Howdy, friends, I’m back! And I hope you’re ready to get crafty…
As I mentioned in my previous post, my (belated) stop on the Hawthorne Threads Oh, What Fun Blog Hop is all about easy-to-sew (and easy to customize!) projects that are perfect for holding holiday gifts. Ditch that wrapping paper! I’ll be talking about how modify my free Sturdy Fabric Basket pattern to create ANY SIZE finished piece and sharing an adorable fabric sack pattern that I think you’ll love.
This new in-house fabric line by Hawthorne Threads could not possibly be any cuter. I’m pretty sure I squealed a little when I first saw it. Some of the prints are perfectly holiday, but what I really love is that some of them are more neutral – winter themed, or just geometric – and can be used for a a variety of occasions, which I’ll talk about more later. So, let’s get to it!
These Sturdy Fabric Baskets are one of my favorite things to make. They’re quick and easy, and useful for so many things (plus, totally adorable!). I initially created the pattern a couple years ago to make baskets for holding fat quarters, scraps, trims, and notions in my sewing room, and then made one for holding remotes in the living room, another for hair accessories in the bathroom, and one for next to the door to catch my husbands wallet, sunglasses and all the miscellaneous junk that lives in his pockets!
You can showcase a fun focal print or create any patchwork design you like (there are patchwork directions in the pattern). The original pattern size (shown above and below) finishes at 8″ wide by 5″ high and 5″ deep, and is perfect for mixed gift baskets of items such as bath & body products or edible treats, just to name a couple ideas. I love these baskets so much, I want to gift them to myself! I can do that, right? I mean, I DID make them.
Another great feature of this basket size is that it’s perfect for holding Christmas cards, so your recipient can repurpose it after it’s emptied. You can also give a bag of potpourri along with it and it can be used a cute holiday decoration!
I used my favorite prints from Oh, What Fun on these two. The row of faces is cut from the border panel print and was the perfect size, and then I used the center of that panel (the cute confetti) to make the lining of the other basket. The ornament print is called Baubles and I also used it to make some cute gift tags which you’ll see later in the post. I added tiny pom pom trim to the basket shown above and I love the look! I tucked it under the lining foldover and glued it in place – super easy!
In the pattern file, I talk about using old belts or scraps of leather for the basket handles (which are optional.) I used scraps on both of these baskets. The gold was cut from a pouch I found at the thrift shop and the black is from a leather scrap pack I found at Hobby Lobby. I used embroidery floss to stitch them in place.
Thinner, lighter weight materials work best for the handles so they can bend easily. If your leather is too thick or sturdy, it can bow the sides of the basket out. You can also use ribbon, bias tape, or fabric in place of the leather.
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CUSTOMIZING YOUR BASKET
I receive emails quite often asking if I can resize the basket pattern cutting directions to create a specific sized piece that someone wants to make, so updating the pattern on how you can do this yourself has been on my to-do list for awhile, and this seemed like the perfect time! With a little math (don’t worry, it wont hurt too bad!), you can create any size basket you wish.
I’ve updated the original Study Fabric Basket PDF pattern file to include these directions and you can download it here.
Now I’ll show you a couple different sized baskets I created to get your creative juices flowing!
I wanted to make a piece that was sized for kitchen utensils and accessories, because that is another favorite set of mine to gift (perfect for housewarmings and showers, too!). This basket measures 4″ wide by 4″ deep and 6″ tall and I filled it with a dish towel, pot holder, whisk, spoon, spatula, measuring spoons and cookie cutters.
I used my favorite Baubles print in the Glacier Blue colorway and the lining is from Hawthorne’s Stardust basics line, which comes in 54 colors and coordinates so nicely with Oh, What Fun because it looks like snow!
And let’s not forget the guys or hard-to-shop-for friends and family on our lists! This basket measures 4″ wide by 4″ deep and 3″ high and holds four shot glasses with stir sticks and two mini bottles of liquor. It would also make a fun and inexpensive secret santa gift. Plus, this small basket is a nice size for later holding keys, jewelry, sewing notions or many other things. It also fits a pillar candle or mug.
