Burlap Basket Tutorial

Welcome back and thank you for all of your sweet comments on my burlap basket!  This is an easy project that you can make in any size to your heart's content.  The completed size for these instructions is 13 1/2" tall x 13"

Burlap Basket Tutorial

For the supplies, you will need:

• 1 3/8 yd. of burlap
• 1 3/8 yd. stiff interfacing
• jute or rope or something to use as a drawstring.

Cut:

• A strip of fabric, using your selvage as one of the edges, 17" wide and 41 1/4" long.
• A 14" circle (I used the method where you fold a square of fabric in quarters.)
• Four rectangular pieces approx. 4" x 7".
• a strip of interfacing 14" x 41 1/4" long.

(Note:  Since burlap has some "give" don't overly focus on the measurements*.)

Lay your innerfacing on your burlap, placing 3" DOWN from the selvage edge.  (In this photo, I also left about a 1/2" un-interfaced edge at the bottom.  It got trimmed later.)  Press the interfacing onto the burlap using the manufacturer instructions.

Next, fold the 3" selvage edge over the top of your interfacing, pin and stitch close to the selvage edge.  You have just completed the top edge of your basket.

Stitch the ends of your strip of fabric together using a 5/8" seam.  (I give my burlap seams two rows of stitching to tame the unraveling.)  After you sew the ends together you will have a "tube."  Now you will sew it to the round bottom using about a 1/2" seam.   For good directions on how to line your tube and circle up (and cut out the circle), see Sonya's at Beyond the Screen Door's instructions for her Neckroll Pillow Tutorial. 

Adding the "belt loops."  Now, you could do this before you sewed up your tube, but I did it after.  I didn't get super precise about measuring the placement of these.  This is what I did:

• Turn each of the short (4") edges under about 1/2" and stitch to make a finished edge.  
• Measure or "eyeball" two of the pieces so they are at opposite sides of your basket.  Fold the 7" ends under about 1/2" and pin in place, so the edges are at the very top of your basket.  Stitch in place, onto your basket, along the top and bottom edge of your loops staying very close to your folded edges (see above photo).
• Take the remaining two loop pieces and measure or eyeball the placement between the two loops you just attached.  You're almost done!
•  Turn right-side out.  (You can press your bottom seam at this point.  I didn't and didn't notice it till I saw my photos.)
• Measure approx. 63" of rope or twine and thread through your loops, longer or shorter if that is your preference.  (Since I didn't have rope, I cut three pieces of jute for each "rope" and braided it.)

Ta da!  You're done!  I had all of the materials at home already, but the cost breakdown should be about-->burlap $3.99 yd. (w/o coupon or sale) interfacing (ack, I don't remember, but I don't think it's any more than $2/yd.) and jute.  So the total cost is somewhere around $8!  As a note:  I made mine slightly smaller than PB.  Their "small" was 16" x 14", I cut that size out originally, but it was just too big for what I would use it for.

*I use "about" to describe my seam allowances.  Since burlap has its own personality, some adjustments will either happen naturally, or have to be made by you.  This project went together really easily for me.  I hope you have the same good luck and do let me know if you make this.

I want to share a comment made by Chris on my last post featuring this burlap basket.  Great idea, Chris!

Linking with the charming Beth: