Nesting Bread Baskets

Make a set or two of these gorgeous bread baskets in an afternoon. Use seasonal fabrics for that special touch to complete any table.

MATERIALS

• 2 fat quarters floral • 2 fat quarters coordinating tonal • 2 batting rectangles 18" x 21" • Thread • 41/2 yards 3/8"-wide grosgrain ribbon • Template material • Water-erasable marker • Basic sewing tools and supplies

COMPLETING THE BREAD BASKETS

1. Prepare templates for large and small shells using patterns given. 2. Fold one floral fat quarter in quarters with wrong side out and crease; pin to hold. 3. Place the large shell pattern marked side up on the folded fat quarter, placing the edges marked “Place on fold” on the folded edges of the fat quarter as shown in Figure 1. 4. Trace around remaining two edges of the template, remove template and cut 1/4" from the marked line all around as shown in Figure 2. 5. Place the large shell piece right sides together with a coordinating tonal fat quarter on top of a batting rectangle and stitch all around using a 1/4" seam allowance and leaving a 4" opening on one side as shown in Figure 3. 6. Trim batting and tonal fabric close to stitching and clip into inner and outer curves as shown in Figure 4.

Turn right side out through the opening; press edges flat. Turn opening edge to the inside and hand-stitch the opening closed. 8. Measure, mark and stitch a 71/2" x 103/4" rectangle in the center of the stitched shell as shown in Figure 5.

9. Measure 3" in from each corner on the floral side to the corners of the stitched rectangle and mark as shown in Figure 6. 10. Cut four 19" lengths of ribbon. 11. Place one edge of the ribbon on a marked corner line and stitch to the center, turn ribbon, making a mitered corner, and stitch to the outer edge as shown in Figure 7.

12. Stitch the other edge of the ribbon in place and along the folded, mitered corner to finish one corner tie as shown in Figure 8.

13. Repeat steps 11 and 12 on each of the remaining corners to finish. 14. Quilt as desired. 15. To use, fold up sides along the inner stitched rectangle and tie a bow at each corner.

16. Repeat steps 2–15 with the second fat quarter set and batting rectangle, using the small shell pattern and stitching a5" x 8" rectangle in the center to make a smaller bread basket.