The handles on both of these baskets were also cut from old thrift shop pouches. Both are vinyl, so they had white backings. I left the white showing on the yellow handles and for the blue handles on the short basket, I glued a piece of the dark blue stardust to the backside before trimming them down. It worked out so well! I also did this to the gold handles on the treats basket shown at the beginning of the post.
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BUTTON LUNCH BAGS & GIFT TAGS
I have one more fun pattern to share, because it’s just perfect for gifting homemade treats (or a million other things) and then your recipient also has an adorable and useful little sack! I’ve had this Button Lunch Bag pattern from Purl Soho bookmarked forever and made a few modifications to dress them up and make them quilting cotton friendly.
The pattern calls for a sturdy cotton (such as a canvas), uses one solid fabric, and has a rolled hem, so I made a few easy changes to make them work with my materials and the look I was going for.
I wanted my bags to have a bottom accent fabric, so I pieced together the full panel before assembling the bag and then added some cute trim along the seam line. Also, since a rolled top hem wouldn’t look as nice with a printed quilting cotton, I instead used binding around the top of the bag. I added it last after assembling the bags. I used Pellon Shapeflex (SF101) to give the bags some extra bulk and I love the feel of them. I added the interfacing after piecing my full panel, before assembling the bag.
The original pattern uses binding to hide the inner seams, but I just used a wide, tight zig zag stitch which was quick and easy, but gives the seams a clean look and prevents fraying. Alternatively, if using binding around the top, you could make a full lining for the bag. Simply make a second bag, but with right sides in instead of out, slide it inside your assembled outer bag, and then stitch the top binding down through both, holding them together.
For these bags, I used two of the prints from Oh, What Fun that are not holiday specific. They are definitely festive enough for holiday gifting (especially with some metallic trim!), but keep the bags neutral enough to be reused all year long.
I used the Baubles print that I love so much to make the little tag on the cookies. I fussy cut the ornament circles from the print and used embroidery floss to hand stitch them onto felt cut with pinking shears. I then stitched down a small, folded piece of felt onto the top to make the hanger. You can use a light print or solid cotton on the reverse side to write or stamp a name.
I had so much fun with these, I couldn’t stop! They’re going on all my gifts this year, and I think I’ll hang a few from my tree, too!
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I truly hope you have found this post useful and inspiring! All of these projects are easy and satisfying because they sew up quick and look totally adorable when done. This year I challenge you to ditch the wrapping paper and make some “gift wrap” instead!
As always, if you have any questions about the pattern along the way, you can contact me here anytime. Please be specific, so I can best assist you.
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TIME FOR GIVEAWAY! (GIVEAWAY CLOSED – THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!)
Who loves this Oh, What Fun fabric as much as I do? Would you like to win THREE YARDS for yourself?! To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling me what you would make with it and I will pick a winner at random on Friday! (Giveaway closed – congrats to @kgmcfall and thank you to all who entered!)
Now before you go, be sure to check out the other stops on the Blog Hop and see all the fabulous makes!
Monday 11/14 – Sew Sophie Lynn
Tuesday 11/15 – Hawthorne Threads
Wednesday 11/16 – Olivia Jane Handcrafted
Thursday 11/17 – Holly Gets Quilty
Monday 11/21 – Violette Field Threads
Happy Stitching!
~ nicole
lillyella 
I would make a festive table runner. It looks dreadfully naked right now.
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I would love to make one of these baskets, and a cute dress for my baby girl!
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I would make these adorable boxes. My family loves to reuse boxes as a fun little tradition, and they would LOVE to receive gifts in these.
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I would love to try a few of your boxes for Xmas gifts!
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Love the baskets! So many of the colors used for Oh What Fun match the color scheme of my daughter’s nursery. I would definitely like to make some baskets for her room. They would be great for diapers, lotion, and medicine now, with an easy transition to storage for barrettes, bows, and small toys. Thanks for the idea!
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Love your baskets. I think I’d use the fabric to make baskets and totes for gifts.
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This fabric would be a great start to my new sewing room.
