Burlap & Batik Basket
My sister and I were chatting one day and thought it a great idea that maybe I could use her batik fabrics for some of my projects. She can then sell it and a percentage of the proceeds can go to charity!
I have always liked burlap and decided to combine it with batik.
Materials
HANDLES
- 1 1/2 x 21 inches (4 x 53 cm) x 6 Cotton Batik
- 1 1/2 x 21 inches (4 x 53 cm) x 6 Matching Burlap
- 1 1/2 x 21 inches (4 x 53 cm) x 12 Fusible Interfacing
MAIN BASKET
- 21 x 25 inches (53 x 64cm) x 2 Cotton Batik
- 21 x 25 inches (53 x 64 cm) x 2 Matching Burlap
- 21 x 25 inches (53 x 64 cm) x 4 Fusible Interfacing
STEPS
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using the interfacing and iron on all the fabric pieces. A quick tip is the shiny part of the interfacing, where the glue is , should face the wrong side of the fabric.
- Take all the batik and burlap pieces for the handle and fold lengthwise, wrong sides together. Pin and iron.
- Fold the batik handle piece about 1/2 cm inward for the seam and cover the burlap piece partially as shown. Pin. Repeat for all the handle pieces combining the burlap with the batik. You will now have 6 handles.
- Sew all the batik and burlap combined pieces together. Your handles should look like the photo below.
- Once done combine the 3 handles and sew side by side attaching them together as shown in the far right photo, Sew only on one end leaving the handles on the opposite end separated. You now have 2 sets of handles both attached only on one end.
- Put aside.
- Cut out a 3 x 3 inches (8 x 8 cm) square from the bottom corners of both the batik and burlap main fabric pieces.
- Keep the 4 burlap square pieces for later.
- Place both the burlap pieces right sides together and both the batik pieces right sides together too. Pin the bottom and both sides of the batik and burlap.
- Sew a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) seam along both the batik and burlap sides and bottom edges. Burlap is a loose weave so sewing a zigzag for the initial seams will help give it a stronger finish.
- You should now have 2 main pieces as shown below.
- As shown on the batik below, to close the bottom corners, match the side seam with the bottom seam. Pin securely and sew with a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) seam. Don’t forget to zigzag.
- Repeat for the burlap piece as well, Once done it should look like the photo below. Put aside once completed.
- Now take the handle pieces that was put aside earlier and pleat both pieces starting from the sewn end. Once done sew the opposite ends of both the handles as well, closing the pleats.
- Turn the burlap main piece inside out.
- Place the handle on the (right side) of the burlap on the centre of one side. Position the handle edges 5 inches (13 cm) apart and 6 inches (15 cm) from the bottom centre of the piece. Sew the edges n place.
- Repeat for the other side as well.
- Take the burlap square pieces that was put aside earlier. Fold a 1/2 cm seam on the square piece on all sides and place on the edge of the handle as shown. Cover the handle edge completely. Pin and sew in place.
- Repeat for all the edges of the handles. This will give the edges a neater finish.
- Once done the handles should look as the photo below.
- Insert the batik inside the burlap, wrong sides together as shown.
- Fold a 1-cm seam to the batik and burlap top edge inwards as shown. Pin all around and sew.
- Fold the top of the basket twice, revealing the batik to the outer side. Your batik and burlap basket is now ready to be filled! It is decorative and useful to have anywhere around your home!
