Crochet Wicker-look Wire Basket

I had some broken wired items that I was throwing away and I thought it would be neat to knit with the wire, instead of just trashing it. After preparing all the wire I realized crocheting might be an easier way to try my first attempt. I was considering making a bag or water bottle sling, but the wire was slightly stiffer than I would have liked for those items, so I settled on trying to make a basket. Also, the wire gives the finished piece a bit of a wicker look so I thought a basket suited the project well.

Crochet hook (I used size 7mm)

Wire cutters/strippers - I highly recommend these...NOT the ones pictured above... https://amzn.to/3kiCLUA

Scissors

Tape (preferably electrical tape the same color as your wire-I used clear tape since that's all I had but electrical tape would be much better).

Old wire (I needed approximately 130 feet or 40 meters for this project, but it depends on how big you want to make your basket).

Please note: It is assumed you know how to crochet for this instructable. If you need to learn how to crochet first there are several instructables teaching this skill.

Ideas for where to find appropriate used wire: speaker wire, old landline telephone wire, chargers (for cellphones, laptops, keyboards, computer mice), old heating pad wires, old lamp wires, wires from speakers, headphones and stereo systems, etc etc. The idea is to use wire that is sturdy enough to hold its shape but pliable enough to be crocheted. Cylindrical wire is best, but some "flat" wire can be made cylindrical as shown in next step.

Flat wire needs to be split. If you snip the end with scissors, it should easily pull apart. I wound it into rolls to make it less likely to tangle and easier to use.

Strip approximately 1 inch from end of wire. Make a circle about 1 1/2 inches across and wrap bare wire around to hold it in place.

Stitch glossary: Ch=chain. Sl st=slip stitch. SC=single crochet. St=stitch.

Begin crocheting as follows:

Make a sl st in circle and ch 1 (This counts as first st). Make 7 sc in circle. Make one sl st in first st.

When you come to the end of one wire, you need to attach another to continue crocheting. To do so strip about an inch off of the end of both wires and splice them together. Wrap with tape.

Continue crocheting as follows:

Round 1: 2 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Rounds 2 and 3: Repeat round 1.

Rounds 4 and 5: 1 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Round 6: 2 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

Rounds 7 until basket is desired size: 1 sc in every sc. Sl st in first st. Ch 1.

At this point you can stop and not put on a handle. The basket is wirey so you can shape it into a bowl if you want but I think it looks better as a basket. (If making a bowl, skip to step 8).

Crochet handle as follows: Ch 34. Attach ch to other side of basket so the handle is at the center point of the basket.

Sl st in next sc over on basket. Turn and work 1 sc in each chain on handle.

Sl st into sc beside beginning of handle.

Feed wire through inside loops:

Insert end of wire through loops inside basket (I stripped the end to make this step easier to see, but you will likely find it easier to feed it through if the end isn't stripped).

Tighten wire by pulling it through the loops and snip end closely to the inside of basket.

All done! Now pick some fruit or flowers to put in your basket (or bowl) and enjoy!