How to Sew an Easter Basket

A fabric Easter basket allows younger children room to keep eggs and candy inside, and can be less expensive than buying an Easter basket. The cost can be minimal if you have leftover fabric scraps that you can use for the project. A simple cotton broadcloth or cotton/poly blend is appropriate to build a cloth Easter basket. Even if you are a beginning sewer, you can complete in less than two hours.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard of fabric
• 1 yard of stiff fusible interfacing
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Embellishments (optional)
• 2 buttons

Instructions

Cutting the Pieces

1. Lay the fabric out with the right sides together. Measure and cut two 10-inch-by-31.5-inch rectangles from the fabric.

2. Cut two 10-inch circles from the fabric.

3. Cut a strip of fabric 3 inches wide by 17 inches long.

4. Cut a single 10-inch circle from the stiff interfacing.

5. Cut a single 10-inch-by-31.5-inch rectangle from the interfacing.

Sewing the Basket

1. Place one of the fabric circles right side down, and lay the interfacing on top of it. Then lay the other fabric circle on top of the interfacing, with the right side up. Sew these three pieces together around the edge, creating a quarter-inch seam.

2. Pin the two 10-by-31.5-inch fabric rectangles together with the right sides facing. Place the 10-by-31.5-inch rectangle of interfacing on one side, and sew a quarter-inch seam along one long edge so that all three of these pieces are sewn together.

3. Fold the triple-layered rectangle in half, and sew all of the short edges together in a single quarter-inch seam.

4. Turn the rectangle right side out. Pin the open long edge of this piece to the outside edges of the 10-inch circle that will form the base.

5. Sew these pieces together with a quarter-inch seam, and turn the fabric basket inside out as needed so the seam is inside the basket.

Attaching the Handle

1. Fold the 3-by-17 inch rectangle in half lengthwise, with the right sides of the fabric facing.

2. Sew down the long edge and one short edge of the fabric, with a quarter-inch seam on both sides. Turn this fabric tube right side out.

3. Fold the bottom of the open short edge under and sew this closed as well.

4. Pin one end of the fabric handle to the outside of the basket and place a button over it. Sew these both to the basket.

5. Repeat this process on the opposite side to securely attach the handle. Add any embellishments, if desired.

References

• Craft Gossip