Fabric Storage Basket Tutorial

Hello, friends! This is Jennifer Long from Sew A Story, a fabric designer with Riley Blake Designs and a doll and quilt pattern designer. Let’s get organized! Sew a stylish fabric basket using your favorite fabrics to add storage and color to your sewing space. These sturdy baskets are sized to fit folded fat quarters, but also are the perfect size for small notions, rulers, and thread. Their compact size helps them easily fit side-by-side on a shelf or in a closet, while the handle allows you to pull the basket out to see what’s inside.

After a little shopping spree at Missouri Star Quilt Company, I’m so excited to put some of these baskets to good use storing some fun new notions and tools I purchased. These baskets are an easy way to corral smaller tools, so your space looks organized!

I used fabric from my upcoming To Grandmothers House Fabric Collection with Riley Blake Designs! This fabric collection (in stores February 2024) looks just darling as baskets sitting on a shelf and provides a whimsical touch to my storage!

Let’s start sewing! Just gather the supplies below. Don’t forget to share your Fabric Storage Basket on social media using the hashtag #SASmakersclub and tag @sewastory_jenniferlong.

Tools

• Sewing Machine
• Rotary Cutter
• Quilting Ruler
• Self-Healing Mat
• Iron and Wool Mat
• Scissors

Materials

• 2 Fat Quarters (one for basket exterior and one for lining)
• 10″ square for the handle)
• Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece
• Stitch N Sew Heavyweight Non-Woven Interfacing
• Thread
• Embellishments

1. Cut out all the required pieces for this basket. You’ll need:

• (1) 16.5″ x 18.5″ rectangle for the exterior
• (1) 16.5″ x 18.5″ rectangle for the lining
• (1) 4″ x 7.5″ rectangle for the handle
• (1)16.5″ x 18.5″ rectangle of Stitch N Sew heavyweight non-woven interfacing
• (1) 4″ x 7.5″ rectangle of Stitch N Sew heavyweight non-woven interfacing
• (1)16.5″ x 18.5″ rectangle of Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece

2. Apply the Fusible Fleece to the exterior fabric. Apply the Interfacing to the lining and the handle according to manufacturer’s directions.

3. Fold the handle in half lengthwise; press to mark, then unfold. Fold in each long edge to the center and press again. Then fold the handle in half again.

4. Topstitch 1/8″ from each long edge. Set the handle aside.

5. Using a quilter’s ruler, measure and cut out a 5″ square from each corner of the exterior fabric and the lining fabric.

6. Measure 2″ from the top of the exterior fabric. Align the handle with the 2″ mark and pin the handle in place. Once you’re pleased with the handle placement, baste it in place 1/8″ from the edge on both sides of the handle.

7. Mark the handle 1.25″ from the edge and topstitch a line on the handle to help secure it. Repeat this on the other side of the handle.

8. Using the Step 7 line as a guide, topstitch a rectangle 1/2″ wide and add an X through the rectangle to reinforce the handles. Repeat this on the other side of the handle.

9. With right sides together, fold the corner edges of the exterior fabric together and pin in place. At this point, you’ll see the shape of the basket come together! Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew each corner edges together. Set your exterior aside.

10. Repeat Step 9 using the lining fabric, sewing with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Set the lining aside.

11. Cut away 1/4″ from the top of the lining if desired. (This will allow the lining to fit easily inside the exterior of the basket.)

12. Turn the exterior right side out. Place the exterior inside the lining with right sides together. Match up corner seams; pin the pieces together along the top.

13. Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew together the top edge of the basket, leaving a 3″ opening for turning. Turn the basket right side out through the opening. Push the lining into the exterior; press. Topstitch 1/8″ from the top edge, sewing the opening closed as you topstitch. Press one last time. Your basket is complete!

Your fabric basket is finished! Thanks so much for sewing along with me!

If you’re interested in more patterns and fabric fun, join my newsletter to get weekly inspiration delivered right to your inbox! And follow me on social media so we can connect more: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.

–Jennifer

Jennifer Long grew up training to be a professional ballet dancer. She taught ballet and ran her own dance studio all the while sewing and designing costumes for herself and many of her collages and students. Jennifer is married and lives on a rural acreage in Prairie Canada with her husband and 4 children. She sold her studio to raise to raise her children and wanted to find dolls and toys for her children with healthy body images. She immersed herself Modern Rag Doll design and soon found she had a unique set of skills for Doll Making from all the years of costume design and aesthetic skills from the dance training. Her love of color and fabric has led her to become a professional Modern Rag Doll Designer and Quilt Pattern Designer designing not only under her own label (Bee Sew Inspired), but also for authors, fabric designers and International Companies around the world! Jennifer remains passionate about teaching and is the founder of two FREE educational FB groups Inspired Doll Making and Inspired Quilt Making. Come join her on this creative journey!!!