Thread by @Ian_Willey

The @coopuk put craft ideas on their packaging. Here's a way to make a cute woven basket from the carton itself... 1/n

@coopuk Along with the carton you will need a pair of scissors, a pencil and a ruler:

@coopuk First, squeeze open the carton and wash out the inside. A dot of detergent should neutralise any greasiness. Don't get the carton too soggy!

@coopuk Then, using the scissors,cut off the top. There might be a crease around the top that you can follow...

@coopuk Now we need to cut the carton into two pieces. To do this first flatten down the top section:

@coopuk Using the ruler, measure 7.5 centimetres from the top of the flat section. Make another mark at 7.5cm, join the marks then cut across:

@coopuk Now we have two pieces. One is like a big loop, and one is like an open box.

@coopuk Next we're going to take the big wide loop and slice it into narrower loops. Four loops that are 1cm thick, and seven loops that are 0.5cm thick.

@coopuk

@coopuk Now turn all eleven of your loops inside out:

@coopuk Now it's time for the base of the carton. Simply cut down the edges of the carton to the base, then flatten it out:

@coopuk We are going to cut the sides into seven strips that are 1cm wide. Use your ruler and pencil to help you mark it out:

@coopuk Then turn this piece over, we're about to get ready to weave!

@coopuk Going around the base, bend EVERY OTHER strip in towards the middle:

@coopuk Gather the strips you have bent in together. Note that sides alternate between having 4 and 3 strips lying flat:

@coopuk Now this a little bit fiddly. Get one of your 1cm thick loops and thread it over the strips you are holding. Push this loop down towards the base:

@coopuk To secure the loop, take a strip that is BEHIND the loop, fold it over and give it a PINCH:

@coopuk Now take a strip that is IN FRONT of the loop, fold it BACK towards the base and give it a PINCH:

@coopuk Repeat these last two steps all the way around, folding and pinching all the strips over the loop:

@coopuk Now to add the next loop. This time we're using the first thinner 0.5cm loop:

@coopuk Secure this loop by folding and pinching the strips as we did with the first loop, going all the way around:

@coopuk Continue to build up the height of the basket by adding loops, alternating between thick and thin loops. STOP when you have added the fourth and last thick loop. You should have four thin loops remaining:

@coopuk Now we are going to do the handles. Turn your basket so that a side with THREE strips folded INWARDS is facing you. Bend the two OUTER strips towards you. Thread the left strip through one of your thin loops:

@coopuk Tightly twist the thin loop and then thread it on the strip on the right:

@coopuk Repeat the last few steps to create the second handle on the opposite side of the basket:

@coopuk Now simply weave in the last two thin loops using the fold and pinch technique to get the basket to its final height:

@coopuk In a moment we're going to be folding the strips over into the basket, and tucking them under a loop to secure them. To make this easier we need to trim the ends of the strips like so:

@coopuk To secure the top loop of the basket, fold the strip over into the basket, then tuck it under a woven loop:

@coopuk You should be able to pull it tight. Then you can trim the end off:

@coopuk Go around the basket securing all of the strips that fold OVER the top loop first:

@coopuk Then go around securing the remaining strips. You will see that these strips tuck under the thinner loop and function to secure the layer that's under the top loop:

@coopuk Job done! 😀What are you going to use your basket for?

@coopuk Some Tetra Pak cartons are lined with aluminium foil, which enables you to create a basket with a bit of shine:

@coopuk You could combine different types of carton too:

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