DIY Linen Baskets
In moving from University Halls to a house with my friends next year, it is fair to say I am very excited to decorate the space. In looking online and in stores at homeware products, it seems overwhelmingly clear that pretty, bespoke items can be quite expensive.
I have recently re-discovered how economical making your own products are - and how in most cases, individual and personal items hand made can be better than something you buy.
If you're into DIY and sewing, here is a step by step of how to make linen holders as pictured. These could be placed in a bedroom for makeup or toiletries, in the kitchen for utensils, or for stationary.
These particular fabrics are all recycled. The crushed and pleated velvet are left over from pillows, and the pleated shiny linen is fabric from my sister's old jumpsuit. I highly recommend reusing old pretty tops to keep this project at a lower cost!
What you will need:
1. Two fabrics of your choice.
2. Interlining
3. Scissors
4. Measuring Tape
5. Pins
6. A needle and thread. One colour for your machine to match the fabric type, and a second one for hand sewing. I am using white to match the lace.
7. A Sewing Machine - though this all can be done by hand. [Will be time consuming]
8. Frill edging
9. Unpicker (in case of mistakes!)
10. Pattern Paper - though this can easily be achieved on normal paper with the use of sellotape.
11. A Compass
12. An Iron
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Pattern Paper
Firstly, take your pattern paper or normal plain paper if you don't have dressmaking paper at home. For the size of these pots, I measured across 14 inches by 7.5inches in height. Of course, you can adjust these in accordance to how large or small you would prefer the holder to be.
Cut this rectangle out leaving a 1cm seam allowance with normal paper scissors, not your fabric scissors as this may blunt them.
The next part of this step is to cut out the circle. In order to do so, you need to use the rule of 2πR, but change this around.
In order to find the radius, we need to take of the Circumference of the rectangle = 14 inches and divide this by 2π. This gives you a radius of 2.5 inches. Using a ruler, measure 2.5 inches in line with your compass. Place a dot in the middle of the paper and make a 360 degree circle. Cut this out - again remembering a 1cm seam allowance.
2. Attach the fabric to the pattern paper.
Using the fabric of your choice, place your pattern paper on top of your fabric. To make things easier, I will be calling the fabric pieces fabric one rectangle and fabric two rectangle / fabric one circle and fabric two circle.
If the fabric you're using is rather thin like mine, I really recommend using curtain interlining to make the holder sturdier. You can find this in John Lewis for £5 a metre, or just type interlining for textiles into eBay or amazon and plenty are available.
CUT:
Once attached, cut X 1 of fabric one rectangle. Cut X 1 of fabric two rectangle. Cut X1 of fabric one circle, and X 1 of fabric two circle.
Cut x 4 interlining pieces. X 2 rectangles, using exactly the same measurements on the cut pattern paper with a 1cm seam allowance like the other pieces, and X 2 circles.
3. Sewing the rectangle pieces.
Take fabric one rectangle and fabric two rectangle. Place them right sides together (aka the front of the fabric).
Take the two interlining rectangle pieces, and place one on top of fabric one rectangle, and one under fabric two rectangle. Pin this all along one edge.
Next, go to your sewing machine. Along only ONE side of the fabric as pictured below, sew down the four fabric pieces in straight stitch. I use length 2 and a width of about 3.5. Use the 1cm guideline on the machine for guidance and to keep a straight line. If you don't have a sewing machine, hand sew all the way down the pinned edge.
4. Next, iron open the seam you have just made by sewing down one edge.
5. Pinning the pieces in half.
In order to make a cylinder tube, which will be the outer edges of the holder, the next stage is to pin the fabric in half, right sides together.
Again take this to the sewing machine, and sew in straight stitch down the pinned edge. Stitch over the open ironed seam all the way to the end.
5. Iron open the second seam.
6. The next step is rather complex. Now we are moving on to take fabric one circle and pin a circle interlining to the wrong side of the fabric. Do the same for fabric two circle.
Take your cylinder, and at each open end, pin the circle fabric to the open circle space.
Only on ONE of the ends must you leave an open space as pictured below.
This is crucial in order to fold the fabric through. Stop pinning, leaving about 2 inches of fabric open in the circle.
7. Sewing the circles.
On one end, use a 1cm seam allowance and sew all around the circular edge.
Only ONE end should look like this:
With regards to the other end, you will follow exactly the same steps, only you will stop when you the gap you have left unpinned.
7. Turning.
Through the open fabric, find the bottom of the holder (which is currently inside out) and pull this through.
You will finish with the holder nearly made.
8. Hand sewing
One of the final steps is to hand sew the gap we left open. I just sew a regular running stitch. Do not worry about this looking perfect as this will be inside the container - not on show.
9. Folding fabric one in to fabric two.
Once you have finished the hand sewing, push fabric one into fabric two. You will see the holder has developed.
10. The following stage is optional, however I think adding lace trim to the edge adds a personal, effective touch! Around the top edge, place the lace on fabric two, and hand sew all the way around.
11. Then finally fold fabric one over fabric two around 5-7cm, and you will find you have made a linen basket!
Voila!
I hope this post may inspire some of you to get creative and re-use materials!
For those of you who are not so into DIY, I will be selling these shortly on etsy. I will let you know when these are listed online!
If you have any questions drop me a comment below!
Happy sewing, and Happy Father's Day!
All My LittleMauve Love,
Hannah