I had a few requests for instructions on how to make the gathered round basket that I made last week. This is an easy project and the baskets can be made in any size, are fully reversible, and are useful for so many things.
Materials: (to make a basket measuring 4 1/2 inches diameter and 1 3/4 inches high)
- 2 pieces of cotton fabric cut into circles with a 8 inch diameter (I used a small side plate as a template)
- 1 piece of fusible wadding (such as parlan or pellon) cut into a circle with an 8 inch diameter
- strip of fabric measuring 2 1/4 inch x 14 inch (for binding)
Instructions:
1. Fuse the wadding to the fabric circle that will form the outside of the basket, following manufacturers directions.
2. Baste the basket lining and basket outer together with the wrong sides facing.
3. Using a long straight stitch, sew a gathering stitch around the perimeter of the circle, close to the edge. Stitch a second gathering stitch close to the first gathering stitch. Ensure both gathering stitches are within the 1/4 inch seam allowance.
4. Gently pull the two ends of thread on the wrong side, the fabric will gather along the thread.
5. Secure the threads at one end to prevent the stitches from pulling out.
6. Even out the gathers until the circumference of the circle measures approximately 12 inches. When all the gathers are in place, use a standard machine stitch to stitch a 1/4 inch seam.
7. Press the binding strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides facing.
8. Pin the binding to the outside of the basket and stitch in place.
9. Fold the binding over to the inside of the basket and stitch in place by hand using a slip stitch to secure.
Edit 07/ 2012 – Just wanted to clarify in response to a few emails – The circles are 8 inches in diameter (the measurement you get if you rule a line through the centre of the circle) and when they are gathered they measure 12 inches in circumference (i.e all around the outside of the circle).
Check out Gathered Round Basket – 3 Sizes, to make three baskets that nest inside each other.
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Wow, GREAT tutorial! I love the basket! I placed a link to your tutorial under my “Inspirational Projects” section on my blog sidebar … it’s officially on my To Do list!
Jaime
http://www.ohsochichi.blogpsot.com
http://www.theclayfamilyblog.blogspot.com
Oh yes, eye catching new header, nice work Sarah!! Lisa i just love the fabric bowl, brilliant, not to mention our shared obsession with washi tapes, love Posie
Thanks for the tutorial, Lisa!
And the new header is beautiful!
Missing Paris?? 😉
Thanks for the tutorial I will have a go at making this one too.
Lovely fabric, very pretty and great header – I wouldn’t know where to start.
Спасибо за идею.
Я всегда не любила пришивать круглое дно .
А здесь этого делать не надо .))))))))))))))
I am going to make one of those cute baskets for sure – thanks for the knowhow! The banner is great but now I think that Paris is in Australia!? 😀 But I know how you feel – I love it too!
Nicky
GORGEOUS!!! Makes a great present. And then I ask myself why present. Why not one for me???
Have a lovely weekend!
Thanks Lisa, i am going to give this a go, i have been itching to use some of my Pure by Sweetwater and this looks perfect.
Sarah is a young lady with many talents.
I was hoping you would post a tutorial. Cutest little holder I’ve ever seen! Thank you!
Thank you for the tutorial Lisa, such a cute and quick project!
I love your new header – Sarah is so very talented!!! 🙂
Hugs to you both! Vikki xo
Sweet strawberry basket. Yes, great new header!!!
Brilliant tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing – will definitely have a go at one. Thanks….xxx
very nicely done…what a great tutorial. thanks!
Thanks for the tutorial! The basket is so cute)))
Nice tutorial. AND you own the matching washi tape with strawberries … Supercute!
Jule
I have a feeling I will be making many of these this year! What a great little gift for any occasion. Thanks for the tutorial.
So beautiful…
and pretty organized :o)
❤ alex.
Thanks for sharing! I was hoping you’d do a tutorial for that basket. It’s adorable.
Thanks for sharing! I love this and think it will be put to use in my sewing area right away!
I love these so much!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-gathered-fabric-bowl/2011/03/19/
–Anne
Love the basket so fun for spring or Easter.
Super cute…I was wondering myself! Thanks for the great tutorial.
PS- Sarah, I love the new header.
This basket is so adorable! I love how easy it is, so I can’t wait to make a couple for myself and a couple for gifts. Perfect for my sewing friends. Love the girlie fabric you used for the sample.
Cool header! I could use a refresher for my blog too.
THank you! I had been looking at the photo trying to figure it out! Thank you for the tutorial so I don’t have to strain my poor brain!
Do you think that if I used an upholstery weight fabric I could skip the wadding?
I’m making one today! Thanks for the great tutorial!
Super cute tutorial…I can’t wait to try it! And I love the new header as well (:
The new header is so lovely, girls!! I love it! I have been to Paris and that is an adorable city! Romantic, charming!!
This project is wonderful! So gorgeous!!! Be sure I will work on it!!!
Thanks!
Love!
Bela
I love them and I’m going to be making them very soon! Eva-Marie from zusjeb.blogspot.com
I love this basket! I needed a little thread catcher and I think this’ll be perfect:) So cute!
