Basket Liners

The Second Tutorial of Christmas

This tutorial is pretty basic, as I can't give you exact dimensions or patterns because your baskets are going to be different sizes than mine. But it shouldn't be hard to figure out. I made these for my baby girl's room that I'm trying to prepare right now, but this concept would be so fun to add some Christmas decor to your home, or just to change things up a little without spending hardly anything.

Start with a square or rectangle basket. Mine is slightly rectangle... and boring.

Cut a pattern paper to fit the bottom of the basket. If it fits perfectly it will be just right when you figure in the seam allowances.

Cut another pattern for each of the sides that are different lengths. You will want the bottom width to be the same as the bottom pattern paper that you just cut, and the top to be wider, as there will need to be extra width to fold over the top of the basket. My basket was small, so the difference in width from the top of the side pattern to the bottom was only 1 1/2 inches. Yours shouldn't be to different, depending on how big your basket, and also how thick your basket is - thicker weave will require a wider top to fold over.

You also need to cut it tall enough that it will fold over the desired amount. I wanted mine to have a 2inch fold over, so I added 2 1/2 inches (my basket weave is about 1/2 inch thick) plus another 1 1/2 inches to sew in a tie. Total of height of my basket + 4 inches.

Cut the tie. I made mine 1 1/2 inches wide x 56 inches long (length it takes to wrap around my basket, + 20 inches.) Sew this into a tie by folding the long edges to center, and then folding again and sewing a seam close to the edge.


Cut all your pattern pieces out of fabric, and lay them out so you know which ones you will sew together.

Sew all the sides together to form a long strip.

Pin bottom rectangle to your side strip, lining up corners with seams, and sew. When the bottom is sewn on, sew your last side seam.

Tip: It may be easier to sew all the sides together first, forming a box without a bottom, and then pin and sew the bottom on. I didn't (I don't know why) but looking back, I am guessing it would have been easier than trying to line up the side seam after the bottom is sewn on. - You can try it either way.

Place your liner in the basket and fold over the edges to make sure it fits. A little loose is ok, however if it is too loose it will look sloppy and bunched up. If it is too big, now is the time to take up your seams a little.

On the side that you want the tie, create two button holes about 1 1/2 inches from the top, and 1 inch apart from each other. Fold down the top edges about an inch and pin.

Sew a casing for your tie by sewing all the way around the folded down top using about 3/4 inch seam.

Thread the tie through the casing and out through your button holes using a safety pin. Tie into a bow.