Courtesy of Son2....who's six feet tall and his Mum is only 5'2" so we've got a few odd angles
Take a small handful of the iris leaves.
Sort out some strands so that the bundle is evenly balanced.
Start to twist the strands and then allow to spin together into two ply cord. This loop is used to start the sewing thread without a knot.
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I've just made a short length just to show the start of the rope.
Soft knotted at the end to keep the strands together and to stop them unravelling.
Thread the needle with a doubled thread, leave the looped end as the longest bit. Pass the needle through the loop at the start of the rope.
Before the thread pulls completely through pass the needle through the loop at the end of the thread too.
Thread and rope joined neatly
Coil a short length of rope, wrapped right round whatever central length you choose, and stitch through all three strands.
Stitch into a parallel sided oval.
Make a bit more rope, I didn't have enough, then
Bring the rope smoothly around the end and stitch through the nearest row and then into the rope you're joining onto the centre piece.
Keep stitching, and there it is, the centre of the base for another basket
cheers,
Toddy