A gathering basket for flowers

    The materials needed are: 

8 spokes, 10 ins. long, of number 6 reed. 3 weavers of number 2 reed. 12 weavers of number 3 reed. 31 spokes, 20 in. long, of number 4 reed.

Directions.—­Split four spokes of number 6 reed exactly in the centre, and slip the remaining four through the slits in the first group.

[Illustration:  This is the basket made and used by Katharine.  It is a gathering basket just right for fruit and short-stemmed flowers]

Double a number 2 weaver and slip the loop over the upper vertical group and with the pairing weave go around each group four times.  Next, separate the spokes in groups of two and continue the pairing weave until four more rows have been woven in.  Then separate the spokes by ones and weave until the diameter is 4-1/2 in.

Cut all off that remains of the number 2 weaver, and insert 3 weavers of number 3 reed.  Continue with the triple weave to a diameter of 9 in.

Cut off the ends of the spokes and insert 31 spokes, 20 in. long, of number 4 reed; one on each side of the spokes, except the first; in this instance insert but one.

Use the side which has been next the weaver for the inside of the basket, letting rough ends come on the outside of the basket.  Turn the spokes up, and hold in place with one row of quadruple, weave over three spokes and back of one, using the number 3 reed.  With the same reed put in eleven rows of plain weave, over one spoke and under the next.  Next, one row of quadruple and follow with seven rows of double weave, over two and under one, and finish with one row of quadruple weave.

For the first row of the border carry number 1 spoke back to number 2 spoke, or the next spoke at the right, and out; number 2 spoke back of number 3, and out.  Continue once around the basket.

For the second row carry number 1 spoke over number 2 and 3, and down; number 2 over 3 and 4 and down, and so on around.

For the third row carry number 1 over number 2 and down; number 2 over number 3 and down.  This may be continued until you have formed a roll over the entire edge.

If handles are desired, on each side of the basket insert a piece of number 9 reed for the foundation of these.  The end of a number 3 weaver is woven in at the left of the foundation under the third row from the top of the basket, and the long end of the weaver is twisted around the foundation to the other side of the handle.  Here it is pushed down inside the basket on one side of the handle and over again on the other side of the handle, three rows from the top, making a loop inside.  The weaver is then laid close beside the first twist and follows it across to the opposite side.  Now it goes in under the third row on the left of the handle and out on the right side.  Each row of twisting must follow close beside the last.  Six or seven rows will cover the foundation.  The end is fastened off by bringing it inside the basket again where it is cut off.