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​Pattern Reviews, Easy Projects, Tips, & Sew-a-longs 

4/24/2021 4 Comments

Simple to Sew: Fabric Basket

Sew a fabric basket to store you little and bigger items. They're great for snacks in the pantry or corralling  makeup items on the bathroom counter. Let's get organized!

Have you caught the organization bug lately? You've cleaned your house and now need homes for all the random little things? With the world starting to open back up, you are probably having visions of people coming over. I bet you're thinking about all the backyard parties as well. Or not. Either way, everyone could use some easy storage ideas for their home. 

Fabric baskets or bins are the perfect small storage remedy. Keep some hand sanitizer inside a cute basket for your visitors. Make one and fill it with snacks for a new neighbor. Use them in the craft room for thread spools or fabric scraps. Or, make some fun home decor baskets for your kitchen and keep fruit inside.

Pick out fun fabrics from your stash or purchase new styles you love. These simple to sew, fabric baskets are 100% customizable. Soon, every room will have a fabric bin. Once you make one, you'll want to make more. I promise! Yay for getting organized!

Let's get started.
Picture


​Supply List:


  • Sewing Machine
  • 1/4 yard (minimum) fabric for outer
  • 1/4 yard fabric for lining
  • Fusible or sew-in fleece interfacing
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Matching or contrasting thread
  • Pins or clips
  • Scissors
  • All your other sewing notions you love

If you're looking for budget-friendly sewing options, read this post. It's long and has tons of information. If you're brand spankin' new to sewing, start there. It's a great in depth post even if you're a seasoned sewer. 
Coffee diva fabric to make fabric baskets.
I chose quilting cottons for this fabric basket.
Quilting fabric, canvas, upholstery fabrics, and linen make great fabric basket choices.
So many fabric choices to choose from.

 
​Fabric Choices:

You want a medium to heavy weight fabric to make fabric bins with. The fabrics listed below are great options but, experiment with what you have on hand too. Make these entirely your own. One fabric I don't recommend is stretch knit. 
  • Canvas 
  • Denim
  • Quilting cotton
  • Home decor fabric
  • Upholstery fabric
  • Linen
  • Oilcloth and vinyl (I don't use interfacing for this fabric)
how to make a fabric basket. DIY storage bin
Choose a contrasting lining fabric for extra style.


​
​Sew a Fabric Basket:

  1. Prewash and iron your fabric. *If you are using oilcloth or vinyl, skip this step.
  2. Cut 2 rectangles of your outer and 2 of the lining fabrics. Each should measure 10" wide by 8" tall. Of course, you can change up this measurement. Make them longer or shorter, taller or wider. This just gives you a starting point.
  3. Interfacings: Cut your interfacing and add to your fabric following the package instructions.
  • This is where you can experiment. Use lightweight, heavyweight, or fleece interfacing. 
  • When I make a smaller basket with denim or canvas, I tend to not add interfacing. 
  • When sewing with quilting cotton, I use fleece or a medium-weight fusible. Find what works best for you.
  • Foam interfacing is really nice to use. It costs more but, creates such a nice finish and look.
Trace pattern measurements onto your fabric for sewing a fabric basket.
Trace your bin measurements onto your fabric.
Cut out your lining the same size as the outer fabric.
The lining should be the same size as the outer fabric.
How to sew a beginner friendly fabric bin for storage.
Cut out your rectangle shaped fabric pieces.
How to make boxed corners in sewing
Cut out a 2" square on both bottom corners. These are going to give you basket the boxy 3D shape.
     4.  Cut squares into your fabric pieces. For the measurement above (10"x8") you'll measure a 2" square. Using a quilting ruler makes this part               easy. If you don't have one, just mark 2" from the bottom and sides. *I like to place all 4 layers together to cut the corners. When I go to pin               the sides and bottoms, I match the corners up. This ensures even corners.

