How to Make a Round Fabric Basket

To make a fabric basket, you’ll need few basic sewing supplies and no more than
a couple hours of your time!

SUPPLIES –

• (2) – 27″ x 6″ pieces of quilting cotton for the lining and exterior part of
the bag
• (1) 23″ x 3 3/4″ piece of cotton for the handle. This piece will be the
underside of the handle (Fabric A).
• (1) 23″ x 2 3/4″ piece of cotton for the handle. This will be the accent
piece (Fabric B).
• (1) 26″ x 5″ piece of canvas or heavier weight fabric This will be used as
interfacing.
• (1) 23″ x 1 1/2″ piece of canvas for the handle.
• Elmer’s Glue
• sewing supplies
• (3) 8 3/4″ circles – one canvas and the other two cotton.

DIRECTIONS –

To Make the Handle:

1. This is neat little trick makes perfect handles for totes, etc. With right sides
together, sew a 1/4″ seam along the longest side of the handle fabrics.
2. Press the seam open. Place the canvas strip onto fabric A.
3. Fold over fabric B towards the seam.
4. Fold fabric A towards the seam.
Press.

5. Fold fabric B again over fabric A until there’s a nice accent trim on both
sides. Press.
6. Pin into place and topstitch.

To Make the Basket Lining:

1. Take your lining fabric and place face down. Place the canvas strip on top.
Leave a 1/2″ on the bottom and sides, and 1″ at the top.
2. Apply a little Elmer’s Washable School glue along the edges in between the
two pieces. Press with a hot iron. This will heat set the glue and keep the
fabric in place while we construct the basket. No worries. It will not break
or gum up your needle or machine or damage your fabric. *You can also use
fusible webbing, if you did not want to use the glue. Apply according to
directions.
3. Fold the lining fabric right sides together along the short side, and sew a
1/2″ seam. Press the seam open. (Not pictured)
4. Lay the base (round circle) face down and place the canvas on top. Attach
the base to the lining with right sides together. Attach this base to the side with
the 1/2″ of no interfacing.

5. Slowly, sew the base to the lining using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Make sure
to avoid pucks and tucks.
6. Leave your lining as pictured above and set aside.

To Make the Outer Basket:

1. With right sides together on your outer fabric for the basket, sew a 1/2″
seam along the short side and press open. After sewing, if your fabric has a
particular direction, place it upside down, as pictured. With the seam in the
middle, flatten the fabric and press with your fingers on the outside to
crease the fabric. This will let you know exactly where to place the handle.
2. Insert the handle inside the fabric, pin, and stitch the handle into place.
Attach your bottom like you did for the lining. Pull the basket right side out.
To Construct the Basket:

1. Place the outer piece inside your lining that you had set aside making sure
both pieces touch right sides together. Make sure the handle is resting at
the bottom on the basket and out of the way.
2. Lining the tops of both pieces, pin into place. Notice the handle is out of
the way and at the bottom of the basket. Sew a 1/4″ seam along the top
leaving about a 3″ opening.
3. Pull the bag right side out through the opening you left.
4. Push your basket down focusing on the bottom edges and making sure all
edges are pushed out. You can place a few fingers in the hole, and move the
fabric around. This next part takes a little time and patience, so don’t skip
this! To achieve a better looking basket, you will need to press the top edge
with a hot iron. It takes a little time working the fabric so it isn’t wonky, but
all the extra effort is worth it in the end. Topstitch close to the edge. This
will also close up the opening.

Finishing Touches:

1. Pin the handle into place, and topstitch in place along the length of the
basket. You can get creative with your topstitching or keep it simple. I
stitched in the ditch.

…and that’s it!!! Enjoy!