Weaving baskets and other interior items from newspaper tubes: master classes, video instructions

Weaving using unusual materials

Weaving artisans have existed at all times, making useful household utensils and beautiful home decorating accessories..

Newspapers and catalogs, magazines and even ordinary office paper are suitable for weaving and creating extraordinary products with original, simple or intricate designs..

Newspaper material is easy to process and you do not have to make titanic efforts for the creative process. This provides opportunities for involving children in the process, which guarantees the improvement of their practical skills and abilities, expansion of abilities and creativity..

Weaving types:

Layer-by-layer – racks are made that go around two working tubes, with one passing under them, and the second on top.
Spiral – a base is made and through it in a clear sequence, tubes are threaded and built up in a continuous row.

The paper weaving technique is becoming very popular.

A small basket of scrap materials
Rope – the tubes are intertwined with the racks and among themselves.

How to prepare a vine from newspapers?

Before starting weaving, you need to prepare the base – the tubes. More experienced craftsmen use thicker paper from magazine covers, but for children it is better to make tubes from ordinary newspapers.

To make the tubes you will need:

old newspapers;
thin knitting needle or wooden stick;
glue;
scissors;
ruler.

It is most convenient to make tubes from newspapers on the floor, placing something solid under the newspaper..

Step-by-step instruction:

We lay out the newspaper and, putting a ruler perpendicular to the long side of the newspaper, make marks every 9 cm and cut the newspaper into strips.
We put a knitting needle or stick on the corner of the newspaper strip at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees and wind the newspaper around the knitting needle. The density of the future newspaper tube depends on the angle. If you need more dense tubes that can be used for the base of the product, then the angle should be 45 degrees. If you need more flexible tubes for decorating the product, then lay the knitting needle on the paper at an angle of 60 degrees.
At the end of winding, drip glue onto the remaining corner and glue the edge. So the tube will not unwind.
We take out the stick from the tube.

You can paint tubes from newspapers before starting work or when the product is already ready. To give the color of a natural vine, stains are used, for painting in brighter colors – ordinary gouache mixed with PVA glue.

Another option:

We cut strips about 10 x 30 cm in size.Each workpiece must be twisted into a tube: for this we take a thin knitting needle, put it at an acute angle and wind a cut piece of paper on it.

Advice! You can cut with scissors, but it is much more convenient to use a clerical knife..

At the same time, we use glue, coating the tip of the workpiece with it so that it does not unwind. In the process of making twists, you need to pay attention to an important point: one end should be wider than the other, so that it is possible to lengthen the ends and form the tube correctly.

Strip markings

Cutting strips

Important! The tubes must be twisted as tightly as possible – this ensures durability. If the material is hollow, the basket will soon fail..

There is another simpler option: the tubes do not need to be twisted, they are folded finely along many times to make the semblance of thick ribbons of the same width. Further, you can make braid from them – this is an excellent basis for the bottom and walls. This method is easier to twist, but it looks no less original..

What else is needed?

In order to make wicker baskets from newspapers, you first need to collect the necessary material. For the production of the main raw material – straws – not only a stock of newspapers is useful. You will have to stock up on glue stick or PVA in liquid form, with a long knitting needle, scissors. Newspapers can be easily replaced with any other paper – office, fax, magazine pages or booklets.

The creation of tube blanks is carried out according to a certain scheme..

The sheets are cut into strips 4-6 cm wide.The thicker the paper, the narrower they will be.
The first strip is applied to the knitting needle. The length of the tube is determined by the sharpness of the joint angle – the smaller it is, the greater this indicator will be. No adhesive bonding is required here. If done correctly, the tube will not unwind after being removed from the base..
Newspaper or paper is wrapped around a knitting needle. It is wound as tightly as possible in a spiral from base to edge. Hold the free end of the material while twisting.
The end – the triangular edge of the newspaper – is smeared with glue. After that, the tube is wound to the end..
The finished product is carefully removed from the spoke.

The number of blanks is determined by the size and complexity of the product. It takes a lot of time to prepare the material, but the result is worth it. Wait until the glue is completely dry before use..

