Wire basket
Yes, those two words do conjure up my near neurotic devotion to the HBO series, but this is not about my turning into a basket-case over the Wire. It’s about a craft that involves making shopping baskets out of plastic wires, something my aunt Madhavi mami has been doing for decades.
Madhavi mami has made hundreds of these, and gifted one to nearly everyone in our extended family on my mum’s side on some occasion or other; my parents have brought the veggies home from the market in the one she gave us, for twenty-three years. It was getting rather frayed at the handles of late, so she gave them another one. While I was visiting her some time back, she was making yet another, so I decided to capture the process in a photo-essay.
Kits for these baskets are available, in solid or multi-coloured packs, in that great mecca of crafts in Pune, Tulshibaug. I haven’t been able to trace how the wires themselves are made, or from what kind of plastic. The wires are flat, slightly curved, and are in long spools of 20-odd metres per colour. You start off by cutting off strips of equal length (there is some odd maths involved here about the ratio of the primary to secondary colour, one being slightly shorter than the other to ensure the rectangular shape of the basket).
Then you make the first knot of two tightly interlocked Zs, folding one wire into a Z, and then threading the other sideways into it. Once they are locked in the vice like grip, you have the basic unit of the basket.
This is not as easy as it seems, and the main problem is sorting out which wire goes where, and keeping the knots tight. It takes not so much physical strength as deft wristwork to get the knots to sit snugly, and takes a bit of practice. I tried a few after a very long time – my aunt taught me this basket making when I was a kid, and the bits I helped her make were very easy to spot in the finished basket: loose, half-hearted patches in the middle of the tight, determined weave. They weren’t much tighter this time round either, but I was certainly determined!
You then add knots in all four directions of this initial knot, making the central spine of the flat bottom of the basket. Once you have the length and breadth you want, you “turn” the knots upwards into a rectangular tube, and keep weaving till you have a basket deep enough. When done, you weave the wire ends inwards into the basket, leaving it with a sturdy edge.
Then you braid a nifty handle for it.
These bags were probably the height of fashion a long long time ago, and when I was in college it was simply not cool for a certain set, especially the urban elite in Pune and Bombay, to be seen grocery shopping in them. They are, I guess, the shopping basket equivalent of crocheted granny squares, and over the last couple of decades, it’s breathtaking how almost everyone has taken to the flimsier, disposable “carry-bags” as not only more convenient, but a consumer’s free right. In this utterly warped sensibility that views plastic bags as modernity and progress over cloth and straw, clogging our drains and brains alike, these baskets are quaintly unfashionable, stubbornly utilitarian, and odd: they too are plastic, but reusable and heavily durable. Does anybody who has seen these in Pune or elsewhere know whether they are, or can be made of some kind of recyclable plastic?
I think these baskets are fantastic and only wish there were someone here who could teach me how to make them!
1. These rock.
2. Your mami-ji rocks for making them.
3. They are the perfect size for re-ups from Philly.
How interesting to see something related to summer camp craft staple in the US pop up elsewhere and used in a different way.
In the US, kids use very similar flattened plastic cords to make lanyards and keychains. If you go to joann.com and search for lanyard, you will see packages and spools of the cord. The stuff I have seems to have a strong synthetic white thread in the center for strength.
You can see some of the technique at http://www.boondoggleman.com/prj_lanyard_keychains.htm (I have never heard the term “boondoggle” used with this craft, so it must just be the business name). The 4th photo from the top shows the same basic knot as you have shown. Only I have never seen this knot used to spread out sideways to make flat material, I’ve only seen them stacked upon one another to make the summer-camp keychain. Nice to know a new way of doing things.
Your aunt’s work looks very fine. I think the colors chosen might have a big effect on how trendy they look. Thanks for the lesson.
Oh, how much I regret not learning this craft when I had the opportunity. Just fantastic.
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I remember these bags. My aunt too made bags and vases and many “show pieces” – I wish I learned it!
I love the baskets and am very impressed by the work involved. I’d buy one in a minute if I could!
me, too.. i want more of a tutorial.. i now how to make the handle.. (its like the diamond stitch in lanyards.)
(i wonder if i could make one with lanyards cords? it would be smaller (since the cords are smaller.. but..
(note to self: finish up all project you have started before embarking on a new one!
Again, I’m straying from topic a bit, but in Thailand you find flat-weave shopping baskets made from the heavy duty plastic packing strips – you know like the kind they strap around your luggage in the Indian airports? So I’m guessing it’s recycled material. Extremely sturdy, and colorful. They’re starting to market them in the States, in boutiques of the type that lay dubious claim to “simplicity.”
Don’t have any with me here, or I’d give you an image.
Your mami-ji’s are more skillful. And I totally need a sturdy bag that size!
Fantastic!
My aunt used to make these too! I love them.
Oh wow, I remember these from my childhood. Everybody used them, and yes, they were durable as all get out. It’s so cool that your mami knows how to make them and makes them still.
