No-interfacing Storage Basket Tutorial

As promised, a recipe for making washable stand-up storage baskets:

You'll need to cut 2 of each of these pieces (click on the pic to enlarge it to a readable size).

The measurements are in centimetres because that's the way I

was brought up (sorry). A seam allowance of 1cm is included in these measurements.

This basket's base is 15cm wide, but you could make any size using this slightly haphazard formula,
where x is the width of the base and y is the height of the basket. And 2 is cm and seam allowance. (Edit:
Remember to include seam allowance in the height.)

Pieces cut, sew right sides together along these seams:

Sew the boxed corners of the linings by folding the pieces open,
matching the side seams with the bottom seams, and stitching across:
Zig-zag the top edge of the smaller lining piece. Turn the smaller one right side out, the bigger one wrong
side out, and put the bigger one inside the smaller one. Match up the corners and the side seams, then
stitch them together along the top edge of the smaller one.

Hem the bottom edge of the outer sleeve piece, turning up 1cm all round and stitching it down.
Turn the lining pieces so that their right side faces out, and slide the outer sleeve over. Stitch together
(right sides together) along the top edge:

also wanted a cardboard bottom for mine to make it perfectly rigid. But I wasn't interested in adding
even more pieces to this so instead of sewing the bottom piece (grey) to the lining piece around the
top as suggested in the pattern, I sewed it only in the seams at the sides as suggested in version two.
Then when all was stitched together (as you can see I did the side seams as in version one anyway) you
can measure your bottom (mine was 15x15 cm) and cut a piece of cardboard that size. Fold the
cardboard once in the middle, stick it in between the two lining pieces (this will make sense once
you have your own basket before you) before adding the edge cardboard, unfold it and have a
hard, cardboard bottom too, not just sides. The bottom piece  is removable too - just like the sides for
washing. =)

Almost done, except for the fiddly part! Turn the whole
basket inside out, pull the outer sleeve out, fold it down along the seam line, and topstitch along the top
edge. (This makes sense when you do it - not so much in your head, trying to imagine it.) The topstitching
isn't crucial, but makes the next step easier.
Matching up the side seams, pin the outer sleeve to the lining. Now stitch from the top to as far as you
can get towards the bottom, on each corner. This is the fiddly part, by the way. Mark and pin in any way
that seems sane to you: disappearing pens or chalk are good.

See the stitching on the corner? It doesn't go all the way to the bottom, but close enough. Measure the
pockets, cut 4 pieces of card to fit, and slide them in:

If you used the same measurements I

did, the card should be about 14 or 15cm by 11cm; cut slightly bigger than you think, and trim down.

There's a way to avoid the fiddly sewing bit, of course! Instead of sewing corner seams, sew the lining to
the outer sleeve along the side seam lines. Then the bits of card need to look like this:

Still a sturdy basket, and almost just as neat.

Play around with heights and widths for different uses; make the lining and outer from the same fabric,
just doubling the height measurement for the larger lining piece.

Let me know if you try this and if it all works sensibly. And if you think of ways to simplify the pattern,
please do let me know!

You're welcome to use this tutorial to make things to sell, too. A link back here or a mention would be
appreciated, but I do realise this isn't rocket science or gene splicing and I can't claim any great
originality, except perhaps for the extremely washable nature of these baskets. And even then.... my mom
(of course) had something like this, made in China when that was still an exotic thing.

also wanted a cardboard bottom for mine to make it perfectly rigid. But I wasn't interested in adding
even more pieces to this so instead of sewing the bottom piece (grey) to the lining piece around the
top as suggested in the pattern, I sewed it only in the seams at the sides as suggested in version two.
Then when all was stitched together (as you can see I did the side seams as in version one anyway) you
can measure your bottom (mine was 15x15 cm) and cut a piece of cardboard that size. Fold the
cardboard once in the middle, stick it in between the two lining pieces (this will make sense once
you have your own basket before you) before adding the edge cardboard, unfold it and have a
hard, cardboard bottom too, not just sides. The bottom piece  is removable too - just like the sides for
washing. =)