If your basket is smaller, make a 1.5" square. If it's larger, mark a 2.5" or 3", and so forth.

I'm sure there's a science to it but, I don't really do math. LOL
​How am I a sewer, you ask? I don't know. ; -)
Making boxed corners in fabric bins.
I cut squares into both layers at the same time. It seems to keep them more even later when I sew them together.
Sewing to the moon Beginner friendly sewing patterns
Use a quilting ruler to make sure they're exact.
Easy home sewing project. Storage bins
Both layers should look like this.

Interfacing Hack: Piecing it Together

Add interfacing to the outer fabric. 

Here's a quick tip on interfacing if you don't have a big enough solid piece.
​
If you're short on interfacing, piece it together like a puzzle. I do this more often than I'd like to admit for my projects. So, shhh, don't tell anyone. You can't tell from the correct side. Thinner pieces should overlap slightly while thicker interfacings should butt up next to each other. 
Beginner friendly sewing project
Using a solid piece of fleece interfacing is nice but, not always feasible.
How to use pieces of interfacing when there's not a big enough solid piece.
Place the interfacing pieces together like a puzzle, starting with the largest piece first. Cut smaller pieces to size and place them as close as you can to form a "solid" piece.
Sewing tip for using small interfacing pieces.
Use a press-cloth to quickly glue the small pieces to the fabric. Then flip over to press again. This keeps the tiny pieces from falling off when you turn over the main fabric.
How to apply interfacing.
Press again with your iron from the fabric right side up.


​After your fabric pieces are cut, interfaced, and corners cut out, you're ready to sew! 
Making fabric storage basket bins.
Can't see the different between the solid interfaced piece and the puzzle pieced one.

Time to Sew

  1. Place the two lining pieces RST and pin/clip together.
  2. Place the two outer pieces RST and pin/clip together. 
  3. Use a 1/4" seam allowance, and sew each side and bottom together, backstitching at the beginning and end. 
Make a basket out of sewing fabric
Place the lining and outer pieces RST. Sew down the sides and the bottom.
How to make boxed corners
Pinch the lining corner together.
Sewing to the Moon sewing blog. Retro vintage sewing
Match seams up.
Vintage style sewing
Pin together, then sew.
     4.  Now, sandwich the corners together to form the boxy bottom. Pinch them in the opposite direction so, the seams you just sewed are on top  of each other. Pin together. It should lie flat if your cutting was exactly a square. Match up the side seams up because you will see them.
     5.  Sew across the small corner area with a 1/2" seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end. Trim your seam allowances.

Do the same thing with the outer fabrics.
Sewing a boxed basket
Pinch the outer corner together.
Sewing an easy fabric bin
Sew together just like the lining was sewn.
Sewing beginner friendly patterns.
Sew the outer corners.
Sew with your iron. Press seams for a nice sewing finish.
Press the side seams from the right side of the bin. This seals the seams and gives it a nice finish.
    6.  Turn the lining right side out. Place the lining piece inside the outer piece. The right sides should be touching each other. Pin together at the    side seams first, then continue to pin around the whole top of the bin. Leave a 4" gap for turning out. You can do this at the back or along a side seam area. 
Placing pieces together when sewing fabric bins.
This part confuses sewers sometimes. Just be sure to match the right sides together.
How to insert pins while sewing seams together.
Pin at side seams first.
How to add pins while sewing fabric bins.
Pin all the way around the top. Mark a 4 inch gap for turning out.
Sewing fabric baskets. Beginner sewing patterns
Use 2 hands to rotate the storage bin while sewing. You may have to stop every few stitches to reposition it.
    7.  Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the whole top making sure to catch both layers. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the opening. 
      8.  Turn the fabric basket out. Reach inside and gently pull out the lining through the gap you left open. Then, reach inside and grab the outer fabric and pull it out, gently. This is little more difficult because of the thicker interfacing. Just be patient and keep pulling it out through the opening.
  
