Purple Petunia Basket - Triple Loop Handles

Purple Petunia Basket Side View,
originally uploaded by New England Quilter.

My latest fabric coiled basket is made from purple petunia spring fabric. I never know how I am going to finish a basket when I start it - this is half the fun! When it was time to make the handles, I decided to go with a triple loop. To make triple loop handles, measure out the amount of fabric needed by looping the cording three times. Hold it out to the side and continue sewing the top edge of cording. Repeat for the other side as well. After finishing the top edge, sew the loops in place by hand. This basket is available to purchase at my Etsy shop http://www.newenglandquilter.etsy.com
Just in time for spring! This darling basket is made from purple petunia fabric using the fabric coiling technique. It has triple loop handles which make it truly unique. The top of the base measures 7.5 inches across the top and is 2.75 inches high. The height to the top of the handles measures 4 inches. This basket would be great in so many rooms of your home. This would be a lovely gift for anyone or a special treat for yourself!

Upcoming Blog Entries (Not necessarily in this order):
*Book Review of Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*Comparing Techniques of It's a Wrap by Susan Breier and Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*My latest Baskets
*How to Make Different Types of Coiled Fabric Handles

It's a Wrap - Book Review

It's a Wrap by Susan Breier
This book is an excellent resource for anyone who would like to try fabric coiling. Not only does the author have detailed written descriptions of her instructions, but helpful photos to go along with most steps. If you have interest in fabric coiling and know how to use a basic sewing machine, then I would highly recommend this book as a first book about fabric coiling. This book gives easy to follow step by step instructions for making bowls, baskets, pots, and bags. An 80 or 90 Universal size needle is recommended for your sewing machine. I would pick up a few extras. She also recommends to use cotton clothesline for the cording, 3/16 inch, which can be found at Walmart or your local hardware store. I found some poly-cotton cording at Rite Aide, but it is a bit thinner and I like the cotton cording better. She recommends not using cording wider than 7/32 inches, since her techniques require to assemble the coiling on a sewing machine. She also includes an inspirational photo gallery in each section of the book. My next book review, Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan, has directions for hand sewing and machine sewing baskets ; so you will have more flexibility choosing materials with her methods.

I saw this book at JoAnn Fabrics and knew that this was a craft that I wanted to try. Check out some of the baskets I have already made in my previous blogs.

Visit my Artfire Studio and Etsy Shop to see some of the baskets I have made.

Upcoming Blog Entries (Not necessarily in this order):
*Book Review of Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*Comparing Techniques of It's a Wrap by Susan Breier and Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*My latest Baskets
*How to Make Different Types of Coiled Fabric Handles

Heart Basket

Heart Basket,
originally uploaded by New England Quilter.

This sweet little basket was specially made as a Valentine's Day gift for someone special! I originally was just going to add loops for handles to this basket. However, after sewing the handles to the basket, I thought that the loops were a little too long. So, I turned the loops into hearts. To make the handles, I sewed two loops onto the basket - one on each side. Then I pinched the top of each loop together to form the heart, and then stitched where the pinch was located. So, my long handles turned into lovely hearts!

Upcoming Blog Entries (Not necessarily in this order):
*Book Review of It's a Wrap by Susan Breier
*Book Review of Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*My latest Baskets
*Different Types of Coiled Fabric Handles
*Coiled Fabric Surprise - not a Basket!