Place a strip of reed on a flat surface, such as a table. Lay a strip of reed next to the first strip so it is parallel. The distance between the two reeds should be slightly thinner than the width of a reed.
Continue laying reeds parallel to one another until you have added six to 15 reeds. The larger you want your basket, the more reeds you should use. If you are unsure of how many reeds you'll need, use around seven or eight reeds.
Weave the first reed strip perpendicular to the existing reeds. Slide the strip to the halfway point of the existing strips. Slide the new reed strip under the second reed. Slide it over the third reed, under the fourth reed, over the fifth reed and under the sixth reed. Continue the over-under-over-under pattern until you have woven the new reed through all of the old reeds.
Weave the second perpendicular reed strip, using the same technique. For the second reed strip, slide the reed under the first perpendicular reed and over the second perpendicular reed. Continue this pattern until there are the same amount of horizontal and vertical reeds. The basket should look like a square with reeds coming out of each side.
Bend the reeds upward at the edge of the square. Cut the center reed that faces you down the middle, using scissors. Cut from the edge to the base of the square. Weave the right side of this split reed through the right side of the basket, using the over-under pattern. Weave the left side of the split reed through the left side of the basket.
Cut the new center reed of the basket and continue weaving. Continue weaving in this fashion until you've completed four rows of reed.
Pull the tops of the reeds to "pack" the base of the basket. There should be no holes in the bottom of the basket.
Return to weaving and packing the basket every three to five rows. Weave until the basket is the desired height.
Cut the reeds' tips so they extend approximately 2 inches above the edge of the basket. Bend the reeds downward and slide them into the edges of the basket.