Ms. Nancy's Nook : A Basket for Baby Abby

I wanted to make a special basket for granddaughter Abby, so I used leftover fabric from the crib bedding to make a removable cover w/pocket for a purchased wicker basket. As she grows, nursery necessities can easily be replaced with other items. How-to and photos make this an easy project. This basket would be a great baby shower gift!

Materials:

basket (rectangular or square works best - I bought this basket at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon!)
cotton or poly/blend fabric (amount varies according to the size of basket)
2 yards coordinating ribbon (for ties)
thread
Fray-Check (optional)

Directions:

First, measure your basket to determine how much fabric you will need.

Your length measurement will need to be the length of the basket, 2 sides, and 3 additional inches for extending over the top. Your width measurement will need to be the width measurement, 2 sides, and 3 additional inches for extending over the top.

Cut fabric to the needed dimensions.

Turn the basket upside down. Lay fabric on the basket, making sure all edges are even.

Use food cans or books as weights to hold the fabric even, and pin the fabric to match the 4 basket corners.

Mark the basket top edge. Do not pin above basket top edge!

Remove the fabric from the basket. Sew all 4 corner seams, stopping at the basket top edge mark.

Reinsert the lining in the basket, and adjust seam, if needed. Sew the seam above the basket line, slanting the seam out to accommodate the width of the basket top edge.

Trim the 4 seams to 3/8". You may finish the seams with a zigzag stitch or serge.

If your basket has a handle and cutout, you will need to reinsert the liner in the basket and mark the cutout. Also, if the liner seems a little big, pleat excess fabric in the cutout and pin.

Cut the excess fabric from the cutout, allowing 1/2" for hem.

Reinsert the liner in the basket, and adjust pins if needed. If it fits, you will now sew the pleats down. Reinforce corners by sewing a regular straight stitch 1" on each side of the corner 1/2" from the edge (Stitching will be in an "L" shape at corner). Carefully clip to the corners and press down. Narrow hem (1/2") around the cutout.

Completed basic basket liner

For the inside pocket, measure the inside width of the basket, adding 1-3/8" for seams. Do not add to the top or bottom measurement.

Use this measurement to cut 2 pieces of fabric.

With right sides together, stitch around the rectangle with a 3/8" seam, leaving a 3" opening in the middle of one long edge (bottom). Trim corners, turn, and press. Stitch the opening closed. On the other long side, top-stitch 1/4" from the top edge.

With the liner in the basket, mark the center of the liner at the top, bottom, and middle.

With right sides together, pin the pocket to the sides of the liner and sew. Redistribute fabric and sew the bottom of the pocket to the basket liner, being careful not to catch excess fabric in your seam. Sew each seam twice for durability.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric for ruffle 3-1/4" wide and 1-1/2 times the length of one side of the top of the basket liner.

Sew a narrow hem across the ends and along one side of each ruffle.

Sew a long gathering stitch along the other long side 3/8" from the edge, and pull one thread to gather, creating the ruffle.

Note: If your basket does not have an opening and/or handle, you will join the ends of the ruffle before gathering and attaching to liner.

With right sides together, sew the ruffles to the basket liner, matching ends and center. Finish the seam by serging or with a zigzag stitch. Press seam toward basket. Insert the liner into the basket.

Cut the ribbon into 4 - 18" lengths. Fold end of a piece of ribbon under 1/2" and sew securely to the underside of basket liner just above the ruffle (see photo below). Repeat with remaining 3 pieces of ribbon. Tie a bow on each end of the liner. Trim ends if needed, and tie a knot in the end of each ribbon. Optional: Use Fray-Check on the ends of the ribbon to prevent raveling.