You should see if she can supply them to stores like uncommongoods.com. With the reusable bag concept so big these days, they’d sell like hotcakes. And hopefully the trendy factor will travel back to India and make people ditch the flimsy plastic/polythene bags.
Fascinating, and totally adorable! People must be crazy to prefer disposable bags to these!
I also wish that I knew how to make some.
aaah! i remember these bags growing up — thanks for reminding me, will get one from the market very soon. alas, i don’t have a maami who will make one for me….
Those are completely awesome. I too think they would sell in a flash on something like etsy.com. I would buy one or two of them myself!
Am feeling nostalgic. Such bags are very popular in the South. When I was a kid, I used to take lunch to school in such a bag.
those happy days.. now kids have Tupperware cases and it’s become “old fashioned” to carry such a bag.
They are so beautiful! I do not see any online tutorial/instructions on making these baskets. Are there any books available on making these flat wire baskets?
I saw a similar green basket at, http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/734836/
Please let us know, what the knot is called and can you please post instructions on how to tie this kind of knot?
The basic units are I guess made from three strands of flat wire instead of two.
I’m not being able to post comments with a hyperlink.
I saw a similar green basket at the davegarden online forum. The basic units are I guess made from three strands of flat wire instead of two. Please let us know what that knot is called and can you please post instructions on how to tie this kind of knot?
davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/734836/
Hi Kavita,Thanks for that link! That knot in the forum photo is indeed different and seems to be made from three strands rather than two. It is quite beautiful! The photos I’ve posted above are of a square, two-strand knot. I have to figure out how to put the instructions in words, or in a video.
I have no idea if there are books on this kind of basket-making, will ask my aunt and post back here!
Thanks for reponding. I didn’t know the measurements and so I just took longer wires for the length and shorter ones for breadth. I created the bottom part. I’m stuck at “turning” the knots upwards into a rectangular tube
I’m having hard time creating the the rectangular tube after working on the bottom part (after having the required length and breadth).
you can actually tear disposable plastic grocery bags into strips and use those to weave, crochet, or knit a similar design.
Saw similar basket bags made out of recycled pulp tape at, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25751408
Does anyone know where we can get this plastic wire in US?
My mom does a good job in this and we are in need of this wire to complete the wire basket bag.
Thank you.
This art is vanishing.My mom too know this. I am going to learn from her.
We get the wire at Micheals and Joann. There are other places where you can buy/mail order as mentioned in the boondogglman website (Please check Lethe’s post above for the details)
while browisng the net for different kinds of knots, I stumbled upon hawaiian crafts made by LAUHALA (wine holders, flower girl petal basket, clutches, placemats, money boxes, tissue box holders and other wedding favors). They have used the same weaving pattern (also called Lover’s knot).
Brought back memories! I just made one this past month. Family in India had a good laugh wondering why I was so crazy making this bag. Can you ask your mami if she could teach or post pictures on how to make the handle please?
Thanks for this blog. This is a very popular art in Japan. When we friends here in US were researching on different basket weaving techniques, we found an interesting Japanese website (plaza.rakuten.co.jp/hisamama3793/). Used google translator/babblefish to interprete the contents of the blog! It is the same technique. Hisae’s creativity is amazing and just instantly fell in love with all the beautiful creations! God bless Hisae’s creativity and thanks to the internet for shrinking the world and getting us closer to these beautiful arts.
Its a nice blog about shopping baskets.
Thanks,
Hi, I absolutely love these plastic wire baskets. Do you know where I can find step-by-step instructions on how to make one? I would love to try. I tried following the photos you posted, but ended up confused about how to proceed. Thanks!
Where can I purchase these baskets? Love ‘em.
Hey -
I remember these. I’ve made two of them myself (one as a big school bag to carry my books & a matching one for my lunch box and water bottle !!). I used orange and black combo. I used “disco wires” the ones that had a contrast color (in this case a white line) on top. If I remember correctly, you work the base first, with the running wire, and both at the beginning and end piece (knit / knot), you leave the same length of wire as the rest of the ones you cut for the pattern. And then you start working from bottom up, going around.
1. Incidentally, I saw someone selling these baskets on roadside in Bangalore – in Gandhi bazaar (Oct 2009)
2. I brought 2 bundles of wires (maroon and white), the last 2 pieces left, which were kind of old and dirty, but didnt have a choice. If someone knows where in India I can get it (Bangalore, Madras) I’ld appreicate it.
Thanks so much for this. I was taught how to make these at school in India in the 60s and have been trying for a year to remember how to do them as I have a large amount of electrical earth sleeve looking for a project! Struggled to remember and no-one else even knew what I meant. Great.
anyone who required the baskets can contact on below mentioned email
rahulvarma86@gmail.com
Hi, i just love these bags. Could you please give us step-by-step instructions on how to make these useful bags with one color, & also with two colors,soon.
Thanks!
Dear Madam, If you need different types of wire baskets please send a mail to me, we will suplly the baskets
Dear Robin
I can send you the different types of wire baskets, if you give me the your email id
Dear Prasad,
Please send mention your email Id so that I could ask you further querries!