Detailed master class for beginners

The main weaving technique from newspaper tubes is rope. With its help, you can make simple products in the form of a circle or square with your own hands step by step. For a product about 14 cm in diameter, from 40 to 50 separate tubes are harvested, it is better to have a margin in case of marriage.

Here is the order of work.

Formation of the base. Eight tubes are folded crosswise, 4 pieces each horizontally and vertically. It is coated with glue. This will give the bottom more strength..
Weaving the bottom. The first tube is folded in half in a loop, put on over 4 base elements. Further, the rope technique is used. The front elements are retracted, and those that were on the back side are retracted to the front. The actions are repeated, if necessary, performing a build-up with the placement of a continuation in the hole of the previous tube.
From the 3rd row, the bottom is woven not through 4, but through 2 tubes. From the 5th – through 1, already to the required diameter. As soon as the desired size is obtained, the remaining blanks are folded inward, the excess length is cut off. The bottom is coated with glue, fixed with clothespins at the end of weaving, dries.
The rise of the walls. Tubes are inserted into the bent guides, guided vertically. They are also twisted in a loop, weaving begins in rows to the desired height using the same rope technique. To maintain its shape, a glass jar of the desired diameter is placed on the bottom during operation. At the end of the weaving, the ends of the tubes are bent inward, the excess is cut off, everything is fixed with glue.
Handle forming. For her, 3 vertical tube racks are left in the sides of the basket. Weaving is carried out using a rope technique immediately from 2 sides to the center. At the top, the tubes are connected with adhesive tape, masked under the base.
Finishing. If unpainted material was used, it is necessary to apply the composition at the end of weaving. The decor is made from acrylic paint, glue and water, applied with a brush or spray gun – first along the outer walls, then from the bottom. After drying, you can apply varnish, decorate the product with ornaments, ribbons, appliques, decorate using decoupage technique.

Detailed instructions will help everyone to master not only the weaving of the bottom or the handle, but also will allow you to finish the edge beautifully and neatly..

It can also be used in the manufacture of baskets with a lid. For them, the box itself is left without a handle, and for an additional detail, an openwork or checkerboard weaving technique is chosen. However, the rope method is also suitable..

In this case, the step-by-step execution technique will include several actions..

Glue 2 circles of cardboard of the corresponding diameter with glue. Place inside in a circle, rays, newspaper tubes.
Start braiding by inserting 4 base twigs. They are placed through 1 beam. They are carried out over the tube, then under the next one. It is necessary to achieve the formation of a beautiful wicker border along the contour of the cardboard circle.
Form the sides. They are made by attaching the lid blank to the basket. Tubes are bent right along it, then weaving continues in a new plane. Enough 1-2 cm wide to get a border. At the end of the weaving, the ends are folded inward, trimmed and fixed.

Considering these recommendations, you can easily make a beautiful lid for a rounded basket of the appropriate diameter. Decorating is optional. You can fix the result with transparent or tinted acrylic varnish..

How to weave different baskets?

Weaving decorative or functional baskets from paper and newspaper tubes today is performed not only using traditional rope techniques, but also using other techniques. They are easily combined with different shapes and patterns, allow you to form products with lids and handles in stages..

Simple small baskets can be called rather handicrafts – they are suitable for storing knitting accessories, sweets, and other little things. Large twisted products with complex patterns – beautiful, original – can be used for more utilitarian purposes. The choice of shape and size is a matter of taste for the owner himself, but the order of weaving baskets from the newspaper is best observed strictly.

The application of different techniques in practice is worth considering in more detail..

Moreover, with their help, real masterpieces are easily created..

For linen

The main difficulty in the manufacture of large-format products lies in the large volumes of harvested materials. This takes a significant amount of time. For the frame, you will need thick cardboard, wallpaper for pasting. The tubes are pre-painted, it is also worth picking up a template – the product according to which the laundry basket will be formed.

Let’s analyze the procedure.

