Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Tutorial ~ a fabric basket!

Working with my leftover quilt binding scraps here and here has been great fun, and also good for my frugal heart because I love to use what I already have.
Today I'm sharing another tutorial that will reduce your box of binding remnants!


You'll need :
two 8" x 14" rectangles of co-ordinating fabric
One 18" length of leftover quilt binding that also co-ordinates with your fabrics (this would be 2-1/2"  then doubled over for a 1-1/4"  wide strip of binding)
One 7" length of quilt binding that matches the fabric you have chosen for your lining (this would be 2" wide then doubled over for a 1"  wide strip of binding)
One 9" x 15" rectangle of remnant quilt wadding
One vintage button
Some Perle #12 thread for hand quilting

I chose the longer blue length of binding from my scraps first, then sorted through my fat quarters for fabrics that would 'shine' with the blue.
The strip of pink check binding was made from one of those fat quarters...


The main fabric was perfect for cross-hatching, so I pressed the fabric onto the quilt wadding and drew lines with a heat erasable marker...



Simple hand quilting with running stitch and grey Perle #12 thread...


Trim the excess wadding from the sides, fold the quilted fabric in half across the middle, and sew down both sides with a 1/4" seam...


Line up your ruler with the seam line at the bottom corners and cut out a 1.5 inch square...


Open out the corners and flatten across the cut edge. It kind of looks like an odd smile!


Sew a 1/4" seam across both corners...


Now you have the outside of the basket made...


Repeat these steps with the lining (omitting the wadding and quilting)...


With the outer basket turned the right way round, place the lining basket inside  - the wrong side of the lining and the wrong side of the basket will be facing each other. Pin the two together around the top raw edge...


Sew the two parts together around the top edge with a scant 1/8th inch seam...


Turn your basket inside out.
Pin the blue binding strip around the lining side of the basket, the raw edge of the lining and basket flush with each other...


 As with normal binding on a quilt, fold one end of the binding inside the other to close.
Turn the basket right way round again.
Press the binding over to the outer basket...


Slip stitch in place. This won't be seen so don't worry about perfect stitches...


Fold the top of your basket over so the lining shows...


I actually loved the basket just like this, but I also wanted to show you another use for leftover binding so let us continue!

 Flatten your 7" length of binding open, and sew both ends together with a 1/4" seam to make a ring.


Fold it back again and with needle and thread sew a line of running stitch around the circle, close to the raw edge...


Pull on the thread when you have completed the circle and gather tight.
Make a knot to secure the gather...


Choose a button that blends with your fabric colours.
I found one remaining 1960's blue from my vintage button collection and it was perfect for this project...


Place the gathered flower on the front of your basket, and sew the button to the centre.
All done!


I filled mine with old cotton spools...


What would you put in yours?

28 comments:

Robin in New Jersey said...

How cute is that?! I am going to make one for my mom for her birthday in August. Thanks for the great tutorial!

Julie said...

Just gorgeous Jenny ... you are SO kind & generous with your tutorials that you share - thanks so very much. I am off to look at my fabric scraps . . . . :-)

Christine M said...

I love it! What a clever way to use up those bits of left over binding. Thanks, Jenny! xx

Unknown said...

Thank you Jenny,
It"s so cute! Have to see what I have that I can coordinate. I definitely don't have your coordination skills.
May the Lord keep blessing you.
Faith

Joan A. said...

I would put my jewelry in it at night when I am traveling! Too, too cute! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Jenny another easy to follow tutorial and great idea, uses numerous and a sweet gift idea, now there's a thought could fill with sweets/chocs. Have material aplenty to create some. Made some fussy half inch paper hexis last night, could incorporate those. Thank you for inspiring and sharing and wish you a happy creative day. Judithann :-)

Createology said...

I can see sew many possibilities in this little stitched fabric basket. Gifts included and given to special peeps including men and boys when done in "guy" fabrics. You are sew very clever. Creative Bliss...

Judy1522 said...

That is such a cute fabric basket. I have many of the wooden spools with thread still on them so would probably put them into the basket like you did. That is a great idea for me as I have been trying to figure out something that would be pretty to keep them in. Thanks to you I have found it.

Lorrie said...

So cute. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I'd store threads or other sewing supplies in it - perhaps cards of buttons.

Kaylee said...

Great, tutorial, thank you Jenny

retdairyqueen said...

You are so clever Love this one xx

Lin said...

Lovely Jenny - I am making one this evening! xx

Nita said...

I don't know what I'll put in mine, but I just found what everyone's getting for Christmas this year! These are something I can sew by hand on these hot hot days we are having and I can take them camping to have a handwork project next week, too! Perfect! Thanks so much!

Palkó said...

SUPERB!
Thank you!!!

Unknown said...

Thank you... Could be a fun hands-on at Quilt group... nice little prize ... or table favor....
Thank you. Toni

Tammy said...

Oh my goodness this is way too cute.

Anonymous said...

Bello. Mi piace molto.
Laura

Margaret said...

Great tutorial, Jenny, and such a cute project. Thank you.

Pam in IL said...

Love it! Thanks for the tutorial.

Jusmom1 said...

Oh, Jenny...your little basket is just ADORABLE! I absolutely love it and know I will have to try to make one too, one of these days, lol. Thank you SO much for the tutorial! I think I will have to wait until my little basket is finished and then let it "tell me" what would look perfect inside.

Once again, thank you so much.
Lin

Christina said...

Very cute. Thank you for another great idea to use up the scraps.

Ingrid said...

Gracias por este tutorial Jenny. Muy hermosa cestita. La pondré en práctica. Un abrazo desde Venezuela.

gracie said...

Looks like so much work but you have made it simple. Thank you for sharing...

Else (the Netherlands) said...

Thank you so much, Jenny for this lovely tutorial.
'thought it might work as a thread-catcher too... ;-)
You always offer so many wonderful items. Just love the creativity you show! God Bless!

Deborah Jennings said...

Oh Jenny! I can already see that there are many of these baskets to be made in my future. I will be putting sewing supplies in one, scissors, seam ripper, etc. And then I want one in my bathroom to put my make-up in for easy access. And then there is the kitchen where I have many of the pour-ins for water bottles. And these are just off the top of my head. You are a. Awesome lady, and I love you dearly. Hopefully one day, we will get to meet face to face. You are the one to get me back interested into embroidery. It is the first hobby I ever had. I do have my grandmother's metal embroidery hoop. It is a tad discolored, but it still works. It is a special item of hers.

Jess said...

What a cute looking basket.

Nita said...

I made one! I'll send you a pic :). BTW what is the fabric you used? I just love it and would like to find some.

Galveston Gal said...

Hello! ...from Galveston Island,TX
Thank you for taking time to give us the tutorial.
Your warm smile and welcome style make your site a pleasure to visit.
I have 'Pinned' you... and plan to revisit.