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I am eyeing this fabric to create ornament storage totes to test the original pattern I have designed! I’m planning on filling the totes with vintage Christmas ornaments and giving them as gifts to family and friends!
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I’m inspired to make some bags and baskets. Beautiful!
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I would make a baby quilt for my first GREATgrandbaby!!!
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Se many options…. but I know it will be used!! Beautiful fabric!!
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I would totally make those baskets with the tags. So interesting, cute, and handmade!
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Wonderful projects. Lovely fabric
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A super warm minky blanket with these prints would be on my sewing list!!
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I love these baskets with the fabric would definitely make them.
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My wife just got her quilting machine and this would be great for her to sew up something creative.
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Love this beautiful fabric and the way you used them. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win.
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I would LOVE to make a tree skirt with this fabric, and maybe some of those cute boxes you made!
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I have fallen in love with making bed runners for the family, just a bit of winter to bring the holidays into the bedroom. I am sure I would use some of these for that! As well, I think that there are some couch throws screaming to be made! pmtquilts@gmail.com
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Difficult to decide – all are adorable! I would like to make a tote for the holiday season. And it would be fantastic made up in baby or toddler clothing! Thanks for the giveaway!
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I’d definitely be making pouches and baskets for gifts. Just love these smaller items as are always appreciated. The motifs on this fabric are fabulous.
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Love the baskets. A few Christmas pillows for friends and puppies. A stuffed toy for my grandkids.
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I would try and squeeze several things from 3 yards of fabric – on my list would be a pillowcase and a small lap quilt for my grand daughter as well as a skirt or pair of slacks for her American Girl doll.
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Part of a fabulous quilt of course.
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I would make napkins 😍
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My favorite basket and the one I would make first is the utensil holder.
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I LOVE this line! It’s perfect for the Minnesota winter. I would attempt my first skirt or dress for my 5 year old, maybe an apron, DEFINITELY some fussy cuts in a quilt. Thanks!
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I’d definitely have to make a few of your baskets to fill with goodies as gifts and a small quilt for my new grand baby. Thanks for the sweet giveaway!
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Baskets are my favorite ! I would stitch up ohne of them for the new grandson in the family for the baby-essentials. Thanks for the chance to win – so generous !
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Pillow cases for my favorite charity. The Big House in Opelika, AL.
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I love making dresses for my twin daughters, so that’s what I would do! Redcloverredclover@yahoo.com
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Christmas bags or baskets! Or maybe a quilt…but probably the baskets!
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I want to make every one…I better hurry and win so I can get started!
Caltexgal@aol.com
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I would make a festive throw quilt!
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Such beautiful fabric. I am planning to make a Christmas advent calendar with my girls’ baby socks and need to quilt a beautiful panel to hang them on. This fabric would be perfect!
Thank you for considering me! gmundorf@gmail.com
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I would make a lovely christmas quilt for a child at the Ronald McDonald house.
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I would make a baby quilt for my niece! Or those adorable baskets. Or some little zipper bags for teacher gifts. Or all of the above! 🙂
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Placemats & tablerunner for Christmas dinner.
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A basket to hold dinnerware, a table runner & place mats for Christmas dinner.
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I would make your baskets. Thank you so much for the free pattern, I was so excited I already downloaded it. Great inspirational post. Thank you so much.
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I would try my hand at your baskets…. they make me want to give more gifts at Christmas!
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I would love to make some of those baskets and a table runner.
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I would love to have the fabric. Probably it would go in a quilt but maybe I would make some pillows or some baskets.
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The fabric boxes are darling! I’d love to make some for myself and to give away!
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Oh, goodness, your baskets are adorable! I think I would have to use this fabric to make some of them.
Thanks for the inspiration and the chance to win!
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Lovely fabric…and the baskets are so cute! I would love to try making one of them. It would be a new challenge. I can just see my granddaughter with one of the lunch bags. Thanks for the giveaway.
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I love the lunch sacks. I would make those first!
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I’d like to make some of these baskets – super cute!
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A quilt! Home dec projects are always fun, but you can never have too many quilts (despite what my husband says)!
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The baskets; for sure!
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