Creating a Unique Plastic Bottle Basket

You'll Need

Gather the following materials:

• Plastic bottles;
• Scissors;
• Fishing line;
• Tape;
• Glue for plastic.

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to craft your basket:

1. Cut the bottom and neck off the plastic bottles.
2. Cut the obtained cylinders into strips.
3. Make semis from the strips.
4. Bind the elements together.
5. Fasten the handle to the ready-made basket.
6. If necessary, add a bottom part.

Before you start weaving the basket, make sure to remove the labels and glue from the plastic bottles.

To create the basket, cut a cylinder from a plastic bottle lengthwise, then slice it into strips approximately 1–1.5 cm wide. For optimal results, maintain a width-to-length ratio of 1:8 relative to the length of the strip. For instance, if you cut a 15 cm strip from a 2-liter bottle, it should measure 1.8 cm in width.

The resulting semis should be folded in half to form a crease at the center. Each piece must then be bent in half again so the edges are tucked inside, meeting at the central fold. The final element should be four times shorter than the original strip.

Now, join the bent parts using two side bends, creating a corner from two elements. Continue attaching other semis one by one to form a zigzag pattern, ensuring the length of the zigzag corresponds with the desired basket size.

Fix the edge elements with fishing line. Handles can also be made from similar elements, though keep in mind that the basket may then serve decorative purposes only. For actual utility, it's essential to make the parts more robust.

Once you have created the required number of zigzags, connect all parts of your future basket using thread or fishing line. The design of the basket's bottom will depend on its intended use. You may braid the bottom from the zigzags or attach a thick plastic piece with a heat gun. However, note that a glued bottom might not support heavy loads.