Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Fabric Baskets

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This past weekend I was experimenting with various designs of fabric storage baskets.  I have seen so many cute ones lately on Instagram, by people who are participating in 2017 Triangle Gatherings Sew Along, or the Moda BlockHeads Sew Along.  They use the baskets to hold the fat quarters they are using for their sew along projects.  So cute.  Some folks actually used yardage of the collection they were sewing with to make their baskets.  So cute and coordinated.

The first basket I made was from a tutorial on the blog St Louis Folk Victorian.  I used four different fabrics from my stash and some fusible quilt batting.  The result was not quite structured enough for me, and the basket seemed kind of floppy.  The fabric packed inside helped hold its shape, but I would have liked a firmer interfacing.

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The second basket was so stiff I could hardly work with it.  I more or less used this tutorial from Birch Fabrics.  I used an ultra firm interfacing called PelTex, which I bought at JoAnns.  Oh my gosh, this stuff was so stiff!  It was like what you would use to make a hat or something.  It was so stiff I couldn't really sew it, but just kind of formed it inside the outer fabric and lining.  It was impossible to top stitch, and I ended up gluing the lining fabric in place rather than sewing it (where it overlaps at the top).  It was a proper little box, super stiff sided, but really hard to work with.  The final size was a bit smaller than I wanted as well.

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My third effort was kind of a combination of the previous patterns and materials, and was a bit closer to what I wanted in terms of size, but since I was still trying to use the PelTex interfacing, it was really hard to work with.  I pretty much bent the heck out of the sides trying to wrestle it into shape.

So, do any of you know of an interfacing somewhere in between PelTex (which is more like cardboard) and the floppier fusible quilt batting we all know and love?  I was so mystified when I was shopping at JoAnns.  They had a ton of stuff in their interfacing section, but I had no idea really of what I was looking at.  There was a numbering system that was incomprehensible to me:  71F, 70, 72F etc.  Turns out the F stands for Fusible, which actually may have been useful, but who knows?  There sure wasn't any store personnel available to advise me.

I can still use these little baskets, but they weren't exactly what I was aiming for in terms of structure/sturdiness.  I'd love some recommendations from any of you who have made this type of fabric basket/bin.

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By the way,  I discovered a YouTube instructional video on making these little baskets. Here is the link for any of you who enjoy a real visual instruction.

 

 

48 responses to “Fabric Baskets”

  1. Thanks for the heads up on pel tex. I keep a supply of Decor bond for stiffening my cottons when making bags and baskets. Sometimes add batting or fusible fleece to it as well, keeping the batting shorter and out of the seam allowance. Also add a medium or light weight fusible to the lining. One of my favorite basket patterns is the free 1 hour pattern on Craftsy.

  2. Thanks for the heads up on pel tex. I keep a supply of Decor bond for stiffening my cottons when making bags and baskets. Sometimes add batting or fusible fleece to it as well, keeping the batting shorter and out of the seam allowance. Also add a medium or light weight fusible to the lining. One of my favorite basket patterns is the free 1 hour pattern on Craftsy.

  3. Thanks for the heads up on pel tex. I keep a supply of Decor bond for stiffening my cottons when making bags and baskets. Sometimes add batting or fusible fleece to it as well, keeping the batting shorter and out of the seam allowance. Also add a medium or light weight fusible to the lining. One of my favorite basket patterns is the free 1 hour pattern on Craftsy.

  4. I have also used the Décor Bond by Pellon in making purses/totes. It is pretty stiff, but not as stiff as cardboard and is a fusible. I have also used a woven fusible, SF101 by Pellon in making t-shirt quilts. Just enough stabilization for t-shirts, but lightweight enough not to cause problems when quilting.

  5. I have also used the Décor Bond by Pellon in making purses/totes. It is pretty stiff, but not as stiff as cardboard and is a fusible. I have also used a woven fusible, SF101 by Pellon in making t-shirt quilts. Just enough stabilization for t-shirts, but lightweight enough not to cause problems when quilting.

  6. I have also used the Décor Bond by Pellon in making purses/totes. It is pretty stiff, but not as stiff as cardboard and is a fusible. I have also used a woven fusible, SF101 by Pellon in making t-shirt quilts. Just enough stabilization for t-shirts, but lightweight enough not to cause problems when quilting.

  7. I have no helpful info to suggest, but am glad to learn from the experiences of others! Love your baskets!
    Hugs!

  8. I have no helpful info to suggest, but am glad to learn from the experiences of others! Love your baskets!
    Hugs!

  9. I have no helpful info to suggest, but am glad to learn from the experiences of others! Love your baskets!
    Hugs!

  10. Decor bond works well for baskets but may get floppy after a lot of use. Soft and stable or Bosal is a foam type product that is fairly easy to work with and keeps your baskets standing up. Your machine shouldn’t have any problems sewing through it. Its great for purses also a they keep a better shape. Its kind of expensive is the only downfall.

