9. Two-Tone Dip-Dyed Rope Basket
If you love the look of dip-dyed home decor, you’ll be thrilled to know the same technique works beautifully on rope. A two-tone basket adds visual interest without much extra effort, and you can match it to almost any color palette.
Materials: Natural cotton rope, fabric dye or Rit dye in your chosen color, a deep bucket or pot, rubber gloves, vinegar or salt (as dye fixative), coiled rope basket.
Instructions: Make or buy a plain coiled rope basket. Mix your dye according to package directions in a bucket deep enough to submerge the bottom third of the basket. Wearing gloves, dip the bottom portion of the basket into the dye and hold it there for 5–10 minutes, depending on how deep you want the color. Lift the basket out, let the excess drip back into the bucket, then set it on a wire rack or old towel to dry completely. For an ombre effect, dip repeatedly with shorter holds, letting each layer dry slightly before the next dip.
Time: 1 hour plus drying time. Difficulty: Beginner.
Test the dye on a scrap of rope first to make sure you love the color. Natural fibers absorb dye much more richly than synthetic rope, so check your rope material before starting.