DIY Fabric Basket Tutorial

If the term 'storage hacks' sets your pulse racing, then stand by for the fabric baskets of your dreams. With their contrasting prints and rolled cuffs, this little-and-large duo have a look-pretty-anywhere quality and they're reversible. A bit of canny folding gives them a square-based structure, which keeps them looking neat and feeling roomy.

Pack yours with craft supplies, toys or maybe even laundry. FYI: the smaller basket is just the right size for stashing whatever craft project you've left languishing beside the sofa.

 YOU WILL NEED

■    1.5m (59 1/8") white printed cotton (Fabric A)
■    1.5m(59 1/8") pale pink printed cotton (Fabric B)
■    1.5m (59 1/8") stiff iron-on interfacing
■    Matching sewing threads
■    Tailor's chalk

 

LARGE BASKET

Step one. Press both fabrics before starting. Mark out a 95 x 59cm (373/8 x 231/4") rectangle on both Fabrics A and B, then cut them out with a 1 cm (3/8") seam allowance. If the patterns are directional, bear in mind the shorter measurement will be the height of the baskets. 

Step two. Using the fabric as a template, cut a piece of iron-on interfacing. Position the interfacing rectangle with the shiny side facing, then place the Fabric B rectangle on top of the interfacing, right side (RS) up and aligning the edges. Press to seal the two layers together. 

Step three. Next, fold the fabric and interfacing piece in half along the length, with the fabric sides together and aligning the short edges. Position the folded edge to the left, then pin the opposite edge and the bottom edge, leaving the top edge open. Repeat this step with the Fabric A rectangle, RS together. Finally, sew the pinned edges using a 1cm (3/8") seam allowance.

Step four. To create the base of the bucket, flatten out one of the corners of the Fabric A piece, aligning the seams to create a point. The side seam should be running in a straight line away from you.

Step five. Measure 12cm (4 3/4") up from the point of the corner and draw a line horizontally across the seam. Pin along this line and sew in place. Repeat Steps 4-5 to make a second corner. 

Step six. Trim the corners, 1cm (3/8") from the stitching. Repeat Steps 4-5 with the Fabric B rectangle. 

Step seven. Turn the Fabric B piece RS out, then tuck the Fabric A piece inside it, wrong sides (WS) together, and aligning the edges of the base and the seams.

Step eight. Fold the top raw edges of the fabrics to the WS by 1 cm (3/8"), pinning the folded edges together as you go. Sew using a 0.5cm (1/4") seam allowance.

Step nine. To create the cuff, fold the top edge of the basket over by approximately 2cm (3/4"), then fold it over again by about 7cm (2 3/4").

SMALL BASKET

Step one. Repeat Steps 1-9, this time cutting Fabrics A and B and the iron-on interfacing into 63 x 42cm (24 7/8 x I61/2") rectangles.

Step two. When you reach Step 5, measure 7.5cm (3") up from the corner points to mark the line, and at Step 9, fold the top edge of the basket over by approximately 2cm (3/4"), then again by about 5cm (2") to create the cuff of the basket.