Sewing a Rope Bowl: How to Make the Perfect Rope Basket

Sewing a rope bowl: With my instructions, even beginners can create the perfect rope basket. In this post, I also share all my tried-and-tested tips & tricks.

Sewing a rope bowl: How to create the perfect rope basket

Recently, I showed you how I sew a cute basket for sewing supplies. In this post, it's all about baskets made from rope.

Have you caught the rope bowl fever too? These fantastic baskets made of cord and rope are so versatile! They are wonderful for storing supplies (e.g., for apples, onions, or potatoes), but they also look great in the bathroom or as a decorative basket filled with rattan balls or other pretty items.

Of course, rope bowls are also perfect as bread baskets!

Incidentally, they can also be used as a great plant pot cover for a stylish boho look.

Buying rope, cord, and materials

What can you use to sew these versatile baskets? Here, too, there are no limits to your imagination. It mainly depends on what you want to use the rope basket for.

Tip no. 1: The larger the planned basket, the firmer the cord should be. The softer the material, the more flexible (but also less stable) the finished basket will be.

For a beautiful, stable, and shape-retaining basket, I recommend cotton rope^* with a diameter of 5 - 6 mm. It is nice and natural, has a great grip, and doesn't tangle easily. Especially for beginners, cotton rope is a great way to sew beautiful rope bowls.

Also, macramé yarn^* is perfectly suitable as a material for rope baskets. It is stable and available in many great colors and material compositions, e.g., cotton, sisal, or jute.^***

Hemp rope^* is a good alternative to cotton. It is somewhat softer than sisal and doesn't fray as much. In the finished basket, the fibers lie neatly against each other and do not stand out. Although, for a rustic look, that can also have its charm.

For beginners, knitted cotton rope^* is very suitable. Like the macramé yarn above, this is also available in eco-quality (which I think is an important criterion for contact with food).

^*****

What you should avoid as much as possible are cords and ropes made of plastic/synthetic materials. They will dull your needle very quickly. And we don't even need to discuss what they do to the environment, right?

If you're going to put in the effort to sew beautiful baskets, you should use long-lasting, natural materials whenever possible, right? ;)

Which sewing thread for a rope bowl?

I sew my rope baskets with Gütermann all-purpose thread.^* By the way, it also looks great if you sew white or light-colored rope with popping bright colors^*!

Which needle for a rope basket?

A jeans needle^* is best for creating cord baskets. Alternatively, you can also use a leather needle.

Tip no. 2: It is important that you replace the needle immediately if the machine no longer produces zigzag stitches but shows sporadic straight stitches. That means the needle is bent or worn out.

Can you wash rope bowls?

That depends on the material used. If you use cotton ropes^*, like I do—for example, those from Bobbiny—then your rope basket is not machine-washable, but it is hand-washable.

The rope basket should be shaped and dried while damp. However, you should not put it in the tumble dryer because it could get damaged or lose its shape there.

What you need for sewing

• Ruler^*
• Sewing thread^*
• several filled bobbins^*
• Jeans needle^*
• Sewing machine or overlock
• long, strong pins^*
• Fabric scissors^* (there are the fantastic Gingher, which I found in the USA, now also available in good old Germany...)
• Fabric clips (highly recommended: Fabric clip mixture with 4 different shapes^*)
• possibly a piece of leather, cork, or Releda as a label
• possibly colorful boho-style ribbons^*
• possibly decor to glue on
• possibly fabric glue stick^*

I got myself a few spare bobbins; they were due anyway. Convenient that they were already filled! :)

Even more tips for rope bowl problems?

Problem: The base is arching, even though it should stay flat

• Did you pull the cord too hard? Let the rope glide loosely along your finger; try not to hold it tight at all.
• Zigzag stitch too narrow?
• Thread too fine?
• Presser foot pressure too high?
• If necessary, use a walking foot
• Sew more slowly; if necessary, reduce the sewing speed of your sewing machine (my Janome^* has a slider for this)

Problem: I want to sew a large rope basket, but the edge won't arch!

• The larger the basket, the longer it takes for the arch to form
• Work with steady, even tension on the rope
• Hold the base at a 90-degree angle and continue sewing with tension
• Wear quilting gloves^* with silicone grips while sewing; this gives you more grip, especially with large baskets!

