Wicker Baskets

Wicker Baskets

Materials

• Rit Powdered Dye:  Purple, Teal, Fuchsia, Lemon Yellow, Petal Pink, Kelly Green
• 3 Unfinished wicker baskets, 6” x 12” rectangular shape 
• 3 Eyelet fabric pieces, 18” x 25” 
• 3 Yds. Elastic, 1/8” wide
• Sewing thread, 3 spools for eyelet liners
• Dishpan or container large enough to hold basket
• Glass measuring cups, measuring spoons & metal spoon
• Rubber Gloves
• Clear polyurethane
• Brushes:  1” chip
• Plastic wrap
• Small cloth, paper towels
• Plastic drop cloth

Instructions:

1. Cover work surface with a plastic drop cloth.
2. Dye Preparation for Wicker Baskets:  When ready to use a color, pour dye into a glass measuring cup.  Add 2 cups very hot tap water.  Stir until dye is dissolved.  Fill dishpan with very hot water (enough to immerse wicker basket). Add dissolved dye and stir.  Immerse wicker basket in dyebath for 20 minutes or until desired color is achieved.  Turn basket every few minutes to ensure even color.  Remove and allow to dry.
3. Dye wicker baskets Purple, Teal and Fuchsia, as described above.
4. To seal dyed wicker baskets, apply one or two coats of polyurethane.
5. Dye Preparation for Eyelet Fabric Pieces (optional):  When ready to use a color, pour dye into a glass measuring cup.  Add 2 cups very hot tap water.  Stir until dye is dissolved.  Fill dishpan with very hot water (enough to cover fabric).  Add dissolved dye and stir.  Wet fabric and then add to dyebath, stirring occasionally for 20 to 30 minutes.  Rinse in warm water until clear.  Wash in warm water with detergent.  Hang dry and iron fabric.  (Refer to package instructions for more information.)
6. Dye eyelet fabric pieces Petal Pink, Yellow and Chartreuse.  To create Chartreuse color:  Pour 1/2 Cup Lemon Yellow dye into a measuring cup along with 1 teaspoon of Kelly Green powder dye; add 2 cups very hot tap water.  Stir well to dissolve dye.  Continue as described above.
7. To Make Basket Liners (optional):  Measure baskets and make a pattern from basket.  There will be two pattern pieces -- one for the ends and one to go down front, across bottom and up the back of the basket.  Add ½” seam allowances to pattern.  Stitch corner seams; finish seam allowances.  Make a ½” wide casing around top edge:  Turn and press under ¼” around top of basket liner; turn again ½”.  Lay in elastic; pin.  Stitch close to foldline, leaving an opening to adjust elastic.  Pull elastic to fit basket; stitch elastic.  Pin and stitch casing opening.