The future bottom is cut out of cardboard.
Pasted over with selected wallpaper or textiles.
Holes are made along the perimeter along the diameter of the tubes with the same pitch. The material is inserted into the bottom, bent on the reverse side, glued, covered with a second layer of cardboard. The structure is fixed with clothespins during drying..
The walls are weaving. The tubes, arranged vertically, are intertwined in layers, several pieces at a time, bent and pulled again in the same direction. It is better to install a box or bucket inside, depending on the shape of the finished product. When weaving, the tubes are wound behind the base, then brought out in front of it, achieving a connection resembling a chintz cloth.

Once the basics are complete, handles can be made. For this, lifting rows are formed on the sides, and then they are fixed with an adhesive composition, they are hidden inside. If unpainted tubes are used, they are coated on the outside with acrylic paint, varnish.

For fruit

The simplest and smallest newspaper tube products are created for the kitchen. Here, a paper fruit bowl can easily replace a metal or wooden one. The bottom is easiest to weave using a rope technique, but the sides are made more openwork. It is better to pre-paint the tubes with a mixture of color, 2 tbsp. l. acrylic varnish and 0.5 liters of water. You will need 310 blanks of 270 mm long.

This is the order of weaving.

Form a crosspiece of 12 tubes, in groups of 3 each.
Braid 6 rows. Then go to wrap around each twist. Continue working to the desired diameter.
Place 3 additional tubes in each hole made earlier. Continue braiding with a rise to form the beads, placing a round object inside for a clearer outline. Use a layered weaving method, grabbing 2-4 rods. In the center, create a diamond-shaped pattern by simply connecting the tubes crosswise. Then build up new elements, continue working.

The fruit bowl can be left without a handle. If it is necessary, you can build it up, as in a master class for rope technique.

Fishnet

This technique is considered to be the most difficult, but interesting. It is better to immediately take tubes of two different shades – bright for the pattern, traditional for the base. The bottom is braided using a conventional rope technique to the desired diameter. Then the tubes are bent up, a template is inserted inside for more accurate shape keeping. We list the next steps of the master class.

Weaving in the technique of straight and reverse herringbone for 2 rows. The first tube goes behind the counter, the second is held in front of it.
The third and fourth row are formed with the introduction of a new shade.
A pattern is forming. The painted tube is bent in a spiral into an oval, inserted between the uprights so that the adjacent elements form a heart. Each decorative piece is glued to the uprights.
Tubes of base color are introduced. The basket is woven to the desired height.

It remains to fix the ends of the product along the top with glue, bending them inward. Then you can apply acrylic varnish, securing the result..

Square

This option involves using a cardboard base for the bottom. The sheet is folded in half, holes are made along its side at the bend with a hole punch, stepping back 2 cm. The number should correspond to the number of twists used, they are threaded inside. The technique resembles working with straws, so it is better to flatten the tubes themselves. Then the sticks are connected, first braiding the bottom to the desired size, fix.

The sides are formed by inserting new twists into the holes along the perimeter of the square. They are bent, fixing on the existing tubes. Secure with glue or clothespins and duct tape. Then the walls are woven to the very top.

Oval

It is somewhat different from the round one in execution. The crosspiece here is made with double transverse twists and single longitudinal ones. So the first 2 rows of the bottom are braided, the remaining 9 are formed sequentially, through 1 tube. Then twists are added according to the number of future vertical racks, the work continues until the desired diameter is reached.

An oval template made of cardboard or plywood is inserted into the bottom, the walls are woven along it vertically.

Rectangular

Weaving is performed by analogy with a square, a cardboard box is taken to create the shape.

Checkerboard pattern

This pattern looks very decorative. It can be formed using rope weaving with alternating colors or layering, with gaps. The bottom is made by analogy with a simple square or rectangle. Then the sides are formed in 5-10 rows. After that, checkerboard weaving is performed using 1 tube for 2 supports, with alternating gaps.

A checkerboard pattern can be formed from several colors. But even in a monochromatic version, it looks very decorative..

Another master class: a round basket of tubes

The wooden handle looks very interesting

What is important to know:

The distance between the posts, if a small basket is conceived, should be no more than 2 cm, otherwise the structure will be wobbly and fragile.
When you process the joints, the tubes should be cut at an acute angle, then you need to drip the glue and insert into each other so that the glue is inside, and not outside..
If you accidentally overdo it and the twists come out too tight and do not bend very well, refusing to take the desired shape, you can wet them with a spray bottle and place them in a plastic bag. Then take out of the bag one at a time and weave the basket. When moist, they will become pliable again, and after drying they will be strong again..
If you need more strength, you should use glossy magazines made of thick coated paper for twisting. However, be prepared for the fact that such tubes are more difficult to stain later..
The best straws are obtained from the cash register, but they are not cheap..

