Building a Basket Using Vintage Fabrics and Grommets
February 16, 2008
I’ve been doing some experimenting building baskets and boxes out of fabric. I have a lot of grommets and a few grommet tools. I had an idea for a box/basket and a color combination, brown and blue.
I sandwiched 5, 7″x7″, pieces of stiff felt between a brown and a medium blue polka dot on light blue fabric. The pieces are sewed together like a pillow. Sew with wrong sides together then turn. I was making it up as I went along. I discovered that it was best to sew around the bottom piece of felt.
My first attempt at grommets failed. I found this new kind of grommet at the craft store. It has prongs that can be flattened down. With a little fray check around the holes, these grommets worked great on my fabric basket.
I folded and tied the ends together with ribbons. VIOLA! I have a box/basket.
I made some boo-boos with this one, so I’ll be keeping it. Now that I figured out how to put the baskets together, I think I’ll be making a few more. I have an idea for some gift baskets.
February 16, 2008 at 2:31 am
that is awesome!!! Love it!!!
With friendship,
Lisa
February 16, 2008 at 3:09 am
Thank you.
February 16, 2008 at 4:39 am
Awesome, Sue. I like that the grommets make it able to collapse if you are not using it.
February 16, 2008 at 8:53 am
Thank you. You could probably reverse it if you wanted as well.
February 16, 2008 at 5:13 pm
This is great!
February 16, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Sue, that is a great basket! I think you could make a set of them in different sizes, and with different fabrics, and use them for organizers. I can see how those would make great organizers in a sewing or craft room.
You spend more time in the sewing room than you’ve let me know.
February 16, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Thank you, Sue B.
LOL @ Belinda. I have 2 sewing machines! I’m just too pig-headed to follow a pattern most the time. Watch out if I ever get a serger!
I think those boxes would make great organizers too.
February 17, 2008 at 12:10 am
Awesome, I adore this!
February 21, 2008 at 6:28 am
Wow Sue! That is great! Could you use pieces of boxes instead of felt for a sturdier basket?
February 21, 2008 at 7:57 am
Yeah! Sure! I’ve made something similar with cardboard inside. I turned it into a little bowl.
July 29, 2008 at 4:06 am
This is great! It’s actually something like what I’ve been looking for for a storage solution for my 3 yo’s Barbie accessories!
What size did you make yours? Looking at your finished (but before constructed) pattern, I made one 10×10. The grommets would give it reinforcement for the sides, so I don’t feel that it’ll collapse, but out of curiosity sake, what size are yours?
Thanks so much! These will make great accessories to either my son’s room (nautical theme) or my daughters (pink butterflies), to even mine! (getting ready to be redone in red and red/white toile- I’ll email you some pictures when I get them done if you shoot me your email!)
This would be such a great idea for nesting baskets also, like for the living room, or laundry room. I wonder, have you been ambitious enough to use a quilted fabric (pre-made or your own)? I would love extra photos if you have them. you never know, you may inspire even more!
August 14, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Someone posted a link to this project on their blog yesterday, I saw it last night and was quite intrigued – then I DREAMED about it during the night! I made a bunch of coasters earlier this year to go in my Christmas box, and I think this would make a funky/fun little holder to go with each set – it’s not the typical little fabric box – the grommets add a bit of zing! Thanks for the inspiration
August 15, 2008 at 2:07 am
Heather, my fabric box was a 7″x7″.
Sandra you had me giggling this morning about your dream. It must be your destiny to custom coaster holders for Christmas.
I hope you have fun making your own fabric boxes. Thanks for looking at the tutorial.
August 15, 2008 at 6:23 am
This is, down to the fabrics you used, exactly what I’ve had in my head for a couple of months now!! This is so great! I need to pick up some grommets and try this out for myself.
August 15, 2008 at 8:11 am
LOL, I can’t help you with the fabric. I think I used all of my polka dot print up. Save your 40% off coupons. If you’re going to make more than one box, you may want to buy a tool set too.
