Chicken Wire Baskets

Make your own baskets in a rustic, country style with inexpensive chicken wire. Find two different sizes for the chicken wire baskets. Basket projects designed by MaryJane Butters.

*Be sure to wear eye protection, and always bend over the ends of the wire after cutting to avoid sharp ends.*

Materials:

• 16-gauge utility wire
• 1" mesh poultry netting (chicken wire)
• needle-nose pliers

Instructions:

Small Basket

Bottom Ring: Cut 2 - 18" wire pieces. Form each piece of wire into a circle, overlapping ends about 1". Using pliers, clamp onto center of overlap and bend each end perpendicular to ring. Wrap each end around ring to secure wire to itself. Repeat with other wire piece. Using small pieces of wire, attach the two rings together.

Middle Ring: Cut 2 - 21" wire pieces. Repeat steps for bottom ring with the middle ring pieces.

Top Ring: Cut 2 - 38" wire pieces. Repeat steps for bottom ring with the top ring pieces.

Braces: Cut 4 - 7" straight braces for the sides. Attach at even intervals around bottom ring by twisting wire around bottom ring. Attach middle ring to top of braces in same manner. This will form a cylinder.

Handle: Cut 3 - 35" pieces. Place 3 strands together and use the middle strand to wrap the other two several times. Braid the 3 strands together loosely. Attach the two outer strands to the bottom ring on one side midway between two of the braces. Attach handle to middle ring at top with small piece of wire, then loop up for handle and attach at middle ring and bottom ring on opposite side. Taking top ring, form into an oval that will fit inside handle about 2" above the middle ring, tapering out slightly at top where it meets the handle. Attach to handle with small pieces of wire.

Chicken Wire: Place basket frame over chicken wire and cut circle 1" larger than bottom of basket. Twist wires up and around bottom ring by hand. Measure circumference of basket and cut chicken wire 1-2" larger. Fit wire around basket and crimp to itself and to bottom and middle rings. For the top ring, you're going to cut 2 halves of chicken wire to fit between top and middle rings. Place basket on top of chicken wire and cut out a half circle the size of the bottom of the basket. Cut the other side of that piece of chicken wire to fit inside half of the top ring. Repeat for other side of basket. Attach pieces to middle ring and top ring. Trim all wire and wrap ends.

Large Basket

Follow instructions for smaller basket. Use three stands on the rings instead of two, and add additional support braces.
Bottom Ring: 3 - 28" wire pieces
Middle Ring: 3 - 33" wire pieces
Top Ring: 3 - 57" wire pieces
Braces: 10 - 10" braces for sides and to attach the tapered top
ring to the middle ring.
Handle: 3 - 60" pieces

More Chicken Wire Crafts from MaryJane Butters:

Large Basket with Handle

Window Frame Blackboard