Main fabric: see instructions for details
Lining fabric: see instructions for details
Bucket spring: taken from a shop bought pop-up laundry basket
Basic sewing kit
MATERIALS USED
The fabrics used are from Playing Pop by AGF Studio for Art Gallery Fabrics.
NOTES
Use a 1.5cm (5⁄8in) seam allowance.
MEASURING UP
Step one First: Measure the height and diameter of your bucket spring and take a note of these measurements. For the circumference, multiply the diameter by 3.14 and write that down.
Step two: To make a pattern for the base, half the diameter to get the radius then add 1.5cm (5⁄8in) to this radius measurement to add yourself a seam allowance.
Now draw a circle using this calculated radius measurement. Use a pair of compasses if you have them big enough or tie a pencil to a piece of string pinned to paper, making sure the string length is the same as the radius you need. Cut out the circle to make your pattern.
CUTTING OUTTHE FABRIC
Step one: Using the measurements you took previously, you now need to cut out the fabric to the following sizes:
Outer fabric:
Basket side: Fabric length = circumference + 3cm (1¼in) for seam allowances; fabric width = height + 8cm (31⁄8in) for turning+3cm (1¼in) for seam allowances.
Base: cut one piece from the base pattern. Lining fabric:
Basket lining side: cut to the same measurements as the outer fabric bin side. Base: cut one piece from the base pattern.
Step two: Cut the fabric away from the spring on your laundry basket and set aside the spring as you’ll need to use this later.
MAKINGTHE BASKET OUTER
Step one Fold the outer basket side fabric in half so the short ends are right sides (RS) together. Step two Stitch the short ends together and press the seams open.
Step three Pin the outer basket base RS together with the bottom edge of the joined outer basket sides all the way around. Stitch together. 01
MAKINGTHE BASKET LINING
Step one: Assemble the lining sides and join the lining base in the same way as you did for the basket outer.
Step two: Turn the basket outer RS out and the lining wrong sides (WS) out then place the lining inside the outer so they are WS facing and match the side seams.
Step three: Pin the outer and the lining together through the base seam, making sure the seams align exactly by pushing pins through both seams to keep them lined up. 02
Step four: Stitch the outer to the lining exactly on the seam by stitching slowly and carefully and removing the pins as you go. It’s fiddly! You will find slowing down your stitch speed helps.
Step five Turn the top edges of the outer and lining over by 1.5cm (5⁄8in) to the WS and press.
PUTTING IN THE SPRING
Step one: Put the base of the spring on a flat surface and press the top down to compress the spring and hold it together tightly.
Step two: Keeping hold of the coils, thread the spring over the lining down to the base so that it sits between the outer and lining. Make sure the bottom coil of the spring is centred exactly over the base, then hold it in place by pinning through the lining and outer close to the spring so it stays still whilst you finish the stitching. 03
Step three: Pin the turned-over edge of the outer and lining WS together so that the top folded-over edges meet up. Topstitch all the way around. 04
Step four: Take out the pins holding the spring in place and it will bounce up to fill the fabric shape.
Step five: Turn the top over by 8cm (31⁄8in) so that the fold meets with the top of the spring. Now topstitch this down about 1cm (3⁄8in) from the top.
You might find it’s a bit fiddly holding it under the machine with the spring in place and you won’t be able to topstitch the small section where the side of the spring meets the top, so work carefully and this will hold it in place
0 comments