Sometimes plain sheets of printer paper are better than newspapers because they lack type..
For connecting working tubes, PVA glue is best suited. You will need a lot of it, so it makes sense to purchase it in a large capacity – this way it will cost less.
It is better not to use glue with instant drying, because this way you will not have time to correct the structure and it will not save the integrity in case of accidental deformation.
If you dyed the tubes before weaving and they became brittle, you can sprinkle them with water – this will save the situation..
It is best to make a primer from a mixture of PVA and water, plus add a little varnish there – this will improve resistance to water.
You can paint the basket from paint in cylinders – this way it lays down more evenly.

Products made of colored tubes look very impressive

Decorative paper basket

A handmade picture from newspaper tubes is not just a creative work for the home. It can be a great gift for friends and parents, as well as a business idea. Professionalism comes with experience, and, perhaps, a simple hand-made will subsequently bring considerable income, and your new job, in addition to money, will give pleasure, which serves as the basis for harmony in life!

Stages of work:

We start from the bottom. We take ten tubes, cross them – two pairs vertically and three in a horizontal position – and weave the eleventh worker in a circle. It is folded in half, one end goes from below, the second goes on top, then, on the contrary, in this way we weave 2 rows. When the working tube ends, it must be lengthened – for this, a new one must be inserted into the previous one, and you can continue to weave.
Having finished two rows, we bend the ends of the tubes to the center, weave 4 more rows, directing the tubes from the center.
Then you can insert large wooden beads, stringing them on vertical tubes, then weave several rows again.

DIY paper decor
We cut off the unnecessary ends and tuck inward with a knitting needle, forming an edging.
Before removing the excess, it is worth leaving three tubes opposite each other for the pen, if it was planned. They are connected to each other and braided with another twist..
Next, paint the finished basket, dry and varnish. As a decoration, you can use the decoupage technique and apply a drawing.

Advice! If in the process of weaving the walls you cannot cope with the abundance of protruding tubes that constantly unwind, you can temporarily fix them with clothespins.

Any box with edges of the same height is taken as a basis. We turn it upside down, superglue it at a distance of 4-5 cm to the bottom of the tube, creating a semblance of racks. Turn the bottom down, direct the tube racks up.

Advice! So that they do not move, you can secure them with an elastic band..

We make the first row by simple weaving, starting each “rack” after the next, then glue a new tube to the bottom, threading it over the vertical ones and under them, alternating the sequence. We continue the process until the walls of the twists reach the edge of the base box. We fix the ends with glue, cut off the excess, tuck the tails with a knitting needle inside.

The appearance of the craft largely depends on how the top edge looks. The first step is to remove the tips of the working tubes by carefully tucking them into the intertwined tubes. It is convenient to use a crochet hook, knitting needle or skewers for this. The part is pressed tightly, the excess is cut off. Glue can also be used for a firm hold.

About primer and painting

The finished basket must be primed in several layers with waterproof paint or PVA glue, which will have to be slightly diluted with water. Apply with a thick-bristled brush. After priming, the product must dry, then only the outer side is painted. The paint is also applied several times, the basket is dried again, then varnished.

Advice! You can also use wood stain – then the color of your creation will be as close as possible to a natural vine.

Wicker painting

On a note! The primer can be carried out in another way – do not paint the finished product, but immediately give color to the tubes and weave from the finished material.

Blank tinting

Many needlewomen use pages of colored glossy magazines instead of a newspaper, then the basket acquires its charm, like a patchwork quilt, and resembles an ethnic style..

Design options

Basket of paper twine

Having mastered the basics of weaving, you can experiment and learn new ways of weaving and various auxiliary materials. For example, weaving with a pigtail or using the effect of vertical voids, with which the basket looks more airy. Subsequently, satin ribbons can be woven into these gaps and bows can be tied..