August 15, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Wow, what a great idea for a box!! Thanks for sharing!
August 15, 2008 at 9:49 pm
these are great! i would love some in my office. where did you find the pattern?
August 16, 2008 at 1:34 am
Pattern? I didn’t use a pattern, I just made it. It isn’t hard to make.
August 16, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This is wonderful! Thanks so much for the idea.
August 16, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Very clever and clean design. Thanks.
August 17, 2008 at 10:47 am
That’s so beautiful! I’m gonna have to make some of those for Christmas presents. Thanks for sharing
August 17, 2008 at 5:23 pm
gorgeous gorgeous idea…thank you!!
August 17, 2008 at 8:42 pm
So wonderful–I’m going to start some for Christmas right away.
Thanks for the inspiration!
August 17, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Thank you Jen M, Meggiecat, Wendy, Marianne and Nancy.
August 19, 2008 at 4:57 am
Found you via Craft. This is absolutely fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing. Now I’ve got a great reason to get my sewing machine out again!
August 20, 2008 at 2:25 am
Thank you for visiting, Shea. Have fun “bonding” with your sewing machine.
August 21, 2008 at 12:49 am
What a great gift this would be for house welcoming plants in it,scrapers.art papers bushes ect.
Love this whole idea of the basket there so much you can do with it.Love it!
hugs ginger
August 21, 2008 at 2:29 am
Hi Sue.
I got to your blog site via Thimble.
Thanks so much for the tutorial.
What a GREAT project. I love the blue & brown. They go so well together don’t the?
I will definately be back again, and again.
Also,if you don’t mind I would like to add your blog address to my crafts area on my blog site.
Thanks again.
Have a great week.
Lois
August 21, 2008 at 2:53 am
Great ideas Ginger! I have some scrappy friends
that could probably use a few boxes to go with their gifts.
Thank you Lois! You certainly may add my link! Thanks again!
August 22, 2008 at 4:38 am
[...] tutorial on Basket Using Vintage Fabrics and Grommets on Perpetualplum’s Weblog which houses lots of interesting tips on crafts and recycling was found [...]
September 30, 2008 at 8:51 pm
[...] Cool fabric baskets [...]
October 2, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Thank you! I can see awesome easter baskets made from this, and for every other holiday, I wanted to make some baskets for toys in my kids’ room, this is so great of you to share your talent!!
October 2, 2008 at 8:59 pm
You’re welcome!
The fabric baskets would make great holiday baskets.
October 11, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Adorable basket! I saw it featured on Skip to my Lou’s blog. BTW, you should totally invest in a crop-a-dile.It is made to set eyelets for scrapbooking, but it punches through metal, chipboard, fabric, paper,… And you can set jumbo eyelets with it which are very similar to your grommets. SOOOO EASY! Keep crafting… Andrea
October 11, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Hi Andrea, I have a crop-a-dile.
It’s very easy to set the grommets in the photo. Also, I have set regular sewing grommets the old fashion way with a grommet tool and hammer and haven’t had any problems either.
Here’s an example, http://perpetualplum.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/getting-organized-sewing-a-caddy-for-the-wii-parts/
October 26, 2008 at 9:08 am
[...] *Fabric basket and storage cubes [...]
March 20, 2009 at 1:24 am
What a beautiful basket! I would love to make one.
Do you have a pattern you can share, or at least the dimensions of the basket when it’s flat?
thanks
March 20, 2009 at 3:10 am
It’s 5 7″x7″ pieces put in a cross (+) pattern, so that would be about 21″ wide by 21″ long.
June 23, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for this article
June 25, 2009 at 4:35 am
i made my own just this week and am completely satisfied with the results. thanks for doing the creative part for me!
September 12, 2009 at 8:07 am
[...] Make your gift over the top with these cool fabric baskets [...]