- First you will need to determine what size you want your heart to be, and then cut it out using thick cardboard (you can print off a perfectly shaped heart online to use as your template). While you’re doing this, cut a piece of felt in the shape of your cardboard cut-out that is about a 1/4 inch smaller.
- Personally, I would lay the felt down first, before attaching the toothpicks (not shown this way in the photo). This will eventually be the bottom of the inside of your basket, and I think you will get a cleaner look this way. Choose a felt color that coordinates with your yarn, and use a thin layer of glue to attach it to the cardboard.
- Next attach toothpicks along the outer edge by inserting them into the cardboard, and then securing them with hot glue about every 1/2 inch.
- Determine your starting point, and then tie a ball of yarn to one of the toothpicks– now get to weaving! Weave the yarn in and out of the toothpicks, pushing it down every once in a while so that you have a thick, secure wall of yarn.
- Once you come to the end, cut the yarn and secure it with a dab of hot glue.
- Use ribbon or other embellishments to trim the edges. The basket shown in the picture had pearl beads placed on the toothpicks half way through weaving, which I think looks really nice!
- P.S. You can do this in any shape!
The Guider's Guild 