Ideas! In bread baskets, where handles are not planned, you can sew unusual inserts and lay them inward, wrapping the edges. The perimeter can be decorated with lace.

Painting boxes with acrylic paint

Tinting paper tubes in the color of a natural vine

Photo of square baskets made of tubes

Decorative serving tray

The classical method: we cut out two squares from cardboard, glue to the first piece of the tube around the entire perimeter, glue the second piece of cardboard on top, this will ensure a secure fixation. We glue a new tube around the perimeter and weave the walls in a simple weaving method.

Important! We bend all the glued parts upwards, and if necessary, fix them with clothespins and lengthen them in the process, inserting the working tubes one into the other. When the walls reach the desired length, the excess parts are removed and the needle is tucked in..

Products from paper tubes in a marine style

Ideas for creating unusual crafts from newspaper tubes

Wicker crafts look great and decorate the house, after coating the products with varnish, it is easy to increase their wear resistance. Using different techniques and combining them with each other, choosing a variety of ideas and putting them into practice, you can make a huge variety of practical and aesthetic crafts or decorative elements.

Interior decor

To decorate your own home and emphasize a stylish interior solution, you can use the following ideas for weaving from newspaper tubes:

design of frames for photographs or paintings;
compositions of flowers and geometric shapes;
framing for souvenir plates and dishes.

Exquisite and delicate weaving can be combined with concentric decorative ornaments in the form of circles or curls made from tubes.

Useful products

You can replace plastic or fragile glass household items with those that are woven using different technologies from tubes crowded from magazines and newspapers:

bread bins and candy boxes, vases for dried flowers;
baskets and boxes for storing small items or linen;
stands for stationery and tools.

It is easy to weave lampshades for lamps and table lamps from tubes, pick up ideas for original gift boxes or holiday decorations.

Large laundry baskets and magazine racks, gift boxes, and holiday decorations are easy to make from rolled tubes. Such material surpasses vine or rattan in terms of cheapness and ease of processing, and products from it are simply magnificent..

It is very easy to master weaving from newspaper tubes, the master class will help novice craftsmen to acquire skills and improve them for the manufacture of complex products.

Newspaper tube candlesticks

Candlesticks-stars made from newspaper tubes, which can be made from both wood-colored tubes and paper tubes of bright colors, can become a decoration of the house..

What is necessary:

newspaper tubes;
glue;
several clothespins.

Step-by-step instruction:

We lay out the tubes as in the photo.
Gradually weave the star, fastening the folds and intersections with clothespins.
When the structure holds, then the clothespins can be removed and continue to work.
Leave the hole for the candle inside, and fix the edges.
We decorate the candlestick at will – beads, sparkles, etc..

Weaving from tubes of crafts for children

Let’s introduce children to tubule looping. Here we will learn how to make simple and interesting crafts..

Spider

You can also make a funny spider from newspaper tubes..

For this you will need:

newspaper tubes;
glue;
stapler;
scissors;
felt-tip pen;
black gouache.

Instructions:

We connect two tubes of different lengths (20 and 30 cm) with a stapler 3-4 cm from the edge and turn them into a spiral.
We glue 6 legs and bend them in the shape of a spider’s paws.
Draw eyes on paper and glue.

Hedgehog

From pre-painted newspaper tubes, you can make small crafts – animal figurines.

For a hedgehog you need to prepare:

8 tubes – 4 light and 4 dark;
glue.

How to do:

We fold the light tube in the shape of a drop and glue the ends. It turns out a blank – a torso and a muzzle. We put the second light tube on top so that its tip becomes a tail.
We braid the body with a figure eight with the long end of the second tube: bend it back, circle it around the base on one side of the tail, pass it through the middle of the body, circle it around the base on the other side of the tail, etc. During work, it is necessary to ensure that the body retains the shape of a drop.
We leave the hedgehog’s muzzle unbraided. We fix the working newspaper tube with glue.

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We wrap the tip of the muzzle with a piece of dark tube so that we get a nose, and fix it with glue.
For the eye, we turn a small segment of a dark tube into a spiral and glue it.
From short tubes folded in half, we make the legs of a hedgehog, threading them between the turns.
By the same principle, we make the needles of a hedgehog, cutting off the edges of the tubes at an angle.

