I wonder if this would work if I put the netting on a shallow rectangle glass pyrex dish?
I think it'd be a great mail basket if it did.

Thanks for the idea, I can't wait to try this! Does anyone have any advice for painting plastic so it can be washed? Love the orange myself but I thought it might make nice gifts for anyone in white or black. Any ideas on how to apply color before melting?

I signed up just to comment - I just tried this with a different, thinner type of plastic netting.  It didn't work but it WOULD have.  I left it in too long and it shrunk into nothing - so if you're going to do this I suggest you watch it carefully!  And I didn't use a wok or flower pots, just a pyrex glass bowl and stuck it in there.  Was working, I Just left it too long.