Love it. I will definately try it. I was wondering how you would make one that does not have a
square base but is wider than deep. Jesse said.. Anonymous said...
Great idea, but I'm a little confused. You say to turn the lining pieces right side out, and then slip
the cover over that, and sew wrong sides together. Not possible if the outer piece is placed over
the right side out lining pieces. Seems like the outer piece should be placed inside the lining
pieces, wrong sides together, then flipped out over the lining pieces, and topstitched down. The
cardboard is placed up under the outer pieces, right?
Sorry if I'm totally off here, I'm trying to wrap my head around it! This is such a great idea for
baskets and I want to try!

...
Whoops! Looking at my drawings (which are much more accurate than my written instructions), I
think you're right. It should read 'Right sides together' - I've fixed the text. Thank you!!!
blueadt said...
Thanks for the tutorial. I'm going to have a go making these tonight, what weight of fabric would
you recommend?
Jesse said...
Anything that's not very lightweight should be fine; I used a mediumweight cotton, and upholstery
weight should work well too.

I love it that you said the pattern was marked in cm, because that's the way you were brought up.
It made me smile. Here in the US, over 40 years ago, they were telling us were going to use it too.
They should have switched then and made it easier for all in the world. Shouldn't be a problem if
we know how to use a ruler.

Hi, thanks for posting up this tute! I am a newbie at crafting, so am gonna try this out soon.

Just wanted to ask a question about the linings; is there an intended purpose for the shorter lining
of the two? Am trying to get my head around that.. :)
8:21 am

The idea is that there should be no raw edges left exposed, so the shorter lining is for the inside of
the basket and the longer one for the outside, if I remember correctly. It has been a while since I

made this - but give it a go with a paper mock-up, and you'll soon get your head around it!

This is a great tutorial cannot find storage for all the toys in the right size! so why not make them...
one question though the sides of this are stiff but not the base? Can a fabric covered insert just be
stuck in there or have you got some sneaky way of adding another pocket for the bottom too that I
missed?
I am going to use stiff foam from a craft store instead (I've used it before to make dolls furniture)
because I don't think cardboard will withstand the wrath of a child at play! Am loving the
washableness!
Rose

Jesse said...
I'm afraid I don't have a sneaky way to add a pocket to the base! I didn't think of stiffening the
bottom, as mine just stand on a table, and don't get moved around a lot. But I think just popping a
fabric covered insert in the bottom should work. If you come up with a nifty way of doing it, please
let me know!

I made your basket and I love it! I also used your formula to make a bigger one and I found that
there is an error. On the sides of the linings you have "y" but it should be "y + 2" to also account
for the seam allowances. I noticed that before I cut my pattern out so not a problem for me.
Thanks

Holly U said...
Okay, I made one last night from scraps as a test. Having cut my fabric wrong, I can clarify for
those who have a specific look in mind: The smaller liner is the base, and only seen from
underneath. The larger liner lines the entire inside of the box and the rectangle is seen on the
outside. So you could even use three separate fabrics, depending on the look you want. And if
you do use plastic canvas, whipstitch the bottom of the opening so the canvas stays secure and
you can just throw the whole thing in the laundry when needed.

day eight said...

this is a really nice idea. I wonder how if I want to make a rectangle basket. your pattern was for a
square basket right? what if i want to make a basket with a different width. ex: the size of the
basket will be 11cm x 5 cm wide with 5cm height. how should I measure the pattern size? thanks
a bunch!! :)

Mine was square, but it's essentially the same as making a bag.... I might be confusing things
here, but if you look at my first diagram, you'd replace 17cm with 11cm, and 7.5cm with 2.5cm,
and 32cm with 13.5cm. Then don't forget to add seam allowance!

Does that sound as if it will work?

Love this tutorial so much, thank you so much for sharing it! <3

Made my first version yesterday and I love it! I also found a way to insert a bottom piece of
cardboard without additional sewing in case anyone else like me want a ridigd bottom with
minimal work =) h [Link]