Problem: My rope basket is so boring in solid colors

• Instead of white, sew the rope basket together with colorful sewing thread
• Use fabric scraps for sewing: Cut narrow strips for this—ideally diagonally, so the strip hugs the cord well—and wrap them around the rope
• Please only use thin woven fabric scraps, otherwise the cord will become too thick and the basket uneven

Problem: My needle breaks when sewing over the coil

• Do not use pins on the coil, but use a bit of glue instead (e.g., textile glue^*) and secure the coil with large fabric clips^*
• Use the black leveling button on the presser foot to compensate (see above)
• Sew with the handwheel
• If necessary, sew with a jeans or leather needle
• Using a titanium needle^* also yields good results

Problem: My rope has run out and I need to start a new one

• Wrap the end piece and the beginning with washi tape.
• Cut the ends diagonally at the same angle so the cut surfaces fit together well
• Place them against each other while you continue sewing and join both ends together with the zigzag stitch
• After another round, you can remove the washi tape with tweezers
• Alternative: You can also cut the ends straight and wrap them with a decorative fabric strip that you have previously coated with a little fabric glue
• Let it dry well before continuing to sew

Problem: I want to sew rope placemats, how do I do that?

• For this, you actually just need to sew a base
• It is important that you have a support surface large enough for the placemat to lie truly flat
• If you don't have a large extension table^* for your sewing machine (I really recommend getting an extension table in the long run - it is so much more relaxing to sew on a large surface, especially when quilting and making large bags, pillows, garments, etc.), you can also help yourself by stacking a pile of large-format books around the sewing table of your machine until you have a large surface

Problem: My needle is skipping stitches and sewing straight stitches despite the zigzag setting

• It's time to change the needle: When sewing a rope bowl, the needle wears out faster than with other sewing projects
• Use a stronger needle (jeans or leather)
• Loosen the thread tension
• Use a stronger thread, e.g., jeans thread^*

^*

Problem: My bobbin is constantly empty

• Wind several bobbins in preparation for sewing the basket
• Use the same thread that you use as the top thread
• Choose a slightly narrower zigzag stitch, that saves thread

Problem: What do I need to keep in mind if I want to sew a rope bowl from fabric scraps?

• Use a rather loose rope, not a very firm cotton rope
• It's best to cut the fabric strips on the bias to the grain, so they can be wrapped around the rope better
• Use temporary glue to tack the fabric strips to the rope during sewing
• Make sure that several layers of fabric are not wrapped on top of each other, as the needle could break otherwise
• Orient yourself more by the color of the fabric strips than the pattern: In the finished bowl, the patterns don't stand out as well, but the colors definitely do
• Do not use fabrics that fray too much
• Use lightweight woven fabric without spandex content
• The strips should not be wider than 1.5 - 2 cm
• Let the fabric strips overlap by approx. 1 cm when you want to change colors and fix the ends with a glue stick^*
• For sewing with fabric strips, use, for example, a very simple old-fashioned clothesline^*; it doesn't have to be a super-fancy macramé rope!
• For a surprise effect, you can also wrap the rope at intervals of your choice while winding with fabric strips that you have previously coated with a little Mod Podge Textile^*; this helps the fabric adhere well to the rope
• Then sew as usual

Rope bowls and stones, driftwood, plants, and other natural materials are good friends. Together, they create a decoration with a beautiful natural look.

Problem: Can I stop sewing the basket?

• Sure, take a break in between, sewing can be tiring because you are always stuck in one position!
• Secure the seam by locking it
• Tack a few centimeters of rope to the sewn coil
• Now you can take a little break with a clear conscience, you've earned it. :)

Problem: My rope bowl still has open spots, what should I do?

• You can easily sew over it again, that's no problem!
• To do this, push the two sides next to the hole together and close the hole with a zigzag stitch

Problem: How can I sew a handle onto the rope bowl?

• Mark an opening of approx. 10 - 12 cm about 3 - 4 rounds before finishing the rope basket
• Leave this 12 cm open while sewing.
• Also mark an opening on the opposite side: The two handles should be exactly opposite each other
• Leave this 12 cm unsewn here as well
• Sew back and forth several times on the sides of the handles with a zigzag stitch so the handle doesn't tear out
• Continue sewing for another 3 - 4 rounds

Problem: How can I turn the rope bowl into an Easter basket?

• By making two approx. 12 cm long loops with 3 cm spacing during the last round and fixing them well with a zigzag stitch.

You will find: It is incredibly fun to sew these beautiful baskets yourself. Sewing has an almost meditative character. And over time, you develop a feel for what the sewing machine can handle well and where it might be finicky. :)

So, now the rope bowl virus can take hold!

Happy simple sewing,

yours, Sabine

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