Newspaper basket weaving transforms yesterday’s news into sturdy, functional baskets that are genuinely beautiful once painted and sealed. The technique — rolling sheets of newspaper into tight tubes, then weaving those tubes over-and-under — produces a structure surprisingly strong enough to hold fruit, yarn, remote controls, or craft supplies. This is a slow, meditative craft that rewards patience; a finished basket takes two to three hours to complete, but the result is something you will use every day. If you enjoy working with paper, our Paper Crafts category has more paper-based projects to explore alongside this one.
What You Will Need
- Old newspapers — a large broadsheet gives the longest tubes
- A wooden barbecue skewer or thin knitting needle (for rolling tubes)
- PVA glue diluted 50/50 with water, in a small bowl
- A wide, flat brush for applying glue
- Clothes pegs or bulldog clips for holding weaves in place while drying
- Acrylic paint and a sealing varnish for finishing
- A circular cardboard base (cut from a cereal box) — 15–20 cm diameter
Project Info
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Time: 2–3 hours
- Cost: Near zero — newspaper and PVA glue are the only requirements
Step 1: Roll Your Newspaper Tubes
Tear or cut each newspaper page into strips approximately 10–12 cm wide. Place a skewer diagonally at one corner of a strip and roll the paper tightly around it at a 45-degree angle, creating a long, thin tube. When you reach the end of the strip, apply a dab of PVA glue to the final corner and press to seal. Slide the skewer out — the tube holds its shape. Roll a large number of tubes before you start weaving; a medium basket requires 40–60 tubes, and running out mid-weave is frustrating. Storing rolled tubes in a long cardboard box or tube keeps them from unrolling.
Step 2: Create the Base
Cut a cardboard circle 15–18 cm in diameter from a cereal box. Using a hole punch or a sharp skewer, pierce holes evenly around the edge of the circle, spacing them about 2 cm apart. Thread one tube through each hole, folding it in half so equal lengths extend from both sides of the cardboard — these become your vertical spokes. Secure each tube with a dab of PVA glue at the base. You should have an even number of spokes fanning outward from the circle.
Step 3: Weave the Sides
Take a new tube (your weaving tube) and begin weaving it over and under the vertical spokes, working in a circle. At the end of each tube, join a new one by pushing the end of the new tube 2–3 cm inside the hollow end of the finished one — the tubes telescope together securely. Pack each row of weaving down firmly with your fingers before starting the next. Keep the tension even: too tight and the basket will curve inward; too loose and the walls will flare outward. Continue weaving until your basket reaches the desired height — typically 10–15 cm for a general storage basket.
Step 4: Finish the Rim
To finish the top edge neatly, fold each vertical spoke over the last row of weaving and tuck it down inside the basket wall, securing with a dab of PVA glue and a clothes peg while it dries. This creates a clean, firm rim. Alternatively, fold each spoke over and wrap it around the one to its right, threading the end inside the weave — this creates a more decorative braided rim. Both methods give a professional-looking finish.
Step 5: Coat, Paint, and Seal
Once fully dry, paint the entire basket inside and out with diluted PVA glue (50/50 with water) using a wide brush. This hardens the paper tubes significantly, making the basket genuinely rigid and firm. Allow to dry completely — at least two hours. Apply two to three coats for maximum strength. Once hardened, paint with acrylic craft paint in any colour you choose: white for a clean modern look, terracotta or sage green for a natural feel, or gold for a luxe finish. Seal with two coats of clear varnish to protect the paint and add water resistance for light use.
Ideas for Finished Baskets
Small baskets (12 cm diameter) make perfect desk tidies for pens, scissors, and craft supplies. Medium baskets (20 cm) hold yarn, magazines, or toiletries on a bathroom shelf. Large woven baskets make beautiful fruit bowls or bread baskets — seal thoroughly inside with food-safe varnish if using for direct food contact. Nest three baskets in graduated sizes together for a striking display. Pair with our Origami Crane — a few cranes nestled inside a woven newspaper basket make a stunning table centrepiece. Track your materials and plan a set of matching baskets with our Craft Project Planner.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your basket walls are leaning or uneven, the spokes may not be evenly spaced — check spacing before starting to weave. If tubes keep unrolling as you work, apply a light mist of water to slightly dampen them; slightly moist paper is more pliable and holds its shape better during weaving. If the base is warping, place a heavy book on top of the finished basket while the final PVA coat dries to press it flat.
Newspaper basket weaving is a deeply satisfying slow craft — the kind where every completed row brings visible progress and the finished object is genuinely useful. Discover more paper-based and recycled craft projects in our Recycled Crafts category.
