Basketweave is always done in medium consistency. And a trick to the basketweave is to count your horizontal lines after every post to make sure you have the same # of them, and always work at eye level.
Clouds can be done with either a large star tip (21 is good) for a zigzag cloud, or use a coupler only (without a tip in it) for a smoother cloud. Puff it up the same way -- it just won't have ridges and it will look poofier. Good luck!! 
I also agree with bob. I love basketweave. And my advice is practice whenever possible and the better you will get. I switch it up abit with mixing different color and tips for the weave. Up and down one color or tip. And sideways another color or tip. It makes it more interesting. Can you tell it is my fav to do 
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