The closure of the "bag" type baskets above can also be seen in purse-like baskets. The ropes are round while the lidded baskets seem to use flat bands. 
I didnt have much time to post here recently. Even today my post is going to be short. Today I have seen Judith Leiber´s fancy purses online and noticed som of them had rope handles - twisted or braided. The purses were in various shapes and colors but the two you can see here of a bit unusual shape. They do not seem to be wearable - more like items for display. Anyway, inspiring, aren´t they?
I am not braiding right now since I am teaching basketry summer courses I teach every summer & I am travelling and visiting interesting places a little bit.
My summer courses are located in Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO town, full of tourists in summer and very quiet in winter. There are many attractions and every year I visit something else. This summer I visited local museum, a newly recostructed art-deco house of a first photographer (with a wonderful studio for taking photographs which could be also perfect for a painter or anybody with a romantic soul - I wish I had something like it), and an opera by Verdi with world-famous singers in chateau garden where an open-air theatre with a revolving auditorium is situated. See some nicely taken photos of C.K. here.
But back to braids - first, here is a picture of what some my students weave. Everybody weaves something else, it is more difficult for me to teach 10 different baskets at a time, but I like it. I also like to experiment so people came with and idea and they can change it "on the way".
If you think that basketry has nothing to do with braidig - look at the tote handle. I often braid handles with 4 or 8 strands of reed/cane/willow.
And
when I was strolling through cobbled streets of the old town I bought the following bread necklace in an antique´s shop. Such braids were made in the 50´s (I was told so) and they were braided mechanically on a simple machine. I have chosen a yellow 8 strand braid (Edo Yatsu) but the shop owner had also 4 strand braids in various color patterns. I wished I could buy several of them (and also some of the old beaded purses he had) but they were not cheap for me at the time so you can have them for 8$ if you happen to go there. :-)
I am heading for 2 week in Provence, France right now. I am looking forward to it and getting my things packed. I will post again after I return back.
Yesterday I googled "Kongo Gumi". Kongo Gumi is a name given to strong braids and the braids are easy, suitable for beginners. They are easily made on braiding disk or marudai.
I googled for Kongo Gumi for a little while and I got off topic very quickly. Instead of a new braiding info I read about a Kongou family and their Kongou Gumi buiding company operating for more than 1,400 (!) years ....
You can note that kongo braids can have different number of groups and that two opposite groups belong to one track. The number of tracks equals to the number of "winding ridges". In the picture on the left you can see braids with 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 tracks. 
The more strands in a group the thicker the ridge and longer color pattern if any.
In Japan, kumihimo braids are used to decorate tea ceremony baskets. I weave baskets, love baskets and kumihimo, so this is one way to combine my two hobbies .
Kumihimo braids do appear as decorating patterns as well. They can be embroidered on a cloth. However, I have seen them on a bowl for the first time. What a pity I cannot buy it....
This flat braid was braided with beaded cord. I came accross it by chance as it is not often seen in shops. Glass beads are threaded on strands which are braided into a cord mechanically. I am not sure what the beaded cord is or can be used for but I bought it to braid with on my marudai.
I also have strings with glued plastic balls at intervals (you could see them in a previous post already) but of course, I like this cord with glass beads much better. It is more pliable and the beads have somewhat irregular shapes.
