How to Make Basket Liners
If you are tired of looking at old, worn-out, mismatched baskets sitting around your house, try improving their look by giving them a quick budget-friendly fix. Liners can unify mismatched baskets and keep them clean and looking new for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Decide how much fabric you want on the outside of your basket. Most liners have an overhang of 1 to 2 inches, so decide what would be most visually appealing to you.
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2
Measure your basket width-wise. If you want a 2-inch overhang, begin measuring 2 inches from the top of the basket. Measure up over the top edge, down the inside of the basket, across the bottom, up the other side and over the edge another 2 inches. Your measuring tape should look like a fancy "U" when measuring.
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3
Add an additional 3 inches to your total measurement for a tie and casing. If you measured 29 inches, add 3 for a total of 32 inches of fabric.
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4
Measure the dimensions of the shorter ends of your basket. Measure the width and height of the end sections. If your width was 12 inches, add an additional inch to your measurement for seams.
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5
Buy more fabric than you need because it will come in handy if you make mistakes. Three yards of fabric or more is recommended. There are 36 inches in a yard, so make your purchasing decisions based upon how much is needed for the basket assembly.
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6
Cut the inside liner to your measurements. If your basket measurements were 32 and 19, cut your fabric that size. Cut your two end pieces to fit your measurements.
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7
Mark the middle of your inside liner (on the 32-inch side) with a pin. Mark the middle of one of your 13-inch pieces with a pin.
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8
Match up the middle of both pieces of fabric and pin them to each other face down (the fabric prints should face each other). Secure the ends of the smaller piece of fabric to the larger piece with pins.
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9
Fold back each of the edges of the large piece of fabric so they meet the edge pieces of the end piece. Pin fabric in place. The large and small pieces of fabric should make nice corners when this is completed.
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10
Sew the fabric together. Once sewed into place, go back over the fabric with a zigzag to ensure everything is in place. Repeat steps 7 through 9 for the other end corner. Trim extra fabric off the ends of the liner. Even out any uneven edges.
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11
Find the center on one of the long sides of fabric. Cut a 2 1/2-inch incision into the fabric. Sew the ends of the incision using a zigzag stitch.
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12
Fold the two stitched sides over so the incision looks like a V. Pin both incision sides down. Fold down the upper edge of the fabric 1/2 inch. Fold the fabric another inch over the 1/2 fold. This fold will make your casing for the liner.
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13
Sew the fold into place. Try to get your stitching as close to the first fold as possible.
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14
Make a tie for your liner by cutting a piece of fabric 1 1/2 inches wide by the length of your liner. Remember to add an additional 2 to 3 inches to the total length of your liner so you can tie a bow.
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15
Fold your tie 1/4 inch in on each side, then fold the fabric in half. Sew the ends together. If needed, iron the fabric before sewing. Thread your liner and place in your basket.
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Tips & Warnings
Creating liners for circular baskets requires the same steps; the only difference is you will be working with one end piece instead of two.
Use caution when using a sewing machine. If not used properly, injury may result.
