Finding a good way to keep your basket rows in place while drying or weaving is no small thing. For years, I defaulted to wooden clothespins, which are easy to grab but clumsy on narrow or intricate baskets. Last week, I picked up a pack of Clover Mini Wonder Clips, the ones quilters rave about, and ran a test on a springy flat-reed bread basket.
The size and grip surprised me. The clips are barely an inch long, fit right between densely packed spokes, and clamp without leaving dents. That was a huge plus when working with delicate rattan, none of those pressure marks I get from clothespins. The transparent plastic means you can see what you’re doing, and the colored tips make them easy to spot in a pile of shavings.
The downside? Price. At over ten dollars for a pack of twenty, they aren’t exactly a bargain. If you’re weaving larger baskets or using heavier materials, you’ll need a lot, and the cost adds up quickly. For small to medium baskets, especially ones with fine detail or softer materials, these clips are a treat. Beginners might stick with clothespins, but if you want a tool that handles tricky corner joins and helps keep your rows straight, Wonder Clips are definitely worth trying.