The first step in making miniature rag basket is to wrap fabric around a wire core.
Start By Preparing the Fabric
If you are using regular fabric, without a selvage edge, begin by cutting a 1/2 inch wide strip of fabric, two feet long. Keep the cut close to the grain of the fabric. Turn under a 1/8 inch edge and press it in place with the iron. The turned edge is not necessary if the fabric is cut with one selvage edge. The finished edge will cover the raw edge as you wrap the wire. When the edge has been turned under, trim the fabric strip so that it is approximately 1/4 of an inch wide.
If you will be using a narrow ribbon, you do not need to turn under an edge. If you are using wired ribbon, you won't need to wrap the ribbon around a wire core, in this case, you only need to twist the ribbon tight together to form a tight bendable string.
Begin to Wrap the Wire
With the folded edge up, lay the wire on top of the fabric strip as shown in the photo.
Put a bit of glue on the fabric (the side with the fold showing) and turn the end over the tip of the wire as shown above.
Spread a thin layer of glue on the first four inches of the fabric strip, and begin to turn the wire, rolling the fabric tightly over the wire as you turn it, the same way you would wrap a wire with florist's tape. Make sure the folded fabric edge covers the raw edges as the fabric goes down the wire. Continue until the wire is tightly wrapped with fabric. Glue the end of the fabric to the end of the wire.
If you want to make these baskets in full size, two inch fabric strips are wrapped around a core of rope or twine to create the fabric rope used as the basket base.
