The {Flutterby} Basket

I've been having so much fun making all kinds of Easter and Spring projects! I whipped up a whole bunch of carrot treat boxes that you can see HERE. After I was done, I really wanted some type of basket to put them in. My sweet friend made me a really cute fabric basket years ago. I had asked her if I could have the pattern and she told me she had gotten it off of Pinterest. I decided that it would just be easier to come up with something myself. There are many different versions of this type of fabric container, but this is my version. I have included a tutorial if you'd like to make one yourself. I'm calling it The {Flutterby} Basket.

I'm planning on giving these to friends and family  filled with all kinds of Easter goodies, including my carrot treat boxes {of course}.

I had so much fun putting them together and they are perfect to hold all kinds of things! 

My tree has blossomed and it was the perfect backdrop to photograph a few of the different fabric combinations.

I picked up a few fat quarters at my favorite fabric store the other day and just couldn't wait to get started. Since I was coming up with my own pattern, I had to do a little math. By the time I was finished with the first one, I figured out all of the things that needed tweaking. If you follow this tutorial, you should end up with a nice finished product. I have had the chance to put it to the test now, numerous times! LOL! I ended up making 9 or so.

Grab your cutting mat, quilting ruler and rotary cutter and let's get started! You will want to choose your fabrics for the top piece, the bottom piece, the lining and the handles. It is important to use the right proportions in your print when selecting which fabrics to use. You don't want too large of a pattern to be used in the smaller places because they will get lost.

I have arranged the fabric in these photos so you can get a visual of how it will be put together. The bottom portion is 9 by 7 inches (orange) and the top portion is 9 by 3 inches (blue floral), you will need to cut two of these,the handles are the same floral and are 4 inches by 13-14 inches. The lining fabric measures 9 by 12 inches and is the blue chevron print.

I like to begin by making the handles. It is the last thing that you need, but by the time I am done putting everything else together, I'm so excited to see how it will turn out that I don't want to wait! I guess I'm still like a little kid at Christmas! LOL! 

To begin, fold the strip in half and press with a nice crease. Fold in one side to the center crease line and press. 

Repeat on the other side.

Fold that in half and press well.

Sew down both sides. You can see I have just lined it up with the inner edge of the presser foot. 

Cut two 6 inch pieces and set aside until they get added to the basket in a later step.

Placing right sides together, sew a top panel to each side of the bottom panel as shown. Press seams open. This will aid in some of the later steps. I didn't take a picture of the next step so read carefully. Once you have pressed this portion well, with seams open, iron on some interfacing of your choice. I used a light weight Pellon because that is what I had on hand. If you would like your basket to be more sturdy, use a heavier interfacing or even an iron on fleece if you'd like. ETA: I made a basket to hold a set of handmade cards so I wanted it to be more sturdy. I added the light weight Pellon to both the lining and the outside and it was perfect for the cards. I just bought some heavier interfacing that I will be trying out as well. I will leave a note as to how that works out.

Fold this piece in half, right sides together lining up the two pressed seams and pin. I find that it is very important to pin here because you want your sides to line up nicely. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I actually just use the width of the presser foot because it is easier to press the seams open, but you can do what you'd like.

This is what it should look like inside out. Fold your lining fabric right sides together and stitch down each side as well. Hopefully yours has the seams pressed open. I hadn't done that yet in these photos, so just remember to do it.

This is the step where you will be "boxing" the corners. I have found a method that I really like, but if you have a method or technique that you like, use that. The boxed corners should measure 3 inches when they are complete. Start by measuring up your seam 1.5 inches and make a pencil dot right at the stitching line...not as far away as my ruler is showing. You will want to press the bottom of the lining and the outside piece as well because this gives you a nice "guide" line for a later step in the "boxing" process. Measure along the bottom from the stitching line at 1.5 as well. Make a pencil dot.(a good rule of thumb is to remember to measure half the amount as your finished box, for instance, if you want a 4 inch set corner, measure 2 inches from each side)

This photo is a side view of the next step. Hopefully it will make sense. Poke a pin into the open seam where you put your first pencil mark and poke it through the bottom pencil mark as well. Press the pin in completely and the fabric will form a triangle as you can see in the next photograph. I use this really small cutting mat with an awesome bias ruler as well that makes this next step a cinch.

Line your fabric triangle onto the pre-printed guide. Place your ruler where the pin enters the fabric. Mine just happened to line up perfectly with a line on the mat. It is very important to make this line straight so you end up with a nice straight, crisp box. I just used a pencil to make the line. Sew along the line.

Cut the excess fabric off so that it looks something like this.

Turn it right side out and marvel at your handiwork! The blue seams line up perfectly, the box is exactly 3 inches and is straight! yay! Repeat these steps with the lining as well.

Attach the handles to the outside fabric in this fashion. I actually found that I liked pinning them so they stuck up a little further than the edge of the basket to make sure they were sewn in and no little straggling edges didn't get sewn down. Place the outside portion into the lining portion that has been turned INSIDE OUT. REMEMBER...right sides together...just like when you sew. The outside of the basket it turned the right way and the lining is inside out. Make sure your handles are all tucked in nicely and punch the corners down so everything lines up. Pin the side seams of the lining and the outside so they line up as well. Again, pressing the seams open in the earlier steps really come in handy, here.

Sew along the entire basket leaving a 2 inch opening to turn it out, making sure to "catch" all of the handles. This is why I suggest having them stick up a little, which I didn't do in these photos. I started doing it on subsequent baskets because I had a few corners of the handles not quite make it into the seam. Ugh! I despise the seam ripper! 

Once it is turned out, press the entire perimeter of the basket, making sure to push the lining down. Top stitch around the entire basket and then...You're DONE! Yay! They really work up quickly and are so fun to make! They're super addictive, too, so you've been warned! 

You can see one of my carrot treat boxes peeking out of the basket! I can't wait to gift them to all of my friends and family! Happy Easter and Happy Sewing!