Tiny Spring Baskets

Festive fabric baskets easily hold a few treats, colored Easter eggs, or other seasonal favors. Their small size makes them a great option for party favors or place settings. They take just a bit of fabric to make. You can cut enough pieces for three lined baskets from just ¼ yard of fabric. Fabric is from the Confetti Dot collection by Dear Stella.

American Patchwork & Quilting Editors September 22, 2017

Designer: Monica Rodriguez for Dear Stella

Materials for One Basket

2--6-1/2x9" rectangles polka dot fabric (matching or contrasting)
1--6-1/2x9" rectangle thin batting (cotton or polyester)
Water-soluble marking pen

Finished basket: about 3x2-1/2x3"

Sew this project with 1/4" seams. (Note: For easy viewing in this tutorial we used lavender polka dot for outer basket, pink polka dot for basket lining, and dark thread for stitching.)

Assemble Basket

1. Stitching about 1/8" from edges, machine-baste (about 6 stitches per inch) 6-1/2x9" batting rectangle to wrong side of 6-1/2x9" lavender rectangle.

2. With right side inside, fold Step 1 rectangle in half matching short edges; pin.

3. Sew sides of folded rectangle; press.

4. Clip seam allowance at fold.

5. Press seam open.

6. Shape a flat bottom. At one corner, match seam line with pressed fold, creating a flattened triangle. Measuring 1-1/2" from point of triangle, draw a line across triangle.

7. Sew on drawn line. Trim 1/4" from stitching. Repeat with remaining bottom corner.

8. Turn right side out to make basket body.

9. Repeat steps 2–8 with matching or contrasting polka dot rectangle, leaving a 1-1/2--2" opening along one side to make basket lining. Do not turn basket lining right side out.

10. Insert basket body inside basket lining with right sides together.