How to Weave a Paper Basket of Newspaper

Learn How to Weave a Paper Basket!!

Have some old newspapers sitting around? You can upcycle old newspapers and have fun as you learn How to Weave a Paper Basket of newspaper strips.

Won’t they make unique May Day baskets, Mother's Day gift boxes, Easter baskets, or home décor?

How to make a woven newspaper basket?

I’ve been wanting to learn How to Weave a Paper Basket of Newspaper for some time. The grands and I gave it a try last week. 

They are younger and needed an extra set of hands to hold the paper strips together as they wove up the sides. So my hands weren’t free to take pictures of them doing every step. But they were pumped at the results and so was I.

Younger kids will need some extra help- but worth it!

Later I tried a couple newspaper baskets on my own. I could weave the basket myself (without extra hands to help), but I will let you know that this project is a bit more difficult than some. I think you and the older grands will love the challenge and the baskets! It is a bit like a puzzle and so fun to figure out.

My 7- and 9-year-old grands could do it with help. If you have very young kids trying this project, perhaps they could just weave a flat mat of strips and glue or staple the ends when you are done. That would be fun as well. It would make a great place mat.

Upcycle and see how to weave a newspaper basket

The first step is making the newspaper strips used to weave.

I used plain newspaper but I wish I had the funny papers to use. Will find some for next time! I think the colors would be so cute.

Cut off folded edges of newspapers

The folded edges of the newspaper sections need to be cut off so the newspaper is in single pages.

Cut and fold upcycled newspaper

Fold each page in thirds lengthwise. Get as close to equal thirds as possible. 

Then cut on the folds. 

You will need 17-18 strips.

Fold each strip into thirds and glue the flap down so it stays folded.

Fold each of these strips again, this time fold them in half. Glue so it stays folded.

Tip: All the newspapers should be the same size so the strips you make and weave with are all of the same size.

Note: The kids got tired of making the paper strips. It would be a good idea to have a number of them done ahead of time and just have them make a few.

Yea! How to weave a newspaper basket!

Now comes the fun part- weaving!

I love weaving. When I was young, I wove grass, cat tails, construction paper and potholders. A friend even let me weave a reed basket with her one time. It is so cool to make something that resembles a fabric or a “real” basket. Kids and YOU will enjoy this.

Weave the bottom of the paper basket

Lay down 6 strips side by side.

Begin to weave a strip across these 6 strips- over, under, over, under, over, under.

The second strip is woven across the 6 strips- under, over, under, over, under, over.

Weave 6 strips. You will have a small weaving of 6 strips by 6 strips.

Move the weaving to be in the center of both sets of strips. My strip ends past the weaving were about 9 inches long on all four sides.

I used a stapler and stapled the cross points on the corners of the weavings to keep the bottom of the basket in place. 

If you don’t want staples, you can glue the corners together. I will say that the glue needs to dry before moving on. Otherwise it comes apart and the bottom of the basket will shift around as you try to weave the sides. I found staples to be the easiest and fastest solution.

Weave the sides of the newspaper basket

Now to weave up the sides of the basket!

Staple (or glue) a strip to one of the side strips on the left of your weaving. Then weave this new strip next to the bottom weaving you have already done. This establishes the pattern of the weaving around the sides of the basket (as you will soon see).

BUT, when you get to the end of the six strips- fold the strip you are weaving with and begin to weave the six strips on the top of the weaving. Use the same over under pattern you were using before. Can you see that it is continuing the same over under pattern on these next strips? Cool, huh?

This will lift some of the first six strips you wove on the left of the weaving and begin to lift some of the strips on the top of the weaving.

Fold and weave across the six strips on the right side of the weaving and then again on the bottom side of the weaving. 

When you return to where you began weaving, bring the end of your paper strip alongside the beginning of the strip and carefully staple it in place.

Note: If you are using glue instead of staples, this will need to be clamped with a binder clip and allowed to dry so it doesn’t pull apart when you continue weaving.

Put on your thinking cap! Weaver extraordinaire!

This is where you will need to use your puzzle working skills or give more help to younger weavers, in starting the second strip on the side weaving.

The first strip you wove on the side has liften half of the original basket strips up and left the other half flopped down on your work surface. This looks so disorganized and messy. But don’t give up! It will look like a real basket after you put in the second strip.

Start on a different corner of the basket and attach a paper strip to the first strip on that edge with a staple. If the previous side strip started in an “under over” pattern of weaving, this time you will start with an “over under” pattern.

Weave this second strip around the basket like you did the first, folding and moving across each of the four sides. This will lift the rest of the basket strips up, so they are all vertical!

Way to weave!

Strip number three will be much easier as a result!! Way to stick with it!

Repeat this process with 5 strips up the side to be like the baskets you see in these pictures and video.

The baskets we wove have five strips up the side. You can weave 4, 5, or six strips up depending on how tall you want your basket.

Finish the top edge of the woven paper basket

To finish the top edge

The paper strips can be folded to the inside and tucked through one of the woven loops on the inside of the basket if you want.

OR, you can fold each strip and staple (or glue) it down inside the basket.

Clip and trim the extra parts of the strips once you are done.

Mold and straighten your basket shape a bit- there, that looks nice.

Want a handle on your woven paper basket?

If you want a handle for your basket you can staple on one of the extra strips you made.

Tip: The next time I make a handle I’m going to use a full page of newspaper. I’ll fold and glue it till I get the size I want. It will be more rigid that way. The paper strips are a bit flimsy for a handle if the basket is going to be carried at all.

How do I use my Woven Paper Basket of Newspaper?

May basket idea

Oh my goodness, there are so many ways to use these little baskets.

May Day is coming up. Fill the basket up with flowers and a bit of candy and sneak over to a friend's house. Set it on their porch, ring the bell and run! We are NEVER too old for this fun day.

I especially think of the shut ins around us. They could use the cheer. Perhaps you could stay for a visit as well. What a gift!

Mother's Day idea

How about a place to tuck a few goodies for Mom on Mother's Day which is coming up fast in May?

She may love a couple new dish towels, nice lotions, a mug and package of coffee or tea, a few flowers and gift certificate...so many possibilities!

Note: There are cute t-towels you can make mom for Mother's Day if you want. Here's the link: Mother's Hand Print Flower Dish Towel.

Easter basket idea

How about a cute little Easter basket for

What are your ideas?

You did it! What do you think?

I had to think a bit to get the weaving to work right as I went up the sides and the strips flopped over! Did you? But it was fun and really satisfying. 

I’m going to try making another basket that has a 4x4 strip bottom and one that is 4x6 strips on the bottom (to be a rectangle). I plan to use them to put small items in for gifts.

So many things to try and not enough time!! The story of my life. The story of your life too, I'm sure!

YouTube link for video

If you would like to watch this on YouTube here is the link: YouTube Learn to Weave a Basket of Newspaper. You can watch this and many other WelcomeToNanas craft ideas there. Subscribe if you like YouTube!

Supplies for How to Weave a Paper Basket of Newspaper:

• Newspaper (don’t you love upcycling?)
• Glue or glue stick
• Stapler
• Scissors