Owl

To make an owlet you need:

7 tubes – 5 dark and 2 light;
glue.

How to make an owlet:

See also: DIY frog costume for a girl and a boy

The ends of two light-colored tubes must be flattened, twisted in a spiral and secured with glue.
We put a dark tube bent in an arc over the eyes, and above it another tube, with the ends glued to the middle.
We put the working third dark tube from below, as in the photo.
We begin to braid the body of the owlet using the “swaddling” method, passing either the right or the left end of the tube through the middle.
Having completed two rows in this way, we set aside the wings-loops and continue to work until the body reaches the required length.
We glue the ends of the tubes on the back of the product.
Light tubules-paws must be cut obliquely, and from the remnants to make ears-tassels of an owlet. From scraps of dark tubes we make a beak and glue it to the owlet.

Wicker bookmark

1. As the basis of the rug, take a sheet of A5 format. We need to make slots in this sheet. You can do it by eye. And to get a smoother product, draw at the same distance under the line ruler.

2. Fold the sheet in half and make cuts with scissors along the marked lines.

3. Cut the stripes of the same width in a different color from the rug.

4. And thread the yellow stripes through the slots in a checkerboard pattern.

5. To prevent the edges from sticking out, fix them with glue..

6. The colored paper rug is ready. And you will surely succeed!

7. It can be made in different sizes and colors..

8. Not only rugs can be made with this weaving technique. For example, a bookmark for books. And here you can find out how to make a bookmark from cardboard using a different technique.

Colors and patterns in weaving may vary.

Children of senior school age can be invited to make a whole picture using the weaving technique from paper. For example, a tree and a hedgehog in the forest or multi-storey buildings with windows. Stretched stripes will imitate the windows. Or you can weave a larger carpet using a more complex pattern..

DIY ideas

Using a homemade paper vine, you can make a lot of original products, from children’s themed crafts to various souvenirs and household items..

It is easy to form a house and wattle from twigs, a frame for a mirror or a photograph, a wall panel.

Convenient boxes and baskets for storing various little things, created by yourself, will effectively complement your home interior.

It is easy to weave an unusual vase, flowerpot, decorative tray or plate from a painted rod..

Often they make decorative baskets, various containers, and also weave balls, mushrooms, doll furniture, hearts, flowers and New Year’s crafts..

With the help of a creative approach from old newspapers, it is easy to make many interesting products..

Photo of the idea of products from newspaper tubes

Magic Christmas trees made of paper snowflakes

Graceful paper snowflakes look impressive not only on windows and walls. We offer to build original Christmas trees from them. A composition of several trees will look especially attractive (see photo below). Take thin but sturdy sticks and put paper snowflakes on them. Please note that the lower tier is made with a larger diameter, gradually decreasing towards the upper. Take care in advance of the base into which the sticks will stick. A styrofoam sheet will do..

We make a tree from origami modules according to the scheme

One of the options for making a Christmas tree is to make it using the origami technique. Of course, this option is somewhat more complicated than all those described earlier, but the result is very impressive..

First you need to make modules. To do this, use the following scheme.

Such modules for a Christmas tree with a height of 20 cm need to be made about 650 pieces. Made. Now we collect the branches of the Christmas tree. We fasten the modules as follows: In the first row – 2 modules, in the second – 1 module.

We collect the third row by attaching two more modules to the corners of the second row module. We insert into the pockets located nearby, as a result, the outer corners will stick out to the sides.

We collect the twig, alternating in each row first one, then two modules.

We make such branches or five or ten. The splendor of the tree depends on their number. Now we glue the branches together, forming a circle..

Several such circles must be made. Depends on the height of the tree. For the trunk, we use a wooden skewer or stick. We stick it into an eraser, plasticine, polystyrene – what is at hand.

Now we put the finished Christmas-tree circles on a skewer. Glue the first row to the base. Then each subsequent row is glued to the previous one..

Having collected the whole Christmas tree, we make decorations for it. Below is a diagram of the assembly of another version of the Christmas tree from ready-made modules.