Chicken Wire Basket with Handle

Use inexpensive chicken wire to create a rustic basket for carting vegetables from the garden.  This wire basket is a functional and attractive addition to your garden. Project designed by MaryJane Butters.

*Be sure to wear eye protection, and always bend over the ends of the wire after cutting to avoid sharp ends.*

Materials:

• 16-gauge utility wire
• 1" mesh poultry netting (chicken wire)
• needle-nose pliers

Instructions:

Top Ring: Cut 4 - 57" wire pieces. Form each wire piece into an oval. Brace together the four pieces with small pieces of wire to form one large oval ring.
 

Long Under Supports: Cut 4 - 36" wire pieces and brace together. Repeat to make 2nd brace. These will run lengthwise just left and right of middle of the sides of your basket, forming the bottom of the basket. Attach to top ring by clamping onto it; bending two of the wires to the left and two to the right; wrap around ring.
 

Side Under Supports: Cut 4 - 28" wire pieces and brace together. Repeat to make 2nd brace. These will span the width of your basket, framing the middle third of the basket on the sides. Attach like long supports.
 

Wire Handle: Cut 2 - 36" pieces for each side. For the top wooden piece, I used a piece of black walnut and carved grooves into each end to create a channel for the wire to fit in. Wrap wire snugly around the grooves and twist at bottom 2-3 turns until tight. Form handle onto basket on top ring at junction of side supports on each side.
 

Chicken Wire: Completely encircle the basket with the chicken wire and form to basket, cutting out wedges to make it fit to basket. Attach at top ring with long piece of wire, "sewing" it to the ring. Trim all wire and wrap ends.

More Chicken Wire Crafts from MaryJane Butters:

Chicken Wire Baskets

Window Frame Blackboard