How to Fix Wicker and Rattan Baskets at Home
How to fix a loose or broken strand and an unravelling rim on wicker and rattan baskets at home, and when a basket is better replaced.
A strand has worked loose on a basket you like, or the rim has started to unwind. You can fix small, local damage like a loose or broken strand or an unravelling rim at home with sharp scissors, a little glue and a few clothes pegs. When a basket's frame or base is giving way, replacing it is usually the sensible call.
This guide covers baskets, lampshades and other small woven pieces. For chairs and sofas, see our guide to taking care of rattan furniture.
First, check what kind of damage it is
| What you can see | Type of damage | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One strand loose, or an end poking out | Cosmetic | Tuck, glue or trim it |
| A snapped strand leaving a gap | Local break | Weave in a replacement |
| Rim wraps coming loose | Local break, if the rim underneath is sound | Glue or bind the wraps |
| Fibre that cracks or flakes when pressed | Depends how far it has spread | Keep it from heat and sun; there's no reliable home cure |
| Base sagging, frame bent, handle pulling away, or brittleness across much of the piece | Structural | Stop and replace it |
If you spot more than one problem, go by the most serious.
Wicker is a weave rather than a fibre, so yours could be rattan, seagrass, bamboo or something else. Our explainer on rattan vs wicker sets out the difference.
What you need
- Sharp scissors
- Wood glue or a clear craft glue
- Clothes pegs or small clamps
- A matching strand or cord, for a broken strand or a rim that needs binding
- An old cloth for wiping away stray glue
- A cocktail stick for placing glue and easing strands apart (optional)
A matching strand is one of similar material and width. Try a craft shop, or take a short length from a spot nobody sees, as long as removing it won't loosen anything.
How to fix a loose strand
If the end is frayed or too short to tuck, trim it instead. Keep the fingers of your other hand clear of the blades and snip close to the weave so nothing pokes out. Don't pull the strand out, as that can loosen the ones around it.
Otherwise:
- Tuck it back. Ease the neighbouring strand up with a cocktail stick, slide the end underneath along the weave and press it flat. If it stays put, you're finished.
- Test the glue first. If the end keeps springing out, it needs glue. Let a small dot dry on a hidden spot, such as under the base. If it stains or leaves a shiny patch, try the other type.
- Glue and peg it. Put a dab of glue on the underside of the end, tuck it back and clip a peg over it. Wipe glue off visible fibre straight away and leave the peg on for the drying time on the label.
Check it: once dry, remove the peg and draw a cloth across the area. Nothing should catch, lift or feel tacky.
How to fix a broken strand
- Note the path. Before cutting, see which strands the broken one passes over and under. A quick photo helps.
- Cut back to sound fibre. Protect your eyes if the cane is stiff, snip away from your face and keep your fingers clear. Trim each side back until the cut ends are firm, not split or flaky.
- Prepare the replacement. Cut a matching strand a little longer than the gap. Some guides suggest dampening a replacement strand so it bends without cracking. If you try it, dampen only the new strand, away from the basket, and pat off the surface water before weaving.
- Weave it in. Starting on the inside, take it over and under along the old strand's path. Keep it snug, not tight. Over-tightening is the easy mistake here, and it pulls the surrounding weave out of line. It's right when it lies level with the strands either side.
- Secure the ends. Patch-test your glue on a hidden spot if you haven't yet. Then dab glue under each end of the new strand on the inside, tuck it behind a neighbouring strand and peg it. Glue down any loose cut ends of the old strand the same way.
- Leave it to dry. Give the glue its full drying time, and if you dampened the strand, let the area dry completely before using the basket.
Check it: press gently over the repair. The new strand shouldn't shift and neither end should lift.
How to fix an unravelling rim
The wraps are the strand wound round the rim's edge. Before you glue or bind loose ones, check underneath. If the hoop or bundle they're wound around has snapped or bent, that's structural, and the stop list below applies.
To glue the wraps back:
- Ease the loose wraps back so they sit flat and side by side.
- Patch-test your glue on a hidden spot if you haven't already.
- Lift each wrap slightly, run a thin line of glue on the rim underneath and press it back down. Wipe away any glue that shows.
- Peg along the stretch until the glue is fully dry.
To bind it: if the wraps won't stay down, a few turns of matching cord or strong thread around the rim where the unravelling starts can hold them. Glue the start and finish of the binding on the inside and tuck the ends away.
Check it: run your fingers round the whole rim, pressing as you go. No wrap should slide or lift, and nothing should catch.
Dry or brittle fibre
There's no reliable home cure for fibre that has gone dry and brittle, so the aim is to stop it getting worse. Keep it away from heat and strong direct sun, which can dry fibre out further.
To judge it, press gently around the damage. If the fibre still flexes and only one strand has cracked, repair it as above; if it cracks or crumbles across a wide area, go to the stop list.
Fixing a woven lampshade
Treat a lampshade as cosmetic work only. Switch the light off, let the bulb cool, then take the shade off the light and work on it at a table. Stick to the small fixes above, such as a loose strand or a rim wrap. If the shade's frame is bent or broken, or any damage is near the lampholder (the fitting that holds the bulb), stop and replace the shade. For routine care, see our guide to cleaning a rattan pendant light.
When to stop and replace it
Replace the piece if:
- the frame or base is giving way, so the basket sags, flexes or loses its shape when lifted
- a handle is coming away from the body
- the fibre is crumbling over a large area, not just in one spot
- a lampshade has damage near the lampholder, or its frame is bent or broken
- mould keeps coming back after cleaning
Keeping wicker in good shape
- Store it dry, away from damp, radiators, heaters and strong direct sun.
- Dust it regularly with a soft brush or dry cloth, so dirt doesn't settle into the weave.
- Lift full baskets by the base, not just the handle, so the handles don't carry the whole load.
Our guide to cleaning wicker baskets covers cleaning without soaking, drying, trimming stray ends and dealing with mould.
FAQs
Can you fix broken wicker?
Yes, if the break is local: weave in a new length and glue its ends inside. A failing frame, base or handle usually means replacing it.
What glue works on wicker?
Use wood glue or a clear craft glue. Test it on a hidden spot first, use small dabs where they won't show and keep it off the visible fibre.
Can you repair a rattan basket?
Yes. Rattan is a material and wicker is a weave, so the same repairs apply.
Should you wet wicker to repair it?
No. Don't soak or wet the basket itself. Some guides suggest dampening a replacement strand so it bends without cracking. If you do, keep the water off the basket and let the repaired area dry fully afterwards.
If yours is past saving, you'll find replacements among our woven wicker and rattan baskets.
