Nice and neat
Get your workspace in order with a little spring clean and the help of Laura Strutt’s quick- to- sew baskets.
Get your sewing space in order with the help of Laura Strutt’s quick- to- sew baskets.
YOU WILL NEED
To make all three baskets:
■ Selection of fabric scraps in a range of complementary shades
■ Cream linen ½ yd
■ Lightweight fusible interfacing 1 ¼ yds ( 35in wide)
Finished Size
■ Small: 6in x 7in ( 2in deep)
■ Medium: 7 ½ in x 8 ½ in ( 2in deep)
■ Large: 13in x 12in ( 2in deep)
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼ in throughout, unless otherwise noted.
■ Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.
FABRICS USED
■ This project was made using a selection of scrap fabrics from the designer ranges at Art Gallery Fabrics.
CUTTING OUT
1 For the small basket cut:
■ Four ( 4) 4in x 10 ½ in pieces from the linen.
■ Fifty- six ( 56) 2in squares from the fabric
scraps.
■ Two ( 2) 11 ½ in x 10 ½ in pieces from the interfacing.
2 For the medium basket cut:
■ Four ( 4) 4in x 12in pieces from the linen.
■ Ninety ( 90) 2in squares from the fabric scraps.
■ Two ( 2) 12in x 13in pieces from the interfacing.
3 For the large basket cut:
■ One hundred and thirty- eight ( 138)
2in squares from the fabric scraps.
■ Four ( 4) 5in x 17 ½ in pieces from the linen.
■ Two ( 2) 17 ½ in x 16 ½ in pieces from the
interfacing.
PIECING THE PATCHWORK PANELS
4 For the small basket, join the 2in squares into a panel of four by fourteen ( 4 x 14) squares. Press seams and trim into two pieces, each measuring 10 ½ in x 4 ½ in. Trim from both long edges, as shown, to centre your squares ( Fig 1).
5 For the medium basket, join the 2in squares into a panel of five by eighteen ( 5 x 18) squares. Press seams and trim into two pieces, each measuring 12in x 6in. Again, trim from both long edges to centre your squares.
6 For the large basket, join the 2in squares into a panel of six by twenty- three ( 6 x 23) squares. Press seams and trim into two pieces, each measuring 17 ½ in x 7 ½ in. As before, trim from both long edges to centre your squares.
7 For each basket, join one of the linen pieces to each of the long sides of the two patchwork panels and press the seams neatly towards the patchwork fabrics ( Fig 2).
Finish the seams with a zigzag stitch, to help prevent fraying. We'd recommend treating all of the raw linen edges in this way.
8 Working on one panel at a time, position the fabric right side down and place the interfacing centrally on top, cover with a slightly damp pressing cloth and press in place to bond. Repeat to secure the second piece in the same manner.
9 Place right sides together aligning the sides. Stitch together around all four sides, leaving a gap for turning.
10 Clip the seams at the corners and turn though the gap, ensuring the corners are pushed out fully. Press the seam allowance along the turning gap to the inside and close with neat slip stitches.
CONSTRUCTING THE BASKETS
11 Press the entire piece on both sides to neaten. Then, working on one side at a time, measure and fold one side in towards the centre by 2in and press to form a crease. Repeat the process, folding in each side by 2in and pressing neatly ( Fig 3).
12 With the sides folded upwards along the pressed folds, pinch together the fabrics at two of the sides where they meet at the corner – a small flat triangle shape will protrude from the corner of the box. Pin in place or secure with binding clips.
13 With a length of embroidery thread, work a few small hand stitches over the top of the two sections at the point of the join to secure ( Fig 4). Repeat for all four corners.
You could add a snap fastener at the corner instead of stitching to create a basket that folds away flat.