How to bag out a sewing bag or basket
Reach inside and gently pull out the lining.
Poking out corners while sewing
Grab your chopstick to poke out the corners, carefully.
Poke out the corners using a chopstick or blunt end of a pencil. I love using my chopstick for poking out corners. My dad brought it back for me, from China, when he visited 20 years ago. It's a near and dear to me, sewing notion. :-)
Sewing home decor bins for your small storage needs.
After pulling out the lining and outer pieces, its time to push the lining back in to form the bin.
How to make a fabric basket
Push the lining down into the fabric basket.
Sew a simple storage basket with fabric.
Press, then add pins where the opening is.
How to topstitch a fabric bin
Topstitch around the top. Add a second row of stitching for added style and stability if you'd like.
Check your seams. Make sure everything is neat and tidy. No interfacing is sticking out or fabric that wasn't sewn in, accidentally. No puckers either. If anything is happening that you don't love, grab that seam ripper. 


    9.  Push your lining back down into the basket. Press the top edge with your iron to flatten out the seam bulk.
   10.  Last step! Pin the opening closed, and topstitch around the whole top. You can even do a second row of stitching using the edge of your pressure foot as a guide.

That's it. You're done! Go fill it up with whatever fun things you have that need a home.

It looks like a lot of steps but, it's not. Once you make a simple fabric basket, you'll want to make more. They're great for storing all the little things and big things. Just follow the interfacing guide up above and experiment with different fabrics and sizes. You can add handles or loops for hanging too. Make an extra-long loop on a bin to use for a trash bin inside your car. There are endless possibilities for these little baskets of fun. 

Share in the comment section what you plan to use them for. 

Thanks for hanging out and stay tuned for more Simple to Sew sewing projects. Zippers are up next!


Annette


Need something a little more time-consuming so sew? Check out this post on the Charms Pattern Rita Blouse. 

During all the Spring cleaning chaos, have you cleaned your sewing machine lately? Here's a quick 5 minute cleaning tutorial. 


Use #simpletosew on Instagram so we can all see each other's creations. 

More Fabric Basket Options

Play with sizing. Make them tall. Make them short. If you're unsure if the sizing will work for your needs, use scrap paper to staple the pieces together. These are meant to be customized for your own use. Have fun with them!
Fabric baskets are great for storage options.
Fold the top over for a fun contrast look.
Hanging fabric baskets
Add a strip of webbing or make a strap to hang them.
Ed Hardy home decor fabric basket
Add a handle on each side for larger sized baskets. Carry them from room to room.
Nostalgic candy party decor
Make them taller to fit large items.
4 Comments
Tez link
6/29/2021 03:40:19 pm

I really like the patterns you showed for the baskets. I need to get a basket for all of the blankets we have. I'll have to get something that can fit 4 blankets.

Reply
Annette
6/30/2021 09:36:47 pm

Hi Tez!
You could probably make a huge one using larger pieces of fabric for the basket. Maybe 1/2 yard each? Definitely use medium to heavy weight interfacing and add handles. If you make a large one, tag me on Instagram. I'd love to see what you create. :) Thanks for visiting!!

Reply
Loulou link
6/27/2022 12:08:42 am

Thank you for clear instructions. New to sewing have made a couple of storage boxes. Why does the fabric crinkle when I'm adding interfacing. Thanks

Reply
Annette
6/27/2022 07:39:41 pm

Hi Loulou,
Congrats on learning to sew! It's such a fun hobby, isn't it? I've found that fusible fleece doesn't create wrinkles as easily when making these fabric baskets. It's soft and pliable, and is my go-to for these. Stiffer interfacing creates more wrinkles, unfortunately. You can play around with different ones and find which type works best for you. :) Thanks for popping by and happy sewing!

Reply



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    Hi there, I'm Annette and I love eating and sewing. I usually have a cup of coffee or tea with me, but not next to my machine because I'd probably spill it. I am the reason we can't have nice things.

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