DIY Fabric Easter Basket

by Mandia Moise on March 26, 2015

Forget about March 21^st. Easter is the true kick off to Spring, isn’t it? Why not celebrate the arrival of Spring and whip up some simple Easter baskets for your happy egg hunters this week? It’s simple to do and you can choose your own fabrics designs and embellishments to suit each one.

By: Mandia

Supplies needed:

A half yard (or less) of fabric for outside of basket (depending on the size of your basket)
A half yard (or less) of fabric for inside of basket
A half meter (or less) of heavy weight felt, or fusible interfacing
Thread
Ruler & measuring tape
Light pencil or fabric marker
Something round for tracing (bowl, pie plate, or a protractor).

Here’s how.

1. Choose a round object to trace. This will become the base of your basket. I used a metal kitchen bowl.

2. Trace this round shape onto all three of your selected fabrics (outer fabric, inner fabric, and felt (or interfacing).

3. After tracing, cut out a single layer of fabric for each of the three fabrics.

4. Measure the outside circumference of your round object. In my case, this was a kitchen bowl. My bowl was 30 inches around. Subtract 1 inch from this measurement to determine the length of your basket sides.

5. Decide how deep (or tall) you would like your basket to be. How much will it need to hold? What type of goodies will you be hunting for? I decided to go with a taller basket so that my little one can trail around all her favourite stuffed animals in the basket when Easter is over. It’s a little big for egg hunting, unless the Easter Bunny is extra generous this year. I cut my fabric 12 inches tall to allow for ½ inch seam allowances, as well as some fabric to fold over at the top (more on that later). So my basket side fabric pieces are 29 inches long, and 12 inches tall.

6. Measure and cut your rectangles out of all three fabrics. You should now have these pieces.

7. Take your inside fabric rectangle and pin the short ends together. You should have the right sides of the fabric together. For my basket I chose a heavyweight canvas for the inside so I decided to use my felt layer on the outside (more on that later).

8. Sew your side seams together with a ½ inch seam allowance. Trim any excess and press your seam open. You should now have a tube of fabric.

9. Now it’s time to attach your basket base. Take your round piece of fabric and pin it into the tube of fabric. Be sure to keep your right sides together here, and be sure that there are no puckers of fabric in your pinning. If you have any puckering you will end up with pleats or folds in your basket, which you don’t want.

10. Once the fabric is pinned all the way around and seems smooth, sew with a ½ seam allowance around the base. Once complete, trim any excess seam allowance and press your seam upwards to the top of your basket.

11. Put the inside layer of your basket aside. For the outer portion of the basket I chose a floral fabric. Since this fabric is very thin, I decided that this is where I would incorporate the extra layer of felt. The felt will help to keep your basket’s shape. Repeat steps 7 – 10 with your outer layer (+ felt) of the fabric.

12. Once this is done, you should have two pouches of fabric.

13. Here’s the tricky part. Make sure that your fabric that will be the inside of the basket is currently inside-out. You should be able to see the seam allowances. Your outside fabric should be right side out. Slide the two pouches together, matching up your seam allowances. Pin along the top sides of the basket.

14. Now, sew your two pouches together at the top of the basket. Be sure you are incorporating all three layers (outer fabric, felt and inner fabric). Leave a 4-5 inch opening so that you can turn your basket right side out.

15. Once the top is sewn, use your opening to pull the outer fabric through. You should now have something like this. Press your seam allowance down towards the base of your basket. Press your opening in the same direction as well.

16. Pin your opening closed and top stitch 1/8 of an inch from the edge of the fabric. This will help to close your opening and to keep your seam allowance where you want it.

Now this is where you get to the fun part. You can decide to decorate your basket with any variety of elements to make it look however you like. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration. There are baskets with ears, and bunny faces embroidered on them, baskets covered in fancy buttons, or with feather boas lining the top edge. I decided to keep mine a little more simple – but there really are so many amazing ideas out there.

17. I decided to fold the top of my basket over a bit so that I could see both the outer fabric and the lining fabric all the time. I folded the top of my basket over 2 inches and pressed. Measure and pin your fold down all the way around your basket.

18. Stitch your fold down along the same stitch line where you previously topstitched your basket top together.

Almost done, just one last step to go – the handle. Making the handle is a bit of a guessing job. I saved this step until my basket was almost done, so that I could decide how long, thick or heavy I wanted it to be in relation to my basket.

19. Measure and cut two long strips of fabric. I made each strip for the handle 24 inches long, and 2.5 inches wide. Cut the same dimensions of felt or interfacing for these pieces, as well.

20. With the right sides of your fabric together, and your felt on the outside, sew down one long side of the handle with a ½ inch seam allowance. Open your fabric and press your seam allowance open.

21. On the outer sides of your handle (that are not yet sewn) iron the edges over by ½ inch (going towards the middle seam).

22. Once this is ironed, fold your fabric over and pin the two folded edges together. Sew along the edge with a top stitch.

23. You should now have a handle. Be sure the ends of your handle are trimmed straight and zig-zag over the edges to prevent from fraying.

24. Fold your basket (the pouch part) together. I made sure to centre the seam. Pinch the sides to help make sure you are marking the same location to attach the strap on each side of the basket. Mark your location with a pin or fabric marker.

25. Sew your straps on each side of the basket. I sewed my straps onto the basket about 2 inches down, to coincide with fold over on the top of my basket.