What to do with the scraps?

Remember those paper chains we all made in elementary school? They were bright, colorful and easy to make. I always have bags of scrap bits from basket weaving and they are getting too many in number. 



 So while I'm indulging in  Midsomer Murders (not the inspiration for the holiday cheer) I've been twisting these fun little chains together. Something cheerful for a foggy day in November. I think I'll work on making enough for an all reed Christmas tree. They will go with the snowflakes, reindeer and birds I've made other years. Oh, and these little guys are great for using up bits of reed too.                                                                                                                                                               

 
  
 For the basket weavers with scraps...to make the star - start with 6 or 7 inch pieces of  #6 and split each one to one side of the center and insert the next "stick" to create the overlap. Once you have the 5 pieces of #6 connected together start weaving at the point of the star with #3 tucking the end along the inside of the sticks. Weave each one individually from the point down towards the center and then on the fifth point wrap the tail end of your weaver around the center of the star. You can tidy up the ends and snip those pesky hairs more than I did.  If this is clear as mud send me a note and I'll try to reorganize my thought process! :)

Cheers

Comments

Janet said…
Cute chain! Cute star! Maybe I should do the same with some of my scraps...

Thanks for the instructions! Where do you tuck the end of the weaver in?
Thanks Janet! You can tuck ends in along side the stick so they go down through the split at the center or simply trim them off against the weaving if it's packed tight. You can see one end on the left of the picture that's laying flat against the last row of weaving. Hope that helps!
Love the chain. Very cute.

Tony
Thanks! It's ridiculously simple but fun.
Piletossen said…
Very nice chain. You have so many lovely colors. I have seen a similar chain made only from red willow. That was not really my style, but I like yours. Maybe I should buy the colored cane just for shis :-)

In Denmark the midsummer murders are on late every saturday - love them.
HA! I was thinking the same thing this past weekend...making chains from scraps of reed, except I was using flat reed and gluing them. I like your idea MUCH better! And love the star! Thanks so much for sharing the instructions!
Share some pictures if you make some garland or other fun scrappy things!

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