Cloth baskets are fun and easy to make. It’s a great way to recycle old fabric scraps. You can make them in all kinds of different colors, shapes and sizes. They are so easy to make you will want to make one for all your family members.
Make a Fabric Basket
You will need:
- 1 1/4 yards of cotton fabric – you can use any colors you like
- Scissors
- 6 yards of cotton piping cord 1 inch thick
- fabric glue and
Directions:
Cut or tear the cotton fabric into 15 - 20 strips. You want each strip to be approximately a half an inch wide. Start at the end of the cord and begin wrapping up fabric strip around the cord. Overlap the edges of the fabric as you wrap it around the cord. After you have wrapped about 4 inches of cord fold the wrapped section in half. Wind fabric around that piece. This creates your base.
Keep wrapping the cord in fabric coiling it into a bowl shape as you go. Approximately every 2 inches, loop fabric into the coil below. This anchors the coils and place and makes a neat design in the basket. When you reach the end of one fabric strip simply start with another. If you need help holding the end of the strip in place you can place a small dot of fabric glue on the end.
After you have the base of your bowl as large as you want it, approximately 6 to 8 inches across. Now start working up the sides of your basket. You now want to coil the cord on top of the previous row, keeping it the same size.
To finish the basket, trim the cord and lay it smoothly against the last coil. Wrap and tuck a small piece of the fabric strip to make the end look neat. Glue the end in place with a small dab of fabric glue. You can also sew the end in place.
Have Fun with Your Baskets
These baskets are perfect for holding Easter eggs, fruit or bread. Be sure and line with a napkin before placing food in them. You can wash them on gentle cycle in the washer and hang dry. This is a fun craft to do at Easter time. Make them at Christmas time in holiday colors to hold special holiday gifts. It’s also a great craft to include in a homeschool home economics class. It makes a great group craft for Girls Scouts or 4-H as well.
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