Egg #004 Box

This Egg #004 Box is much simpler to weave than the full eggs because you only need to weave two tops and don’t have to make the ends meet at the bottom.

Cut out 2 x10 double egg strips and 2 or 3 times the sheet with the straight strips considering the colours you would like to use. Start each half egg as explained for Egg #001 and concentrate on making a smooth even edge at the equator. Fix carefully with glue and add a narrow strip of paper on each side to strengthen the edge. Now add the zigzag strip first making the triangles fit on the front and then fold back the upper part of the strip and fix it to the inside of the egg shell. For the lower part of the egg you must then add a high edge to support the upper part when putting the egg together. Crease the very wide strip along the long centre line. Unfold. Fix the uncut external side of the strip to the inside of the egg shell so that it extends above the edge. Follow the lower edge of the strips you have already added. Fold down and fix the part with the cuts forming a smooth surface. Done. Now you may put the pieces together and close and open your Egg Box when you like.

And here are vector pdf files to generate the files you need for your cut machine: egg 004 cut 1 ; egg 004 cut 2

Jar Box

If you can manage the Onion Dome Box, you can also make this Jar Box. The process is more or less the same.

I include the patterns. The pages are filled up with parts so that you may mix and match colours as you please when you work. For the lower part you need: 24 long double strips, 5 narrow 9 mm strips, 1 zigzag strip, 1 round piece with half circles and 1 without. For the lid you need: 1 circular piece with 12 arms, 12 single strips, 1 small round piece, 2 narrow 9 mm strips and 1 zigzag strip. I shall not include detailed instructions for weaving, only a few hints and some illustrations.

When gluing the long double strips to the bottom ring offset the strips so that a narrow strip is just above the one at the other side – and likewise the wider strip.

Form a ring overlapping the strips. Before you start weaving fold back every single stip.

Weave and line up. The pattern at the top edge should be the same as in the bottom. I made the top end of the strip a little longer to make up for the length you loose while weaving. Fold back the rectangular pieces and form a firm edge adding a 9 mm strip on both sides. The diametre is planned to be a little smaller than the bottom to make the box lid fit outside.

Make and add the bottom.

Form a second circular piece  for the the box lid from 12 loose strips by gluing alternating colours to a small circular form.

And files for cutting  jar cut a, jar cut b and jar cut c

Onion Dome Box

Anna designed the strips for the onion dome in Rhino. Weaving the dome nicely is not easy, but what is most required is patience.

Start by cutting the forms on “Part 1/2″ four times in four different colours and the forms on “Part 2/2″ twice in two other colours. Now you have plenty of options for mixing the colours.

When starting the dome, take a simple narrow strip (colour not important as it will not show). Fix the rectangular wide end of a dome strip to one end of the narrow strip with glue. Take one in a different colour and fix it right next to the first. The strips shall swirl in the same direction. Proceed in this way fixing 12 strips in alternating colours. Now add 12 more dome strips on the other side of the narrow strip. These dome strips shall swirl in the other direction. Form a ring and fix with glue. Now you have the base of the dome. Bend all 24 strips outwards. Take another simple narrow strip and fix it on the outside of the ring (I used light blue on picture). Then take the zigzag strip (I used dark blue) and score it along the spine. Fix it onto the dome base and bend the solid part inwards. You may need to make small cuts in order to make the paper fit smoothly. Fix with glue. Now you may start weaving. Take your time and use paper clips for temporary fixing as you go along. Also take care to line up and flatten the form as you weave. When you reach about square number 8 counted from the base make sure the form is lined up as you want it and fix the 12 squares with glue one by one. Weave the rest for as long as you can manage – it may not look so pretty. Fix with glue and cut away the long ends of the strips. To hide the mess and form a pointed dome top, make two small cones (I used two shades of green) and fix them to the top of the dome.

The lower part of the box is started in the same way as the dome, just use 24 simple straight strips. Weave and fix the ends to a ring also made from one of the simple narrow strips. The circumference should be 21.6 cm. For bottom plate I used the same type of pattern as the drum skin in the Woven Drum #001. And the bottom is made in the same way. Finally cut out an 8 cm times 23 cm strip of paper (any colour) bend along the spine and fit it inside the lower part forming an up stand of about 2 cm.

Now  you may fit the two parts of the box.

And files for cutting onion cut a and onion cut b

Woven Box

Cut out two of each piece in different colours. You also need at strip of paper 4 cm wide and as long as an A4. The top is made just like a cone, see Cone #001. When you have done all the weaving you must pull the strips gently so that the small half circles fit above each other. Now you can fix the edge with a little glue. Before weaving the bottom fold back the strips at the base. The strips of the two pieces should swirl in opposite directions. Place one piece inside the other, weave and fix with glue. Then take the long 4 cm strip and fold precisely along the long centre line. Make 1.7 cm cuts into one side of the strip at 3 cm intervals. Smear glue all over one side and fix the uncut edge to the bottom just above the top of the second diamond, see picture. Make sure to make a smooth upper brim by keeping the strip stretched while you fix it. When you have done the full circle and meet the strip again you may cut the surplus off by an angled cut. Now gently fold back the upper part of the strip along the crease and fix it to the inside.

And files for cutting the bottom woven box cut 1 and the top woven box cut 2

Circus Tent Box

Print and cut out the six pieces. Use a blunt needle or knitting-needle and a ruler to score the edges before folding. First glue together the individual pieces using the white flaps. Then glue the pieces together using the coloured flaps. When gluing together two pieces start with every second flap of the eight flaps and line each up carefully. The flaps shall be glued down on the front of the piece below. The last four flaps will now be easy to glue down.

Tower Box

This box takes time to cut out, fold and glue together. But I do not think it difficult to make. Print and cut out the six pieces. Use a blunt needle or knitting-needle and a ruler to mark the edges before folding. First glue together the individual pieces using the white flaps. Then glue the pieces together using the coloured flaps. Making the upper piece you start from the top. When gluing together two pieces start with every second flap of the eight flaps and line each up carefully. The flaps shall be glued down on the front of the piece below. The last four flaps will now be easy to glue down.