{shhh, jack's easter basket this year...}This basket is super easy & great for using up fabric pieces (can be made with just 2 fat quarters!). I especially love it because it's reusable and goes well beyond Easter- stash books, socks, & doo dads all year round!
Materials:
Outside & Inside Fabric: 2 pieces each cut 9" x 13"Strap: 4" x 21"
Fusible Interfacing: 2 pieces 9"x 13" and 1 piece 4" x 21"
Sew In Stabilizer: 2 pieces 9"x 13"
Coordinating Thread
*1/4" seam allowance unless noted.
Step 1: Body
Iron fusible interfacing to wrong side of each piece of outside fabric.Make a sandwich: Lay down one piece of stabilizer, then two pieces of outside fabric (right sides together), follow with other piece of stabilizer. Pin. (*yes, this makes it thick, but it will help it stand sturdy more like a basket than a bag)
Pin two pieces of interior fabric, right sides together.
Sew: Exterior Pieces- down two sides & across bottom
Interior Pieces- two sides, across bottom BUT leave approx. 5" gap in seam (to pull bag through later)
Step 2: Strap
Iron on interfacing to wrong side of 4" x 41" strip.Fold strip of fabric in half length wise, wrong side together. Press. Then fold each long side to the center crease you just made. Fold together (should be one long strip with sides tucked in).
Press, press, press. Pin
Top stitch along both edges.
Step 3: Make Gusset Corners
Now that your body pieces are sewn together, it's time to make the squared corners (this makes more of a boxy style).It can be a little tricky, but bear with me:
Fold the bottom seam to meet the side seam. Match up as best you can. Finger press and Pin.
Measure 2" up from the point & with a ruler draw a line across (perpendicular to the seam).
Sew on this mark for both the interior & exterior.
It will look something like this above.Step 4: Trim Corners
Trim off the little triangle made from gusseting the bag. Leave a 1/4" seam.Step 5: Prepare the Strap
With your strap long edges sewn it's time to attach them to the basket.Turn the exterior right side out.
Pin each end of the strap to the side seam of the basket.
Make sure the handle is placed so that it's not twisty when lifted up.
Sew in place with 1/8" seam
Step 6: Put it all together
With basket right side out & handle attached, slip the interior over the basket (with right sides facing each other- as shown).Pin securely in place.
Sew around the entire rim.
It will look like this:
Step 7: Turn it Out
Gently pull the handle & exterior out through the 5" opening left in the lining.Work the lining down & the fold over the top.
Press, press, press.
Step 8: Finish It!
Top stitch around the top edge. I used a zig zag stitch because it helps the thick interfacing & stabilizer lay flat. It also helps strengthen the handle.Press in open edge of interior. Press & top-stitch close.
Voila! A super cute Easter or all year long basket just waiting to be filled with goodies.
{extras}
I made a similar basket for Jack on Halloween to carry his treats. Instead of inserting the handle I attached it at the end by creating a button hole & sewing on a button on each side. When removed, the basket is more like a bucket and again can be used all year long.Please let me know if you need any clarifications or of course, if I made any mistakes! Also, I'd love to see photos if anyone makes on of these little baskets...I'm sure there's tons of ideas out there to add cuteness. **Check out my Tutorials Page for more projects!
