The basket projects so far have used regular hexagons, and the geometry makes it work that three hexagons will add up to make a flat bottom that looks like a triangle (see footnote if you want the math).
But you can also use elongated hexagons to make baskets! Because they are “stretched” hexagons, you will need 4 hexagons instead of three to make a flat bottom. Here is what it looks like, side by side:
To make a square basket, you work a very similar approach as shown for the Easy Tassel Basket.
Weave 4 elongated hexagons and lay them out as pictured. Use the end tails to sew the sides together as shown:
Sew the last sides together as shown to shape the basket.
Turn the basket inside out, then treat the edging any way you like: Just fold or double-fold, add a button, add tassels … and a new method shown on this square basket is a rolled edging which looks a little bit like on pottery: Starting from the tip, roll the fabric down, then secure with 2-3 stitches at the center.
The finished basket measures about 4″ across and stands about 2″ tall. Use for small notions, jewelry, as a favor, decorate with sea shells for a summer accent, … or fill with CHOCOLATE!
By the way … Noro Silk Garden and Noro Kureyon (yarn favorites of mine for many reasons) provide good support to help the basket sides to stay up straight!
Footnote: The geometry of regular versus elongated hexagons …
- In a regular hexagon, each tip has an angle of 120 degrees. It takes three hexagons to add up to 360 degrees to make a full circle.
- The stretched tips of an elongated hexagon only make a 90 degree angle, so you need four hexagons to get to the 360 degree full circle.
