How to Make a Fabric Mini Basket

We can never have enough storage and when it comes Christmas season, a handmade storage basket makes the best gift. Add personal charm with sewing machine embroidery faster than ever.

Finished basket size =  5″ x 5″ x 5 1/4″

Materials to make a fabric mini basket:

• Download the Fabric Mini-Basket Rose Template
• 2 (two) 5 1/2 inch square of cream solid fabrics
• 2 (two) 5 1/2 inch square of printed fabric
• 2 (two) 6 x 5 1/2 inch rectangles of print fabrics for pockets
• 1 (one) 20 1/2 x 6 inch rectangle of print fabric for lining
• 2 (two) 6 x 6 inch square of print fabrics for bottom
• 1 (one) 20 x 5 inch rectangle of fusible batting (medium weight)
• 1 (one) 30 x 2 1/2 inch strip of binding fabric
• 2 (two) 3 x 5 1/2 inch rectangle of fusible interfacing
• Stabilizer
• 28-weight gray thread for machine sewing (or gray embroidery thread for hand embroidery)
• Your sewing machine
• Open embroidery foot (BERNINA Open embroidery foot #20/#20C/#20D)

Embroidery

1. Download the Rose Pattern for the Fabric Mini Basket above. Transfer the rose on the cream solid fabric centrally using a fabric marker.

2. Thread the sewing machine with the 28-weight gray thread and shorten the stitch length to 0.7mm. Attach an open-toe appliqué foot (BERNINA Open embroidery foot #20) to see better. Place a piece of stabilizer on the back. 

3. Using a regular straight stitch, sew around each letter. Sew the rose pattern on the remaining cream solid fabric following the same steps.

Making basket units

      4. Fuse 3 x 5 1/2 inch fusible interfacing on the wrong side of 6 x 5 1/2 inch pocket fabric matching one side. Make two and fold in half.

      5. Place a pocket atop of 5 1/2 in print fabric. Sew the embroidered piece and the pocket unit together. Make two.

6. Sew all the basket units together matching short raw edges and press seam one side.

7. Sew the 20 1/2 x 6 inch lining fabric to the basket and fuse 20 x 5 inch fusible batting on the wrong side of the basket unit.

     8. Topstitch 1/8 inch from each seam line between side panels and pockets.

     9. Fold in the lining, press well and pin the top raw edges.

10. Fuse 5 1/4 inch square fusible batting on the wrong side of 6 inch square bottom fabrics centrally. Sew two 6 inch square bottom fabric together, right side facing, with 3/4 inch seam allowance, leaving a 3 inch opening for turning. Turn right side out and press well. The bottom should measure 5 1/4 inch square. Hand stitch opening closed.

Assemble and finish

11. Pin the bottom unit and the basket unit in place and hand stitch to assemble. Use 100% cotton Quilting thread for sturdy finish.

12. Sew the binding to the top edge of basket and fold the binding over to the back of the basket and then hand stitch in place to finish.

13. Embellish the pocket with labels if you have one. Attach the handles using eyelet tool.

Originally from BERNINA WE ALL SEW