I love these little baskets. They're multiplying around the house like bunnies. There is one for each project I have going. I think I need more!! They hold embroidery thread, rotary cutters, or pincushions perfectly.
First, you will need a 10 in by 12 in piece of thin cotton batting, your choice of fabric and a medium weight piece of linen. To get the stiffness you need, use 100% linen, not a blend. Cut two 8 in by 1 1/4 in pieces from your linen and fabric you have chosen. Medium rick rack and floss is needed to create the decorative trim. (I used Amy Butler Love Sun Spots in Olive.)
Cut out 3 inch squares from the corners of all of the 10 by 12 in pieces.
Sew the linen together along the edges made by the square cuts. Lay the batting and the fabric, facing right side up, on top of each other. Sew the lining together with fabric inside the fold. Back stitch the beginning and end of each seam.
You should have two inside out baskets. Finger press the linen right side out.
Make a line, with marking pencil one inch from bottom to guide the placement of the rick rack. I like the look of hand stitching, but you could attach this by machine. Carefully open one of the seams to insert the rick rack and sew shut when finished. Trim rick rack.
Next up, is the handles. Sew right sides together with a quarter inch seam. Sew one of the ends close.
Handle
Get out your number two pencil, open your test booklets, just kidding, and push the handle right side out.
Cut off the closed end. Finger press along the grain and press these with steam like crazy. They will be very wrinkly at first!
Baste your the handles to the basket. My finished handles were 5 inches long, and 1.5 inches within the basket, for the handles to stay upright.
Next, cut your interfacing. I've found that Pellon heavy weight interfacing works the best. Cut one piece 11 1/2 by 3 1/2 and the other piece 9 1/2 in by 5 1/2. Yes, these are shorter for the 1/4 seam allowances.
Center them and sew together.
Next place the linen basket into the lining inside out. Tuck the handles inside.
Pin together. Leave one of the longer sides open. Sew together making sure the seams alternate and are not on top of each other. Leave about a 5 inch opening. I cut all the batting close to the seams to remove bulk. This is especially helpful for crisp corners.
Turn inside out through this opening. Fold the interfacing flat and insert through this opening. You will have to wiggle and play with it a while until it sits right. I sometimes cut the interfacing more so it fits. It depends how accurate the seams are.
Stitch the lining to the linen with a blind stitch and you have your basket.
Decorate as desired. (Can I say that I loved saying that!!) Mine needs something but I will update this picture tomorrow with some flowers and the cool beads I am getting in the mail this Saturday.
Here's the final project! I used some leaf beads and some rough edged fabric flowers.
(Hint: If you carefully cut the linen square parallel to the grain, you can easily finger press every seam.)
Make one to store all that sewing stuff or some Easter goodies. I bet this would work with some heavy weight fabric instead of the linen too!
OK! Go! Go! It can't be as hard as making this happen! *grin*
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