I love a project that accidentally leads to something else. I don’t know what it says about me that I have so many that have gone that way, but there it is. In this case, the big basket was the goal. The little basket was a happy accident.
The large basket measures about 12” long, 8” wide, and 12” tall. The small basket measures 5” long, 3” wide, and 5” tall. My baby granddaughter can sit in the big one. Ask me how I know. 😉
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To make these fabric baskets you’ll need:
1/2 yard or two fat quarters for outside of basket
1/2 yard or two fat quarters for lining
8 x 4 1/2” fabric for handle
this pattern template for the large basket (there is no template for the small basket)
The pattern is larger than one sheet of paper, so you’ll need to assemble this one. I added marks that should make it easier to line the pages up.
Cut the following for the large basket:
2 basket template from fabric for the outside
2 basket template from fabric for the lining
2 basket template from Flex Foam
8 x 4 1/2” from fabric for handle
7 x 3 1/2 from Flex Foam for handle
Fuse the Flex Foam to the wrong side of the outer basket pieces. Fuse the Flex Foam to centered on the wrong side of the handle.
Clip the two outer basket pieces right sides together. Stitch the straight sides and across the bottom with a 1/4” seam (used throughout this project).
Flatten one lower corner so the seams are right sides together. Draw a line perpendicular to the corner, 4 1/4” from the very tip. The line should measure 8” long. Pin the layers together.
Stitch along the line. Repeat on the opposite corner.
Trim off each corner 1/4” from the seam. Don’t throw those corners away! Set them aside and I’ll show you what happens to them in a bit.
Repeat the entire process with the lining pieces, except leave 6” unstitched in the seam on the bottom edge.
Turn the lining right side out. Don’t bother poking out the corners. Place the lining inside the basket so they’re right sides together. Pin the raw edges together. Stitch from the upper side edge of the handle end to the other. Don’t stitch across the top of the handle ends. Repeat on the opposite side.
Turn the handle ends right side out first by pinning a safety pin into the seam and pushing it through tot the bottom.
Turn the remaining basket right side out through the opening. Push out the outer corners.
Hand stitch the opening closed at the bottom of the lining.
I tried pressing the seam between the outside and lining in order to flatten it out for stitching, but with the foam in there that proved pretty ineffective. Instead, roll the seam between your fingers until the lining is fully inside and clip or pin in the place.
Topstitch around close to the edge. Stitch across the top near the raw edges of the handle ends.
Measure 4” from the side seam to the corner. Pinch the corner at the top and clip or pin. Stitch across the corner, about 1/4” from the point, through all layers. Repeat on the other three corners.
Fold the long edges of the handle to the wrong side over the edge of the foam. Press.
Fold the handle with right sides together width wise (short ends together), keeping the long edges folded. Stitch 1/4” from the short edges.
Turn right side out. Center the seam and press.
Tuck the handle ends inside the handle by 1 1/4” on each side. Clip or pin. Stitch close to the ends of the handle.
Add additional rows of stitching on handle as desired.
The large basket is finished. So what about that little one? Grab those pieces you clipped off the corners of the outer basket and lining. I just couldn’t bring myself to toss them.
If you’re just making the small basket, these are 4 1/4” squares, sewn right sides together on two sides, and there’s Flex Foam applied to the outer pieces.
You’ll also need a 4 x 8” piece of fabric from one of the scraps for the handle.
Pin the outside pieces with right sides together on one edge. Sew together. Use the same flatten-draw-sew technique to box the corners that we used on the large bag, drawing the 2 1/2” line 1 1/2” from the tip.
Do the same with the lining, except leave 3” open (not on the seam) in the first step. Turn the lining right side out.
Fold the handle wrong sides together and press. Fold the edges into the fold and press again. Stitch near both long edges.
Pin the handle inside the basket with the ends centered over the front and back seams.
Pin the lining inside the basket on top of the handle with the edges even.
Stitch along the edge. It’s easier to do that from the inside of the bag due to its small size. Turn the basket right side out through the opening in the lining.
Hand stitch the opening in the lining closed.
Push the lining into the basket. You can either roll the seams like we did on the large basket so it’s completely inside, or leave about 1/4” to the outside like I did here. Either way, topstitch near the seam.
Pinch and stitch the corners like the large bag, or leave them as-is for a more rounded look.
Large or small, now all your basket needs are covered!