♥ so lovely! thanks for sharing. I had to make one today and placed a link in my blog.
ulli
Love you new header! Thanks for the Gathered Round Basket tutorial!!! I am going to make one now! Again thanks for sharing!
I can’t believe you put a tutorial together for this! I loved this little basket from the second I saw it and can’t wait to make one for myself. Thank you so much! I am also loving your new header. You and your daughter are so full of inspiration and talent.
great tutorial, hopefully I will be making one today.
Thank you.
Great tutorial. I think I could make this!
That’s really sweet! I can imagine it holding little sweet (wrapped) treats in it as well 🙂
thank you, I love it!
This is gorgeous! I feel quite inspired to have a go myself!
Would be a great organiser for my ribbons and embroidery threads, so much nicer than a carrier bag….
and another full of little sweets would be quite nice too….
Have a lovely weekend, Helenxx
Hello, thank you for the tutorial. I will have to try one.Amy
I LOVE IT! Thanks so much for such a great tute…those materials you used are stunning too! And let Sarah know I think she is a very talented young lady with an incredibly bright future!! Loving the colour scheme and eiffel tower…matches her newly made over room!!
simple and great!
Thank you for a wonderful hour with my sewing machine 🙂
Very pretty and so simple to make. Thanks for the tutorial
Yep looks nice and easy…thanks for sharing the tutorial…I have linked to you on my Freebies for Crafters blog…hugs Khris
Very cute.
It is on my list of things I want to make in the very near future!
Thanks. Cory/Dogwood
Just love the little baskets… and thank you so much..these would be great for my granddaughters for their easter eggs and then they could use them for their hair ties!! Wonderful…thank you for sharing
Hugs
I LOVE this basket!! I want to try to make one!
I’m so glad you shared the pattern, Lisa – it’s adorable, and I can think of *many* ways to use it! Thanks so much! 🙂
Hugs
Jenny
Wow it looks complicated to make at first, but you did such a great job showing how easy this can be done! Love this!
Very sweet little basket! Thanks for sharing! I love the header! Great job Sarah!
Love the basket and tried to make it but was confused with the directions of cutting a 8 inch circle. Was the 8 inch right? How does the 8 inch circle have a circumfrence of 12 inches? Sorry for being so dumb but I love this basket and want to make one.
I love the “Living Creatively”!
Love it! And might try adding a strap to make it an Easter basket.
Thanks for the great idea!
wow i love it! thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
Hello dear …
What a cute idea you are sharing… really so practical and sweet project to do. Sure I will go for some for my craft table
If you love to play with colours and flowers? Please visit me at
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah
This is just adorable! Thank you for sharing.
Nagyon szép! (Very nice!)
Amy
(www.amy-kreativ.blogspot.com)
How cute! And I do like your new header 🙂
Merci/thank you
This is just what I’ve been looking for! Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
Gorgeous! I’d love to share this tutorial on the Examiner’s Arts & Crafts page. Please le tme know if you are interested. Cheers!
Thank you for this tutorial! It’s a wonderful basket.. When I am moved to my new flat, I will have to make some new accessoires and the basket will be one of them.. 🙂
nane
Hi, Easy to make but was disappointed in the size, I need larger. Thanks
Hi thanks for sharing !!!this is beatiful I will make sure
kisses
wah! those are darling! 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I will definitely go and make a few, I just love them to bits…
These are gorgeous, thank you so much for sharing! I found you through Pinterest and look forward to pouring over your blog!
xx
I just LOVE the look of this…..Oh, everyone I know is going to get such a cute little gift this year!!! Thank you so much for sharing such an amazing project!!!!
Perfect! I want to make a couple of these for my daughter’s dorm room!
Hey, I just hopped over to your website via StumbleUpon. Not somthing I would normally read, but I liked your thoughts none the much less. Thanks for making some thing worth reading.
Love your great tutorial and yummy fabric choice! Who does not like it after coming upon a tutorial and say “hum, I could do that”? Well done.
Adorei, muito lindo. Abraços !
This is so cute! Love how simple it is!
grazie bellisimo tutorial.
un saluto dall Italia
THUD….that was my jaw falling on the floor. SO stinkin’ cute. TFS!
Such a cute and EASY basket, thanks for sharing, I love it.
This is great! The possibilities are boundless. Thank you.
Thanks so much for a great tut Lisa!! I made one too, so easy, I love it :o).
Hugs,
Joy :o)
I’m confused.
If the circles are 8″, how can you gather them into 12″?
Hi Anonymous
The circles are 8 inches in diameter (the measurement you get if you rule a line through the centre of the circle) and when they are gathered they measure 12 inches in circumference (ie all around the outside of the circle). Hope that helps.
I love, love, love it!!!
I love, love, love it!!!
I love, love, love it!!!
Looks too cute, thank you, I’ll definitely want to try this.
Looks too cute; I’d love to try this.
