Stylish Storage Basket

Designer: Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

• 18× 21" piece (fat quarter) each solid Fuchsia, Rosebud, Lipstick, Coral, Moss, Daredevil, and Burnt Sienna (basket body, binding)
• 1-1/2 yards solid Linen (basket lining, optional base support)
• 30×40" rectangle foam stabilizer (Designer Sherri McConnell used ByAnnie's Soft & Stable.)
• 23-3/4×35-1/2" rectangle fusible interfacing
• 11×12" rectangle foam core or cardboard (optional base support)

Finished size: 11-1/2×12×11-1/2"

Cut pieces in the following order.

From solid Fuchsia, cut:

• 1 —2-1/4  ×11" binding strip
• 7 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Rosebud, cut:

• 1 —2-1/4×11" binding strip
• 7 —3-1/2×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Lipstick, cut:

• 1 —2-1/4×11" binding strip
• 7 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Coral, cut:

• 1 —2-1/4 ×11" binding strip
• 7 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Moss, cut:

• 7 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Daredevil, cut:

• 1 —2-1/4 ×11" binding strip
• 7 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Burnt Sienna, cut:

• 6 —3-1/2 ×6-1/2" rectangles

From solid Linen, cut:

• 1 —23-3/4×35-1/2" rectangle
• 1 —12-1/2×25" rectangle (optional)

Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances unless otherwise indicated. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Press seams in directions indicated by arrows on diagrams. If no direction is specified, press seam toward darker fabric.

1) Referring to Diagram 1, lay out solid Fuchsia, Rosebud, Lipstick, Coral, Moss, Daredevil, and Burnt Sienna 3-1/2×6-1/2" rectangles in six rows of eight rectangles, with each color placed on the diagonal. Sew together rectangles in each row. Join rows to make patchwork unit. The unit should be 24-1/2 × 36-1/2" including seam allowances. Stay-stitch 1/8" from edges of unit.

2) Layer patchwork unit atop foam stabilizer 30 × 40" rectangle. Press to lightly adhere foam to patchwork unit. Stay-stitch 1/8" from edges of unit a second time. Trim foam stabilizer even with patchwork unit edges.

3) Using coordinating thread, stitch in the ditch between rows 2 and 3 and in the ditch between rows 4 and 5 (Diagram 2). Then stitch in the ditch between columns 2 and 3 and in the ditch between columns 6 and 7. If desired, machine-quilt the unit; the denser the quilting, the stiffer the basket will be.

4) Referring to Diagram 3, cut and discard side rectangles formed between stitch in the ditch lines sewn in Step 3. The trimmed unit should be an I shape.

5) Fold Step 4 unit, right side inside, so top and bottom edges align (Diagram 4). Sew side edges using 1/2" seam allowance. Press seams open.

6) At one bottom corner, match horizontal and vertical edges of cutaway square, right sides together, creating a flattened edge (Diagram 5). Sew along raw edge using 1/2" seam allowance. Press seam open. Repeat for second bottom corner.

7) Turn Step 6 unit right side out and press well to make basket body.

1) Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse interfacing 23-3/4 ×35-1/2" rectangle to wrong side of solid Linen 23-3/4 ×35-1/2" rectangle.

2) With wrong side up and referring to Diagram 6, mark horizontal lines 12" from top and bottom edge of Step 1 unit. Measure 6-1/2" inches from left- and right-hand edges of unit and mark vertical lines connecting the two horizontal lines. As was done in Assemble Basket Body, Step 4, trim away side rectangles.

3) Using Step 2 unit, repeat Assemble Basket Body, steps 5 and 6, to make basket lining.

1) If desired, turn under 1/2" along one long edge of solid Linen 12-1/2 × 25" rectangle; press. Turn under 1/2" again and stitch in place to hem rectangle.

2) Fold rectangle in half widthwise, right sides together, to make 11-1/2 ×12-1/2" rectangle. Sew along 11-1/2" raw edge. Turn seam so it is centered on rectangle; press seam open.

3) Sew along raw edge opposite hemmed edge to make base support cover. The cover should be 11-1/4 ×12-1/4". Turn cover right side out and insert 11×12" foam core or cardboard.

1) Insert basket lining into basket body with wrong sides together (Diagram 7). Align side seams and sew along top edge using a scant 1/4" seam allowance.

2) Sew together solid Fuchsia, Rosebud, Lipstick, Coral, and Daredevil 2-1/4×11" binding strips to make pieced binding strip. Bind top edges using pieced binding strip to complete basket. Insert optional base support into bottom of basket.