How To Make a Beaded Wire Basket

These baskets can be made in all the colors of the rainbow. Use bead colors that match the room’s furnishings.

Make red or green ones for Christmas or pastel colored ones for Easter. They can be made to suit any holiday or event.

You will create 3 circles of beaded wire and then connect them together.

28- 30 gauge wire for the basic circles and handles. Wire coat hangers are good for this.

24 gauge wire for the sides and bottom.

Approximately 30 large size wood beads or other contrasting color beads (8-10 mm)

Approximately 160 large size 8-10 mm beads with large center holes

Pliers

Wire cutters

The Small Circle

Use a 20 inch piece of heavier wire. Bend up one end of the wire so the beads don’t slip off.

Put 1 wood bead and 5 color beads on the wire. Create 5 sets of 1 wood bead and 5 color beads. Connect the ends of the wire together in a circle and lay it aside.

The Middle Circle

Use a 24 inch piece of the heavier wire. Put 6 sets of 1 wood bead and 5 color beads onto the wire. Connect the ends together and lay this circle aside also.

The Top Circle

Use a 30 inch piece of heavy wire. Put 8 sets of 1 wood bead and 5 color beads on the wire. Connect the ends and lay it aside.

Cut a 20 inch piece of 24 gauge wire. Attach one end of it to the small circle. Add 4 color beads and wrap the wire once around and in between 2 beads of the middle size circle. Add 4 more beads and attach the end to the larger 30 inch top circle.

Attach another 20 inch wire to the exact opposite side of the circles. Follow the same process to add beads and finish at the top circle.

Attach beaded wires around the entire parameter of the circles creating a basket. Try to space them evenly so the basket openings are uniform in size.

If any section looks crooked simply unwrap the wire and reattach it in between other beads so it is straight.

Use pieces of 24 gauge wire that fit across the bottom leaving about a half inch on each side. Add beads to the wire and attach the end to the opposite side of the bottom.

Do this 3 or 4 more times with beaded wires so the bottom is covered.

Use a piece of heavy wire that is 22 inches in length. Attach one end of the wire to the top circle of the basket. Create the same bead pattern and attach the end to the exact opposite side of the top. You may make two handles if you prefer.

If you make the attaching loop a little loose at the top circle the handles will lay down creating a bowl.

Experiment with different size beads and wires. Smaller baskets can be made using seed beads and thin wire which are great as party and wedding favors, or gift baskets.