# Large Palm Leaf Storage Basket with Rope Handles

> A big palm leaf storage basket, 40 cm across and 30 cm tall, with thick rope handles. The biggest project on the site, and the most useful once it is done.

Source: https://leafcraftpro.site/palm-leaf-storage-basket
Published: 2026-08-15 · 11 min read · Advanced · Palm Leaf Crafts

This is the basket that earns its keep. Forty centimetres across and thirty tall, it swallows blankets, firewood, laundry or toys, and it looks like something from a shop rather than a craft table.

It is also the hardest project here. It uses a lot of leaf, it takes a full afternoon and more, and the walls are tall enough that any unevenness shows. Read the whole tutorial before you cut anything.

The reason a large basket is harder than a small one is not the extra leaf. It is that small errors get multiplied. A base that is 1 cm out of true barely shows at 20 cm but is glaring at 40. Rows that are packed unevenly make a wall that waves over 30 cm of height. So this project rewards the maker who checks their work constantly and works slowly, and punishes the one who tries to race through it. Budget four to five hours and do not rush the base. If you have made the small basket already, you know every move this one needs. You are simply doing them more times, on a bigger scale, where neatness counts for more.

**What You'll Need**

- 55-65 palm leaf strips, 2.5 cm wide and at least 90 cm long
- 3-4 large palm fronds, or the equivalent in prepared strips
- 2 m of thick cotton rope, 10 mm diameter, for the handles
- Sharp scissors and a ruler or tape measure
- A spray bottle and a shallow bowl of water
- Several clothes pegs or small clips
- A heavy book and a flat board for pressing the base

## Weaving the storage basket

**Step-by-step instructions**

1. **Weave the base** — Weave a square base 40 cm across, using ten uprights and ten crossing strips. Keep the rows snug and check the square against the table after every strip. This base takes the whole weight of the basket, so it needs to be your neatest work.
2. **Press the base flat** — Peg the base between two boards and weight it with books for an hour before you go on. A flat start is the only way to get straight walls on a basket this size.
3. **Turn up the walls** — Fold every upright up at the edge and crease it hard. Weave two tight rows around the base of the wall to lock the corners, then check the basket sits level on the table.
4. **Weave the lower wall** — Weave horizontally up to 15 cm, packing every row down and checking the shape against the table every few rounds. Add new strips by overlapping the ends 8 cm inside the weave.
5. **Mark the handle positions** — At 15 cm of height, peg two marks on opposite sides of the basket. The rope handles will be threaded through here later, so leave a 10 cm gap in the wall at each mark and weave the uprights across it as a flat panel.
6. **Weave the upper wall** — Continue weaving up to 30 cm of total height, keeping the handle panels clear. Keep the tension even all the way up; a wall that tightens near the top will pull inward and the rim will not sit flat.
7. **Fold the rim** — Weave one final tight row, fold each upright over it and tuck the tip two rows down inside the wall. Then thread the rope through the two handle panels and knot it firmly on the inside, leaving a 20 cm loop outside.

![A large 40 cm palm leaf storage basket with thick rope handles being lifted by hand](https://leafcraftpro.site/images/blog/palm-leaf-storage-basket-1280.webp)

*Thread the rope through a woven panel, not a gap. A panel spreads the load and will not tear.*

> Do not thread the rope through the open weave. The weight of a loaded basket will tear the strips. Weave a flat panel at each handle point and run the rope through that.

This basket needs a long, slow dry. Leave it in a cool, airy room for five to seven days, out of direct sun, and turn it a quarter turn each day so no side dries faster than the others. A basket this size that dries unevenly will lean, and a lean is permanent. Once it is fully dry, the leaf goes firm and the basket holds its shape well enough to stand on its own even when empty. If a wall still feels soft after a week, it is not dry yet. Give it more time rather than more weave. When it is finally set, a coat of beeswax inside and out will make it easier to wipe clean and keep the colour warm for years. If you are storing heavy things, line the base with a circle of felt or thick cotton to spread the load and stop the weave scuffing. Once a year, check the rope handles where they meet the woven panel; if the knots have loosened with use, re-tie them while the basket is empty and dry, never while it is under load. Looked after this way, a large storage basket will outlast most of the things standing around it.

**Helpful Tips**

- Weave the base first and leave it overnight under weight. You will thank yourself when the walls go on straight.
- Keep the whole basket damp, not just the part you are weaving. A dry patch mid-wall will crack at the fold.
- Check the rim against a flat table after every five rows. Levelling a lean early is easy; later it is not.
- Use thicker rope than you think you need. A 10 mm rope sits comfortably in the hand and does not cut into the palm.
- Line the inside with a cotton bag if you are storing soft things. It stops the weave catching on wool.
- Weave the two handle panels first if you like, then build the wall around them. It is easier to keep them level that way.

**Need storage today?** Our large woven storage baskets come with rope handles fitted and the base pressed flat, ready to use.

[Shop storage baskets](https://leafcraftpro.site/shop)

## Frequently asked questions

### How many palm leaves does a large storage basket need?

About 55 to 65 strips, which means three to four large fronds. Cut them all to 2.5 cm wide and at least 90 cm long before you begin.

### How long does a large palm leaf basket take to make?

Four to five hours of weaving, plus a week of slow drying. Do not rush the base or the drying, because both mistakes show up badly at this size.

### What is the best way to attach rope handles?

Weave a flat panel into the wall at each handle point, then thread the rope through the panel and knot it inside. Threading rope through the open weave will tear under load.

### Can a woven storage basket hold heavy items?

Yes, if the base is woven tightly and pressed flat. Blankets, firewood and laundry are all fine. Avoid anything sharp or wet, which will cut or soften the leaf.

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