Sewing Rope Baskets - Part 6 of 6 - Finishing the Basket

Part 6 in a series of tutorials that teach you how to sew coiled rope baskets. In this final video of the series we cover options for how to finish off your baskets.

[@DavaEsman]

I have been learning this craft from FB posts and other KZbin videos, but yours are the BEST! You are a pleasure to watch, and I'm sure my next baskets will be better (more basket, less plate!!). I'm still searching for the best video on how to add a fabric bottom. Anyway - thank you so much!

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Hi Dava! Thanks for the comment. As you know we don't currently have a video about adding fabric to the base of a rope project, but will certainly keep it in mind for the next time we do a set of videos. Cheers!

[@agovernale]

Just ordered from your shop! So excited.

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thank you @agovernale! Yay, rope!

[@sandyhearth8249]

Thank you SEW much for this series of rope basket videos. I learned a lot and feel confident I could make one. I love your “style” and your adorable giggle! ☺️😊

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thanks for those kind words, Sandy! Glad you feel inspired about the process!

[@loletaandrews9971]

Great videos.

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thank you for watching!

[@susanryan9142]

Thank You ! I would love to have your camera showing up close of you sewing. Pictures are better than a million words

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thank you for your feedback Susan. We appreciate that you took the time to watch the video, and will keep it in mind for future video projects!

[@leisa1495]

Thank you for these videos, they are very helpful and I love your humor! 😊. I have put a basket kit on my Christmas list! Could you do a video on how to add more rope if I eventually want to make a bigger basket? Thank you!

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thanks for asking, Leisa! Lots of ideas - including your excellent suggestion - for whenever we do another round of videos. We appreciate your feedback!

[@jenicecurrie4278]

Excellent info.

[@donnakeim2049]

What is the white rope in these baskets? I would like to know the correct WHITE rope to use.

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Hi Donna! Thank you for asking - all of the rope we use in this (and all) videos is our signature 3/16" 100% cotton solid braid rope, available on a spool here: www.themountainthreadcompany.com/rope/spool-of-316-100-cotton-rope-made-in-america. It is an unbleached cotton - so not bright white - but rather a natural rope. Reach out if you have any more questions or if we can help in any other way!

[@ilhamhnm]

Thanks ☺️

[@marieistre6678]

I can’t get the straight sides you get, could u make a tutorial on that please?

[@drpamhess]

Love these videos! I am new to making these rope baskets. What kind of glue gun and what kind of glue are you using to hold those coils on the sides of the baskets, please? Thanks in advance for your answer!

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Hello Pam - it's a standard hot glue gun from a craft store. I tend to prefer the "multi-temp" glue sticks as opposed to the low temp ones, but it's a mild preference. Thanks for asking!

[@susanscandles]

Am from Raleigh and visiting my brother in Deep Gap because I wanted to visit your shop. They said I had just missed you. I was so excited to see all the baskets. I LOVE them! Thank you for these great videos and sharing with us. I bought a spool of your rope and plan on making them as Christmas gifts for everyone. Couple questions: 1. Going through rope continually, does it wear down motor of your machine? I have a Babylock. 2. When you run out of road but want to make a bigger basket, how do you finish and start new rope if you didn’t get enough and have to get more rope?

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Hi Susan! Thanks for visiting The Mountain Thread Company in downtown Blowing Rock! We'll look forward to seeing you there again sometime soon! To answer your questions - you can sew baskets on a home machine - just as you would sew many things like denim, canvas, quilts, etc. on that machine. We have many customers who use their home machines for rope projects with great success. If you find yourself sewing rope multiple hours a day for multiple days out of the average week, it might be worth considering an upgrade to a commercial/industrial sewing machine. Industrial machines have only one kind of stitch (zigzag OR straight stitch) so therefore are not as versatile as home machines. They do, however, have stronger motors, as they are made for commercial applications. For joining rope, there are a few different techniques. First - if you are fabric wrapping, you could plan a strategic wrap around the end of one rope and the beginning of another. Use pins to hold the layers of rope where you want them, and slowly zigzag stitch onto the new rope. If you are not incorporating any fabrics, I'd suggest fraying both cut ends (the end of one rope and the beginning of the new rope), overlapping by about 1/4", and stitching back and forth with a 1.5mm length zigzag stitch. You can do the stitching in a neutral thread to hide the stitches or in a bold color of thread to catch the eye. Cheers! - Katherine

[@susanscandles]

Katherine. Thank you for responding so soon. Says so much about you and your company. Thank you for help and advice to my questions/concerns! I just love them and want to make some for friends Christmas gifts and then time to time. Did buy a Janome from woman at great deal because she was going back to original sewing machine co. She had, but bit intimidated by it. Thank you so much again for your help and your sharing on utube!😊

[@ilhamhnm]

Thanks, What should i do to make basket grows upright and not to expand?

[@JulieKudron]

If you angle your base to lie flat against the top side of your machine you can start a straight wall.

[@heidiwilson9454]

I do what you suggest for a straight side but it still comes out going outward. What am I doing wrong?

[@rosenardello7710]

What about embroidering a pattern?

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Sounds awesome! The Mountain Thread Company uses a rope that is about the same thickness as a few layers of denim or canvas. If you know your embroidery machine can handle it, you should be able to embroider the rope baskets!

[@juliemcculloch6328]

I found your video because i was looking for a video to show me how to sew the loop to both sides of the basket coil. Your video is no help, because you don't show us what you're doing. The camera should be on the foot so we can see what you're doing. I can read text for a description. Also you tell us to look at the basket sewn with the blue thread to see the stitches, however the camera never does a close up. You realize we can't see it from that distance, right?

[@themountainthreadcompany1704]

Thanks for your comment, Julie, and for the feedback you have shared. I hope you were able to find what you were looking for, even if it wasn't from our channel. Feel free to visit our shop in Blowing Rock NC or call to see if we can help answer your questions more specifically! We enjoy the process of learning and sharing our skills with other sewists and would be happy to connect with you if you'd like.

[@rbadall]

Can’t see what you’re sewing