Bread basket

YOU WILL NEED

Outer fabric: 34x34cm (13!⁄"x13!⁄"in) Lining fabric: 34x34cm (13!⁄"x13!⁄"in) Stranded cotton

Mount board: white, 25x50cm (10x20in)

Four 10mm (!⁄"in) snap fasteners: antique brass

Basic sewing kit

MATERIALS USED

The fabrics used are from Hantex Linens.

Outer fabric: Ash Grey Spots, Natural Ref: LT126-7.

Lining fabric: Natural Solid. Ref: LT511. For stockists visit www.hantex.co.uk/linen

NOTES

Use a 1cm (!⁄"in) seam allowance. You will find the embroidery templates on pull-out pattern sheet provided with this issue.

CUTTING OUT

Step one In order to place your embroidery correctly on the fabric, it’s best to mark lines on the outer fabric to indicate the edges of the sides and base. Using an erasable marker, draw a vertical line all the way down the fabric 7cm (2¾in) in from the left-hand side, then another vertical line 7cm (2¾in) in from the edge of the right-hand side.

Step two Turn your fabric around by 90° and repeat this exactly, marking another two lines 7cm (2¾in) in from either side to make a grid.

EMBROIDERING THE WORDS

Step one You can stitch a word in the centre of each outer side or just one side if you prefer. Each word needs to be placed centrally across the marked section as these are the sides of the bread basket.

Step two Trace the word from the pull-out pattern sheet or draw or print out your own. Step three It’s important that the word faces the right way, so place your tacked outer fabric right sides (RS) up and place the traced word underneath so that it lies centrally in one side section between the two tacked lines. Refer to the image to see in which direction the words need to face. Trace over the word in pencil. Step four If you want to embroider on all four sides, then repeat this by turning the fabric around by 90°and tracing it in the centre of a side section again. You can use the same word on each side or embroider different words as we have done.

Step five Using six strands of stranded cotton, work chain stitch exactly on top of the traced lines until you have completed stitching over all your traced lines.

JOINING THE FABRICS

Step one Turn one side of the fabric under by 1cm (!⁄"in) and press.

Step two Repeat by turning one edge under on the lining fabric.

Step three Place the outer and lining fabrics RS together, making sure the turned-over edges are touching, and stitch together around the three sides that aren’t turned over.

Step four Turn the fabric RS out and press.

ADDING THE MOUNT BOARD

Step one Cut the mount board pieces out to the following measurements (these will be used to give your bread basket structure): Base: 19.5x19.5cm (7¾x7¾in).

Sides: Four pieces 19.5x5.5cm (7¾2¼in).

Step two With the open ends of the fabric facing towards you, stitch the two vertical lines by stitching through both layers of fabric, using the marked lines to help you keep your stitching straight.

Step three Slip one side mount board piece between the stitched lines so it sits at the opposite end of the joined fabric.

Step four Stitch the horizontal line across the top to hold the mount board in place. You’ll find it easier if you use a zip foot in your machine here, swinging the needle over to the tacked line so the foot doesn’t sit on top of the mount board.

Step five Slip the two side pieces and then the base piece in.

Step six Stitch along the horizontal line to hold these in place.

Step seven Finally, slip the top side piece of card in and then slip stitch the open sides closed to hold this in place.

ADDING THE FASTENERS

Step one To finish off, punch a snap fastener on each corner close to the mount board side edges following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you punch the corresponding half opposite to it so they match up when they are pressed closed.

Step two Press the snap fasteners together to close each corner.