Woven Storage Baskets from Recycled Newspaper Tubes

5 min read

Newspaper tubes are a free weaving material hiding in the recycling bin. Rolled tightly, they become sturdy rods that weave like reed. A storage basket woven from newspaper tubes is strong enough for yarn, toys, or pantry goods, and it costs almost nothing. This guide covers rolling tubes, weaving a base, building the walls, and finishing the basket. The project suits a beginner who has never woven before. You need old newspapers, glue, paint, and patience. The result is a basket that looks like woven reed and keeps paper out of the trash.

Rolling Newspaper Tubes

Start by cutting newspaper into strips about 8 cm wide. Stack several strips and cut them together to save time. To roll a tube, lay a thin knitting needle or a wooden skewer diagonally across one corner of a strip. Roll the paper around the needle tightly, keeping the roll even. When you reach the end, dab the corner with glue and press it down. Slide the tube off the needle. A good tube is firm and even, with a pointed end where you started and a slightly wider end where you finished. The wide end lets you join tubes by sliding one into the next. Roll at least fifty tubes before you start weaving, since a medium basket uses forty to sixty tubes. Keep the tubes in a box so they do not unroll. If a tube is loose, reroll it. Loose tubes make a floppy basket. If you want colored tubes, paint the newspaper strips before rolling, or paint the finished basket. Painting after weaving is easier and gives an even coat. Wear gloves if you paint tubes, since newsprint stains hands.

Weaving a Sturdy Base

The base decides whether the basket sits flat. Lay eight tubes side by side on a table, parallel and touching. These are the warp tubes. Weave a second set of eight tubes across them in an over-under pattern, one tube at a time. Push each weaver tube snug against the previous one. The base should form a square of about 20 cm. Check that the corners are square by measuring the diagonals. If one diagonal is longer, push the base into shape before you continue. To keep the base firm, weave two rounds of tubes around the edge, then fold the warp tubes upward to start the walls. Folding the warp up is the key move in basket weaving. Bend each warp tube up at a right angle, using your fingers to make a crisp fold. If a warp tube breaks, splice in a new tube by sliding it into the broken end and gluing the join. The base should feel stiff when you lift it. If it flexes, add another round of weaving. A firm base makes a basket that holds its shape when full.

Building the Walls and Rim

Weave the walls with the same over-under pattern, working around the basket in a spiral. Use one long weaver tube at a time, joining new tubes by sliding them into the old ones. Keep the weave tight and even. Push each round down onto the previous round with your fingers. If the walls lean outward, pull the warp tubes inward slightly as you weave. If the walls pull inward, ease the tension. The basket should grow straight up, not flare or narrow. For a taller basket, keep weaving until the walls reach the height you want, usually 20 to 25 cm for a storage basket. To finish the rim, fold each warp tube over the last woven round and tuck it behind the next warp tube. This folded rim locks the weave and gives the basket a clean edge. Trim any tube ends that stick out. For a stronger rim, weave one final round of tubes around the top before you fold the warp. The rim takes the most handling, so a double round is worth the extra time. Let the basket dry overnight before you paint or use it.

Painting, Sealing, and Using the Basket

Paint the finished basket to hide the newsprint and protect it from moisture. Use acrylic paint thinned with a little water, and brush it into the weave. Two coats give even coverage. Let the first coat dry fully before you add the second. For a natural look, use a wood-tone brown. For a bright look, use white, pastel, or bold colors. After the paint dries, seal the basket with two coats of clear varnish. Varnish keeps the basket stiff and wipeable. Use a spray varnish for an even coat, or brush it on. Let each coat dry fully. A sealed basket holds yarn, toys, magazines, or pantry goods. Do not use it for wet items, since water softens newspaper tubes even under varnish. To clean the basket, dust it or wipe it with a damp cloth. If a tube breaks, glue a new tube over the break and touch up the paint. With care, a newspaper tube basket lasts for years and surprises everyone who learns what it is made of.

Woven storage baskets from recycled newspaper tubes prove that a free material can make a sturdy object. Roll tight tubes, weave a firm base, build straight walls, and finish with paint and varnish. The result is a basket that holds its own against store-bought ones.