Featured fabric: FreeSpirit Fabrics A New Leaf by Jane Sassaman

Pattern by: Lindsay Conner

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

Are you a nut for houseplants? Then you’re going to love this beginner-friendly sewing pattern! The Fabric Planter Bucket will help you cover up boring plant pots and drip trays to give them a snazzy new look. Each fabric bucket is fully lined and quilted for stability. Customize this project to fit your specific planters using the simple mathematical formulas provided!

Creative Tip: These buckets are multipurpose; if you’d prefer, you can always sew a bucket to stash your fabric scraps or sewing supplies!

Skills Learned: Machine sewing, quilting, making a lining

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: Varies

Fabric Requirements:

Main fabric: 1 yard (0.91m)

• Heart Leaf - Green PWJS145.GREEN
• Mulberry - Black PWJS139.BLACK

Lining fabric: 1 yard (0.91m)

• Leaf Plaid - Purple PWJS150.PURPLE
• Willow - Blue PWJS149.BLUE

Quilt batting: 1 yard (0.91m)

Lightweight fusible interfacing: 1 yard (0.91m)

Equipment needed:

Sewing machine

Iron

Fabric cutting tools (scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat)

Sewing clips or pins

Plant pot or drip tray to trace

 

1. Using the widest part of your planter as a template, trace and cut a circle that is 1” larger on all sides than the planter. You can fold the fabric circle into quarters and smooth out the edges with a rotary cutter to clean up any uneven edges. Cut one circle from the outer fabric and one circle from the lining fabric.

2. Measure the diameter (distance across the center) of your fabric circle. Mine is 10¼”. Multiply this by 3.14 to get the cut width of your main fabric piece.

D x 3.14 = Cut Width

10.25” x 3.14 = 32.185 (Round to the nearest half inch, 32”)

My Outer Fabric Rectangle and Lining Rectangle, 32” x 13” plus outer and lining plant bucket bottom circles.

3. Measure the height of your planter and add 4” (to have a 2” fold). For smaller plant pots, add twice the amount of lining you prefer to show folded over.

H + 4” = Cut Height

Here is the math for my pot, 9” + 4” = 13”

Use these measurements to get the Cut Width and the Cut Height for your fabric rectangle. Mine is 32” (measurement from Step 2) x 13” (as noted above). Cut 1 rectangle from the outer fabric and 1 rectangle from the lining fabric.

4. Place the main fabric circle (right side up) on top of a piece of quilt batting. Quilt the two layers together with straight lines or a pattern of your choice. Repeat with the main fabric rectangle, quilting it onto a piece of quilt batting. Trim away any excess batting.

5. Cut the interfacing the size of the lining fabric circle and lining rectangle piece. Fuse lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of both the lining fabric circle and rectangle pieces.

6. Fold the main fabric rectangle right sides together to make a tall tube. Pin together the short edges. Stitch a ¼” seam allowance along the side you pinned. Repeat with the lining fabric rectangle, except leave a 4” opening in the center of the stitched seam for turning later (see image in Step 8 for reference).

7. Place one opening of the main fabric tube on top of the main fabric circle, right sides together. Make sure you pay attention to any directional fabrics when considering the top and bottom of the planter. Use clips or pins to attach the circle to one open end of the tube.

8. Place one opening of the lining fabric tube on top of the lining fabric circle, right sides together. Again, pay attention to any directional fabrics. Use clips or pins to attach the circle to one open end of the tube. Note the 4" opening in the lining fabric for turning your planter right side out later.

9. Carefully removing the clips or pins as you go, stitch along both pinned circles using a ¼” seam allowance.

10. Turn the main fabric bucket right side out. Slip this bucket inside of the fabric lining so that the seams are aligned. The right sides of both fabrics should be touching. Clip or pin along the top raw edges of both the main and lining fabric buckets.

11. Stitch the bucket and lining together along the top edge you just pinned using a ¼” seam allowance.

12. Turn the fabric bucket right side out through the 4” gap in the lining.

13. Press the bucket and lining flat. Topstitch about ¼” from the edge all the way around the top rim. Hand stitch the opening in the lining closed.

14. Place the planter inside the fabric bucket, and fold down the top of the bucket by about 2” to reveal the accent fabric.

While you can use these lined fabric buckets for storing anything you’d like, we especially love them for adding a pop of color and pattern to an otherwise plain plant pot. (Note: it's recommended not to water your plants while they are in the fabric buckets in case of leakage.) For more beginner-friendly sewing projects and free patterns like this one, visit siysewityourself.com!

---

Fabric Details:

To view the complete FreeSpirit Fabrics A New Leaf collection by Jane Sassaman click here.

To find a retailer near you click here.

---

Learn more about Lindsay here.