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Make an Easter Basket from Scratch: Step-by-Step DIY Guide

This DIY Easter basket is soft yet sturdy enough to hold all the eggs from an Easter egg hunt.

yellow easter basket made of yarn, sitting on a white table in a minimal dining room

Do you remember as a child running through the yard searching for Easter eggs, the thrill of finding a hidden treasure and coming inside with grass-stained knees? Or waking up to a small basket filled with favorite treats and tiny surprises? I loved those moments as a kid, and now I try to keep that same sense of excitement for my son each Easter.

A few years ago I made Hayes a DIY Easter basket in his favorite color so we could use it year after year for egg hunts and Easter morning. It took some time but was very simple to make, holds up well, and doesn’t require any sewing—only basic supplies and a little patience.

pastel easter basket with baby and kid items inside, in neutral colors

craft supplies to make an easter basket - yarn, cording, and scissors

Supplies

  • About 10 yards cotton piping cord (I used 11/16 inch)
  • Yarn (variegated or multicolor works great)
  • Hot glue gun and hot glue
  • Needle and thread (optional, for reinforcement)
  • Scissors

About the materials

Yarn: A variegated or multicolor yarn makes the project easy and visually appealing. The color changes in the yarn flow naturally so you don’t have to switch colors as you work.

Hot glue: Hot glue may seem like an odd choice for a rope-style basket, but it works well for this project. I’ve used this basket for more than two years with no problems. If you want extra strength, reinforce stress points—like where the handle meets the rim—with needle and thread after gluing.

Whenever I can avoid heavy sewing, I do. This tutorial shows how to make a cute, long-lasting Easter basket with minimal tools and fuss.

yellow yarn being wrapped around cotton cording

How to Make the Easter Basket

1. Knot and start wrapping

Begin by double-knotting a length of yarn at one end of the cotton piping. Then wrap the yarn tightly and evenly around the piping, pulling snugly so the yarn stays secure. Keep a neat, tight wrap so the finished cord feels smooth and durable.

yellow yarn being wrapped around cotton cording over and over again 2. Continue wrapping

As you cover more piping, handling the wrapped cord can become awkward. Periodically coil the finished portion into a small ball to keep it manageable. This step takes a little time initially, but once you have a wrapped coil to feed from, the process becomes faster and smoother.

yellow yard wrapped around cotton cording to make thick cording for a basket

Keep wrapping and coiling until you’ve covered enough piping for the basket length you want.

4. Tie off

When you reach the desired length, tie off the yarn with several secure knots. My finished basket measures about 11 inches across and used roughly 10 yards of piping total (including the handle). It’s helpful to leave about 2–3 yards of piping unwrapped—this unwrapped portion will be used to form the basket base and later the handle.

5. Roll and glue the base

Now form the base by rolling the unwrapped piping into a flat coil and securing it with hot glue. Add a line of hot glue about 3–6 inches long, press the coil together, and hold until the glue has set. Work slowly and deliberately, repeating the glue-and-press method every few inches to create a solid, even base.

glueing cotton cording together to make a basket, with hot glue

When the base is the size you want, begin stacking the wrapped cord up the sides to build the wall. Glue each coil to the one below it and press firmly for 20–30 seconds per 3–6 inch section to ensure a strong bond.

base of an easter basket, while its in process of being made

6. Make the handle

For the handle, cut a length of piping about a yard long (adjust based on the size you want). Wrap that piece in yarn the same way you wrapped the body. To keep the handle firm, insert a long piece of wire along its length before finishing the wrapping—this gives the handle structure and prevents it from sagging.

closeup of handle being attached to diy easter basket

7. Attach the handle

Glue the ends of the handle to the interior rim of the basket using hot glue. Press and hold the glued areas until they set so the handle stays in position and feels secure.

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8. Reinforce with needle and thread (optional)

For extra durability, stitch through the handle and into the wall and base in a few key spots using needle and thread. This reinforcement helps the basket last longer, especially if it will be used repeatedly for carrying eggs, treats, or small toys.

Once reinforced, your basket is ready to use. Fill it with plastic eggs for a hunt, homemade egg decorations, candies, small toys, or use it year-round for toy storage by removing the handle.

yellow easter basket sitting on white table with abstract art behind it

pastel easter basket made of yarn, with neutral wooden toys and other items for kids

handmade easter basket in pastel color with wooden toys and other small gifts for kids inside

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DIY Easter Basket

Brittni

A soft, durable DIY Easter basket you can reuse for egg hunts, treats, and everyday storage. The project is simple, mostly hot-glue based, and requires only a few materials. No sewing required.

Equipment

  • Hot glue gun and hot glue
  • Needle and thread (optional)
  • Scissors

Ingredients

  • Yarn
  • 10 yards cotton piping cord (11/16 inch used)

Instructions

Knot and wrap

  • Double knot yarn to the end of the piping and begin wrapping tightly and evenly.
  • Coil wrapped piping into a ball occasionally to make wrapping easier.

Tie off

  • Tie off with several knots when you reach the desired length. Leave 2–3 yards unwrapped to form the base and handle.

Roll and glue

  • Roll the unwrapped piping into a flat coil and secure with hot glue in 3–6 inch sections, pressing firmly until set. Continue gluing coils together to build the base and then the walls, holding each glued section 20–30 seconds for strength.

Make the handle

  • Use about a yard of piping, wrap with yarn, and add a wire along the length before finishing the wrap to keep it stiff.

Attach and reinforce

  • Glue the handle ends to the basket interior. For extra durability, stitch handle and wall attachments with needle and thread in a few key spots.

Finish

  • Fill the basket with plastic eggs, treats, small toys, or use it as a gentle storage basket for everyday items.
Did you make this?Share your creation on social media and tag the creator to show your finished basket.