Suggested Age
6 years to 99 years
Thread May Baskets
These whimsical May Baskets (See Figure 2) are fun and messy to make but the results are light and airy.
Supplies
- cotton thread (the kind used for crocheting doilies)
- white glue
- paper
- waxed paper
- scissors
- tape
- bowl
- beads
- tissue paper
Instructions
- Use a piece of paper to make a cone the size you want your basket to be. Tape the cone so it holds its shape.
- Cover the cone with waxed paper (taping where necessary).
- Combine 1-part water to 1- part glue in your bowl.
- Cut a bunch of thread in 12” to 24” lengths (a cloths hanger is handy for hanging them on – then hook them nearby so that you can quickly grab one thread at a time).
- Soak one thread at a time in the glue mixture. Run the strand through your fingers to remove the excess liquid.
- Wrap the thread around the cone at random. Continue to wrap thread around the cone until you are happy with the coverage. Make sure to wrap a number a strands around the opening edge so that you have something to tie your hanger to.
- Let it dry.
- When it is dry, pull the cone form from out of the thread.
- Cut a piece of thread the length of your handle and string with beads.
- Tie handle to the basket.
- Add some tissue so that the goodies won’t fall out and your basket is complete.
Doily May Baskets
These May Baskets (See Figure 1) could not be easier to make and the they are very elegant.
Supplies
- doily
- glue
- water
- funnel or some other form for shaping the doily
- ribbon
- tissue paper
Instructions
- Mix 1-part glue to 1-part water.
- Soak the doily in the mixture. Squeeze out excess fluid.
- Hang the doily over the funnel and shape it.
- Let it dry.
- When the basket is dry, thread some ribbons onto it for handles, line with tissue paper, and make someone’s May Day beautiful.
Ideas and Suggestions
Instead of using a glue water mixture to stiffen the projects, use liquid starch at full strength.
Go to thrift stores to find old doilies. Most thrift stores sell doilies for less than a dollar. The ones used in the sample projects were 29¢ and 49¢.
Have the children copy a verse onto a slip of paper and attach it to the May Basket.
The moon shines bright, and the stars give light, / A little before it is day; / So God bless you all, both great and small, / And send you a joyful May!
or
You are to me “As full of spirit as the month of May, and as gorgeous as the sun in Midsummer.”
~William Shakespeare
