the act of creating.

Step 1 — Strip the lavender stems of any side shoots, leaves or buds so that only the main flowerhead remains.  Trim all stems to the same length, about 12”.

Step 2 — Line up the base of each flowerhead and tie the ribbon in a square knot at the base of the flowers, leaving one shorter end of 5 inches and one long end (which will be used for the weaving).

Step 3 — Hold the bundle of stems with the flowers facing down and gently fold the stems down one at a time over the flowers, encasing them.  Tuck the shorter end of ribbon into the flowers so that you can begin weaving with the long length of ribbon.

   

Step 4 — Weave the longer length of ribbon through the stems.  Take the ribbon over two stems and under the next two repeating this pattern in a counterclockwise direction.  Pay close attention to which stem comes next because they can become entangled when you weave.

Step 5 — Continue to weave until you cover half of the lavender flowers. 

Step 6 — Select two strong stems to become the handle of the basket.  Trim all other stems to ¼” above the top row of weaving.  Ideally the two stems you choose should be next to the long end of ribbon you have been using to weave.

Step 7 — To start forming the handle, gently bend the pair of stems over the flowers reaching towards the other side of the basket.  This will help start to train the stems to bend.

Step 8 — After you have pre-bent the two stems, begin weaving them tightly together with the remaining long end of ribbon.  Weave the ribbon around each stem individually until the woven stems are long enough to bend to the opposite side of the basket.

Step 9 — When the woven stems are long enough to curve to the opposite side of the basket to create a handle, cut the stems half inch from the end of the ribbon.

 

 

Step 10 — Gently bend the woven stems to the opposite side the basket and firmly insert the end between the woven basket base and the flowerheads.

Step 11 — Gently pull out the short end of ribbon (from the center of the flowers) and use it to tie a square knot with the end of the ribbon that you have used to weave the stems.  This will help secure the handle in place.  Once the square knot is secure, trim the ribbon ends leaving 3-4 inches for the finishing bow.

Step 12 — To finish your lavender basket a bow is a nice touch.  To make a small bow, loop a length of ribbon back and forth on itself until you have 2 loops on each side.  Trim the ends to match the width of the loops.

Step 13 — Position the ribbon loops on top of the square knot at the base of the handle and use ribbon tails from the square knot to secure the ribbon loops.  Tie a tight square knot and trim the ribbon ends to the width of the ribbon loops.

   

Bravo!  What a beautiful lavender basket to hang in a favorite place or gift to a special friend.  If you enjoyed this project, you might try your hand at making a Lavender Wand.