I’m confused. If you’re starting with 8″ circles, how can you even out the gathers to a 12″ circumference?
cute & washable and you can collapse it.
RE: I’m confused.
23 February 2012 9:35 AM
Visually, didn’t make sense. Thanks for clearing that up.
Love this! I’m making several today. My nieces will adore these as catch-alls on their dressers and nightstands. Thank you!
Hi, I am new and absolutely love this. Is this possible to make in a larger size? I thought I would try to make a large one, starting out with an eighteen inch circle. Are my calculations correct to gather the top to a 24 inch circumference? You have described the pattern so well, I feel it is very possible to make a larger one.
Hi, I ‘ve never really commented before on sewing blogs.. but your project is so creative and simple that i couldn’t resist it! you’ve given a brilliant idea. Been wanting to make a basket but shying away. i guess i’d definitely do one of yours! thank you very much.
Lisa and Sarah,
I love to see your blog and your tutorials.
Thank you!
Eusa
http://www.patchretalhinhos.blogspot.com.br
Hi Girls,
I would like to make different sizes of this lil’ basket as a set. Could you please send me the details for a 12″ & a 16″ in diameter baskets?
Thx,
Lynda
si parla di voi su https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kreattiva/144623015570424 spero non vi dispiaccia ciao rosa
What a quick way to make a fabric basket and so pretty with the gathers!!! I’ll have to try this…
Hi Lisa and Sarah, I’ve featured your Gathered Round Fabric Basket today… Threading Your Way Features.
Hi, great tutorial! Thanks for sharing us:-)
Hugs from Italy, Emanuela
This is a very pretty item for a gift. If I don’t have fusible batting/wadding, could I use regular wadding? I think the fusible type just keeps it from shifting as you sew. Perhaps I could just baste the regular kind in place to start with? Thanks.
Could you use regular wadding instead of the fusible kind? I don’t have any fusible kind at home but was thinking about using the regular kind to make one of these.
Jean – If you use regular wadding, use basting spray or baste the layers to hold it all together while it is being gathered.
That’s so cute! Mine’s a boring kind of fabric box made from old curtains and bedsheets
Hermosas estas cesticas, adecuadas para un obsequio.
Muchas gracias por el tutorial, bien explicado.
Beautiful little holder, especially after work rather than seeing we have our accessories lying around-this holder helps!
Oh wow these would be so cute holding my craft supplies, great idea. Love the fabric choices 🙂 I’m a sucker for florals ! Gill
Thanks for the tutorial and I have made the 3 sizes…… Thanks again…..!!!!
These look soooooo very adorable!
I was wondering where you got that pink floral washi taoe from? Would love to get my hands on it!
-Nash
thanks for the tutorial Lisa! I will have a go at making this one too. 🙂
It looked so cute that I had to make it. It’s really easy. But yours looks much better than mine.
🙂 happy with this tutorial ! thanks a ton ! i just made one for me and added a bit of zipper and a bow to it and it turned out into the cutest clutch i have ever made 🙂 and i shared it here:
http://hobbiesinn.blogspot.in/2013/12/cute-gather-round-clutch.html
Hi. Really cute. Have you tried making larger ones? Would you run into problems with them keeping their shape/the sides staying upright do you think?
Hi Linda – We haven’t tried making any bigger ones but it should work OK as long as they weren’t too big.
un bien joli projet, que j’ai envie de réaliser aujourd’hui,
bonne journée de fête des Mère
amicalement
Véro
thank you for this great tutorial. i skipped the wadding and went for a really heavy fabric (the kind used for upholstering chairs). the results aren’t as cute as yours, but it will do 🙂
Thanks Ofelya. Your baskets sound like they would be very sturdy. There are some great upholstery fabrics around.
Love it and most certainly going to try to make some for me! Thank you!
Thank you – great instructions! Made and posted about here https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=386128260762249969#allposts
i may be a little dense, but i can’t find the tutorial for the postage stamp hot pad. they are so cute and i would like to make several.
thanks
Hi Sandi There isn’t a tutorial a such but you can find more details here:
http://aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2014/08/postage-stamp-pot-holder-fabric-scraps/
regards Lisa
Is there an unfinished seam on the inside bottom….or did I miss something? To make this reversible, you would have to make two separate pieces and then sew them together around the top edge. Otherwise, if you sew both bottom circles together and then add the side piece….you end up with either a surged or unfinished edge on the inside.
Am I correct? The picture looks like your inside basket is total finished with no seam allowance/unfinished edge showing.
Hi Susan – there is no side pieces or seams. It is made by sewing two circles together, gathering the top edge, and then adding the binding to hide the gathering. Hope this helps!
Featured your tutorial on my blog today – https://frommycarolinahome.wordpress.com/2016/04/12/cute-fabric-bowl/
Thanks so much Carole! Sorry for the late response – I have been unwell and haven’t been able to check my emails. i really appreciate the feature.
Happy New Year! Just what I need to get me going on my many projects! This is going to the top of my list. Thank you for the inspiration and great tutorial!