Tutorial: Sewing Square Nesting Baskets Pattern

I was shopping the other day, taking advantage of the post Christmas sales in the ongoing attempt to get organized in the New Year, and came across some adorable nesting baskets. I love baskets! They’re one of the few items I can never seem to have enough of. These particular baskets were three in a set, and fit snugly into each other. One of the baskets had a small stain; while made of fabric, they appeared to have a cardboard interfacing, which made washing them out of the question. Plus, they were a *bit* darker than I would have liked…so it was off to the fabric store to pick up some fabrics I liked and make my own set!

Creating these was really fun, because they’re all made from the same simple boxed corner piecing that so many of you are familiar with. The key to making these is to first figure out what you want them to hold; once you know the size you need, creating them is a cinch!

For me, I wanted a soft gray to hold my growing collection of essential oils. While I have beautiful essential oil cases to hold the smaller sized oils (the Our Lady of Guadalupe is my favorite!), the larger sized bottles, pamphlets, booklets, and diffuser really needed a home. So did the growing stash of candles!

I wanted to work with sturdy nesting baskets, so used thicker upholstery fabrics for both the interior and exterior. Next, to make the baskets the right height, I first measured the height of the diffuser, doubled it, and added six inches (this accounts for the two sides of the basket and the bottom, which is six inches wide). This seemed a *tad* tall, so I shortened it slightly, knowing the diffuser would peek out the top (I was ok with that). Feel free to play with the measurements below to create custom sizes for everything in your home! The measurements below will create three fabric nesting baskets, which fit perfectly into one another when not in use. So, without further adeu, here is the nesting baskets pattern / tutorial:

WHAT YOU NEED

• fabric marker
• 1 yard of outdoor/upholstery fabric for interior of basket
• 1 yard of outdoor/upholstery fabric for exterior of basket
• 1 yard of medium weight interfacing *or* fusible fleece for lining

HOW TO MAKE

• Cut your exterior fabrics:
  • 2 rectangles measuring 11.5″ x 16.5″ (large basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 9.5″ x 14.5″ (medium basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 7.5″ x 12.5″ (small basket)
• Cut your interior fabrics:
  • 2 rectangles measuring 11.5″ x 16.5″ (large basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 9.5″ x 14.5″ (medium basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 7.5″ x 12.5″ (small basket)
• Cut your interfacing/fusible fleece:
  • 2 rectangles measuring 11.5″ x 16.5″ (large basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 9.5″ x 14.5″ (medium basket)
  • 2 rectangles measuring 7.5″ x 12.5″ (small basket)
• Place your exterior fabrics right sides down and fuse the interfacing onto each piece. If your fabric is directional, mark the top.
• Pair the six sets of rectangles, right sides together, and pin (ex: the two exterior fabrics measuring 11.5″ x 16.5″). You’ll end up with six sets of rectangles, each a pair of the same fabrics and sizes, pinned right sides together.
  

• Next, using your disappearing fabric marker, draw and cut out a square from the two bottom corners on each of the six sets of rectangles. Remember, if you have directional fabrics, keep the direction facing up so that you cut the squares from the bottom of the print. You may need to move your pins a bit in order to make the cuts. (large basket: 3.5″ x 3.5″, medium basket: 3″ x 3″, small basket: 2.5″ x 2.5″)

• Leaving the pairs pinned, separate your interior fabrics into one pile and your exterior fabrics into another.
• Start with the exterior fabric pair. Sew, using a generous 1/4″ allowance, down both sides and across the bottom of each pair, leaving the top and the cut-out square sides open.  Remove pins and set aside.
• Next, sew down both sides of the interior fabric pair. Then sew across the bottom of the pair, leaving a 3-4″ gap in the center (you’ll use this to turn the fabrics in a later step). Remove pins.
• Square the corners of all 12 pairs. To square, open the corner and realign the fabric so that the two seams (side and bottom) nest. Sew with a generous 1/4″ seam.
  

• Turn the exterior fabrics right-side out, and fit the exterior shell into the interior so right sides are together. Clip with fabric clips or pin edges, and nest seams.
• Sew along the top of the basket with a 1/2″ seam.
  

• Turn the basket right-side out through the 3-4″ gap you created in the interior fabric. Push out all corners, and stitch the gap closed.
• Stitch a 1/8″ seam around the top of the basket to hold the layers in place and enjoy (and don’t forget to pin this nesting baskets pattern / tutorial for the next time you want to organize)!

Just for fun, this post links up at these fun quilting and Catholic link-up parties!

This pattern was also featured in AllFreeSewing’s collection of 29 Fabric Basket Patterns.