The patriotic colors of red, white, and blue instantly bring to mind 4th of July celebrations, picnics, and barbecues. Lots of barbecues! There’s nothing better than a menu of yummy hot dogs or hamburgers fresh off the grill, potato salad, and watermelon. Of course, there has to be homemade ice cream and ice pops while watching the fireworks, too!
Eating potato salad with your hands is not very sensible, so utensils are a must at a barbecue or picnic. A patriotic-looking fabric container, The Oval Basket, is perfect for keeping everything tidy on the picnic table. Sized at 7″ x 19″, it’s a nice size basket for holding all the necessary items for a barbecue.
Piece #4a: cut two Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting – 2” x 8”
Piece #5: cut two fabric ovals on fold (oval pieces will be 7½” x 16” when unfolded)
Piece #5a: cut one Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting oval (piece will be 7½” x 16″ when unfolded)
Piece #6: cut one fabric 8½” x 40½” for basket lining
Piece #6a: cut one Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting – 8½” x 40½”
Sewing Instructions:
STEP 1: With right sides together, sew Piece #1 lengthwise to Piece #2 and Piece #3; press seams to the dark sides.
STEP 2: Iron Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting (Piece #6a) following the manufacturer’s directions to the wrong side of sewn Pieces #1, #2, and #3.
STEP 3: Trace “USA” pattern pieces on smooth side of Therm O Web’s Hot Melt Adhesives and cut out, or use cutting machine. Position the letters “USA” on the right side of Piece #2’s center with adhesive side face down. Iron on to fabric following manufacturer’s directions. Let cool before removing paper backing from ironed adhesives.
STEP 4: Position desired color(s) of Deco Foil, right side up, over adhesives. Press with iron following Deco Foil™’s directions or place fabric and Deco Foil between parchment paper; run through laminating machine following your machine’s directions. Be patient and let cool completely before removing the foil.
STEP 5: If desired, quilt on right side of Pieces #1, #2, and #3 (with USA lettering) using straight lines or with a pattern of your choice. *Note: Sometimes quilting can reduce the size of the fabric a bit. If this happens, trim lining (Piece #6) to same size as this piece.
STEP 6:Straps–Iron Heat N Bond® Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting following manufacturer’s directions lengthwise to half of wrong side of Piece #4.
STEP 7: Fold strap Piece #4 in half lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch ¼” from edges on three sides, leaving one short side open. Sewing on three sides of narrow strips makes it easier to turn inside out by using a dowel or pencil to push the strip through on the short side sewn seam. Turn right side out through opening. Press flat.
STEP 8: Topstitch lengthwise on right side of straps.
STEP 9: To add straps, mark strap positions with pins on top of Piece #1, measuring in 8” and 12½” from both right and left sides.
STEP 10: Center straps over marks and pin to secure. Stitch straps in place with a 1/4” seam.
STEP 11: With right sides together, sew Piece #6 lining to top edge of sewn pieces #1, #2, and #3, being careful to keep straps out of the way. Open and press seams towards Piece #6.
STEP 12: Fold right sides of basket fabric and lining together matching seams to create a cylinder shape; pin to secure. Sew 1/2” seam from top of basket to bottom of basket. Press seams open, but be careful and don’t touch the foil with the iron!
STEP 13: Fold wrong side of Piece #6 to wrong side of Pieces #1, #2, #3; press top fold. Watch out for the foil! Right sides should be showing on outside and inside; seam should be at back of fabric cylinder.
Step #14: Base of basket—Following the manufacturer’s directions, iron Heat N Bond Fusible Fleece High Loft interfacing/batting to wrong side of one oval Piece #5.
Step #15: Lightly spray the wrong side of the other oval Piece #5 with Spray N Bond Basting Adhesive and place sprayed side on fusible fleece side of other oval. Smooth to remove wrinkles or creases. Quilt with lines or as desired to hold pieces together. Sew 1/4″ seam around entire edge of oval pieces and interfacing. Mark center points on bottom of basket cylinder and Piece #5 with pins or washable marker. *Folding the basket and circle in quarters helps find the centers.
Step #16: With wrong sides of cylinder and oval together match center points of circle and basket (YES…raw edges will be on the outside of the basket for now!) Pin to secure.
Step #17: Sew 1/4” seam around the edge of the circle and basket, easing the fabric in as you go. Make sure you catch all the layers.
Step #18: To cover raw edges of seam you sewed in Step #17, turn basket inside out. Go to the bottom of the basket and sew 1/2” from the finished seam, pinching the seam together to enclose the raw edges. It’s not as hard as it may seem, just rotate the basket as you sew…it doesn’t have to be perfect! Check to make sure you caught all layers.
Step #19: Turn basket right side out. It should have a finished seam on the inside as well as the outside.
You’re done…time to grill those delicious picnic foods!
by Designer | Comments Off on Patriotic Fabric Oval Basket with Deco Foil
