Organize It Basket

March 22, 2024 Crafts & Projects, Fabric & Sewing

Featured Fabric: Studio E Fabrics Garden Party by Maureen Fiorellini

Pattern design by: Heidi Pridemore

Sewn by: Heidi Pridemore

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

The Organize It Basket is perfect to use while working on a project. You can store the fabric pieces inside. Use the outside pockets for the project tools and threads. This basket also works great for extra storage in the kitchen, bath, kids’ room or office. One little basket and so many uses.

Skills Learned: How to add pockets to exterior basket, working with stabilizer and how to make box corners.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Basket Size: 10" x 6" x 6” (25.40cm x 15.24cm x 15.24cm)

Equipment needed:

1/3 yard (.30m) Fabric A - 7598-26 Cream/Multi || Hummingbird Berries
1/3 yard (.30m) Fabric B – 7597-04 Cream || Grid
1/3 yard (.30m) Fabric C – 7592-66 Sage || Daisies
1/3 yard (.30m) Fabric D – 7602-22 Dark Pink || Butterflies-Pink

You will also need:

Basic Sewing Supplies
Matching Threads
Wonder Clips
Chalk Pencil
Optional-Top Stitch Foot
Quarter Inch Foot
(4) 9 ½” x 16 ½” rectangles of Pellon Deco Bond 880 Stabilizer

Cutting Instructions

From Fabric A, cut:

(1) 9 ½” x Width of Fabric (WOF) strip. Sub-cut (2) 9 ½” x 16 ½” rectangle

From Fabric B, cut:

(1) 9 ½” x Width of Fabric (WOF) strip. Sub-cut (2) 9 ½” x 16 ½” rectangle.

From Fabric C, cut:

(1) 8 ½” x Width of Fabric (WOF) strip. Sub-cut (2) 8 ½” x 16 ½” rectangle.

From Fabric D, cut:

4” x Width of Fabric (WOF) strip. Sub-cut (2) 4" x 8” strips.

Basket Assembly

Following the manufacturer’s instructions to press (1) 9 ½” x 16 ½” piece of Pellon Deco Bond 880 Stabilizer to the wrong side of (1) 9 ½” x 16 ½” Fabric A rectangle to make (1) Unit 1. Repeat to make a second Unit 1.
Repeat Step 1 with the two remaining 9 ½” x 16 ½” pieces of Pellon Deco Bond 880 Stabilizer and (2) 9 ½” x 16 ½” Fabric B. To make two Unit 2.
Fold (1) 8 ½” x 16 ½” Fabric C in half, wrong sides together, lengthwise. Stitch across the bottom edge using a ¼” seam allowance.
Turn the sewn piece right side out and press to make (1) 4 ½” x 16 ½” Unit 3 strip.

Repeat Steps 3-4 to make a second Unit 3 strip.
Using a ruler and chalk pencil, measure up 3 ¾” from the 16 ½” bottom edge of (1) Unit 1 piece and draw a line across the unit. Repeat with the second Unit 1 piece.

Position (1) Unit 3 strip on top of (1) Unit 1 piece, aligning the bottom of Unit 3 strip with the drawn line. Use Wonder Clips to clip the Unit 3 piece to the Unit 1 piece. Repeat with the second Unit 1 and Unit 3 pieces.
Use a ruler and chalk pencil to measure in from one side of (1) Unit 3 strip, 3 ¼” and draw a vertical line. From this drawn line measure over 3” and draw a second vertical line. Repeat with the other side to draw two more lines.
Stitch down each of the drawn lines with 50wt matching cotton thread to create pocket dividers through both layers. Topstitch across the bottom of the Unit 3 piece to secure it to the Unit 1 piece to make (1) Unit 4 piece. Repeat to make a second Unit 4 piece.
Place the two Unit 4 pieces, right sides together and clip together. Sew down each short side and across the bottom to make the Outer Basket.
Measure in from the left side and up from the bottom 3” and draw a box. Repeat with the other bottom corner.
Cut out each square in the corner on the drawn lines.
Open the cut bottom on the outer basket and align the bottom seam with the side seam and pin the two cut edges.
Sew the two edges together to make a box corner. Repeat with the other bottom corner of the Outer Basket.

Turn the Outer Basket right side out and set aside.
Place the two 9 ½” x 16 ½” Fabric B pieces, right sides together and clip the layers together. Sew down each side and across the bottom, leaving a 3” - 4” opening at the bottom to make (1) Unit 5 piece.
Repeat Steps 11-13 with the Unit 5 piece to make the Lining piece.
Fold one 4” x 8 strip in half lengthwise and press. Open the folded fabric and fold each long edge to the creased centerline and press.
Fold the pressed fabric in half again and press to make one 1 ¼” x WOF strip. Top stitch down both long sides 1/8" in from the edge to make (1) Handle. Repeat to make a second handle.
Align one short end of the handle on one side of the Outer Basket 1” from the center seam and pin in place. Repeat with the second handle and the other side of the Outer Basket.

Slide Outer Basket into the Lining, right sides together. Make sure the handles are between the lining and outer bag. Align the raw edges on the lining with the raw edges on the Outer Basket and pin the layers together.

Sew the layers together around the top edge to make the basket. Turn the basket right side out through the opening in the lining.
Turn in the raw edges at the opening a ¼” and press. Topstitch the opening closed.
Push the lining into the bag and press the top edge. Topstitch around the top edge.
Topstitch down each side of the basket to complete the basket.