You Will Need

• Template
• two 30 x 20cm pieces of grey fabric
• six 14 x 14cm pieces of printed fabric
• four 38 x 5cm pieces of grey fabric
• two 38 x 17cm pieces of grey fabric
• 50cm lightweight iron-on batting
• matching coloured sewing thread

To Make
NOTE All seam allowances are 1cm.

1 Use the template to cut the two 30 x 20cm pieces of fabric into the shape of the base of the basket. Sew three of the 14 x 14cm squares to form a 38 x 14cm panel. Press the seams open. Next, sew one 38 x 5cm strip along one long edge of the three-square panel. Press the seam open. Sew the remaining three squares and one strip in the same manner. These two panels will form the outer side panels of the basket.

2 Cut and iron the batting on to the back of the two side panels, as well as onto all the remaining pieces of fabric.

3 To sew the basket’s handle, pin the two remaining 38 x 5cm strips right sides together and sew the two long sides. Turn the strip through to the right side and press. Top stitch 2mm in from both long sides of the handle.

4 Pin the two outer side panels, right sides together, and sew the two vertical seams. Press the seams open. Sew and press the inner side panels (38 x 17cm pieces of grey fabric) in the same way.

5 Pin the ends of the handle to the centre of the top edge of the outer side panel, passing the handle underneath the side panel. Next, pin the inner side panel to the outer layer, right sides together, and sew the top edge. Turn the side panels through to the right side and press the top edge. Top stitch 2mm in from the edge.

6 Pin the two bottom panels, wrong sides together. Fold both bottom and side panels into quarters and mark the positions with pins. Pin the side panels to the bottom panels, with the outer layer facing the bottom panels, and matching the quarter marks. Sew and overlock the seam. Turn the basket through to the right side. Text and image: Ideas magazine