  11. Decor bond works well for baskets but may get floppy after a lot of use. Soft and stable or Bosal is a foam type product that is fairly easy to work with and keeps your baskets standing up. Your machine shouldn’t have any problems sewing through it. Its great for purses also a they keep a better shape. Its kind of expensive is the only downfall.

  12. Decor bond works well for baskets but may get floppy after a lot of use. Soft and stable or Bosal is a foam type product that is fairly easy to work with and keeps your baskets standing up. Your machine shouldn’t have any problems sewing through it. Its great for purses also a they keep a better shape. Its kind of expensive is the only downfall.

  13. I am totally in the dark about this stuff. No help at all for you from me. I bought a yard of something to put on the back of embroidery pieces on advice of a quilt shop employee and now I just look at it and wonder what the heck I was thinking. Way too thick and hard. I am anxiously reading everyone’s thoughts! Sorry.
    Mary

  14. I am totally in the dark about this stuff. No help at all for you from me. I bought a yard of something to put on the back of embroidery pieces on advice of a quilt shop employee and now I just look at it and wonder what the heck I was thinking. Way too thick and hard. I am anxiously reading everyone’s thoughts! Sorry.
    Mary

  15. I am totally in the dark about this stuff. No help at all for you from me. I bought a yard of something to put on the back of embroidery pieces on advice of a quilt shop employee and now I just look at it and wonder what the heck I was thinking. Way too thick and hard. I am anxiously reading everyone’s thoughts! Sorry.
    Mary

  16. I haven’t used it . . . but I read somewhere that Soft and Stable is good for tote bag making. . .so perhaps that would help.

  17. I haven’t used it . . . but I read somewhere that Soft and Stable is good for tote bag making. . .so perhaps that would help.

  18. I haven’t used it . . . but I read somewhere that Soft and Stable is good for tote bag making. . .so perhaps that would help.

  19. I’ve used the foam product Soft & Stable in bag making several times. It moves easily through my Bernina using the walking foot but isn’t fusible. The last package I bought has a price sticker of $24. but that was a couple of years ago. Maybe you could use a coupon at JoAnn’s?

  20. I’ve used the foam product Soft & Stable in bag making several times. It moves easily through my Bernina using the walking foot but isn’t fusible. The last package I bought has a price sticker of $24. but that was a couple of years ago. Maybe you could use a coupon at JoAnn’s?

  21. I’ve used the foam product Soft & Stable in bag making several times. It moves easily through my Bernina using the walking foot but isn’t fusible. The last package I bought has a price sticker of $24. but that was a couple of years ago. Maybe you could use a coupon at JoAnn’s?

  22. Soft and Stable is good to use for bags and baskets. Craftsy has a free pattern 123 Fabric Basket by Ellison Lane that I used.

  23. Soft and Stable is good to use for bags and baskets. Craftsy has a free pattern 123 Fabric Basket by Ellison Lane that I used.

  24. Soft and Stable is good to use for bags and baskets. Craftsy has a free pattern 123 Fabric Basket by Ellison Lane that I used.

  25. Thanks for telling us about your basket makings.
    I’ve made a one-hour-basket for my brother a few years ago and I really liked it.
    Don’t know if I’m any help for you with the interfacing problems because we have other brands here in Germany sometimes but I used Decovil for a basket once and it was okay although I would love to have something with more volume. Perhaps you can use a thin but stable interfacing and one softer together?

  26. Thanks for telling us about your basket makings.
    I’ve made a one-hour-basket for my brother a few years ago and I really liked it.
    Don’t know if I’m any help for you with the interfacing problems because we have other brands here in Germany sometimes but I used Decovil for a basket once and it was okay although I would love to have something with more volume. Perhaps you can use a thin but stable interfacing and one softer together?

  27. Thanks for telling us about your basket makings.
    I’ve made a one-hour-basket for my brother a few years ago and I really liked it.
    Don’t know if I’m any help for you with the interfacing problems because we have other brands here in Germany sometimes but I used Decovil for a basket once and it was okay although I would love to have something with more volume. Perhaps you can use a thin but stable interfacing and one softer together?

  28. I’ve used cotton/linen blend fabric with a fusible interface and had good luck. The cotton/linen fabric is a little stiffer than 100% cotton fabric.
    However, the best product for these projects is Soft and Stable by Annie’s. It is expensive. I don’t know if Joann’s sells it. You have to really shop around online to find a decent price. ;p

  29. I’ve used cotton/linen blend fabric with a fusible interface and had good luck. The cotton/linen fabric is a little stiffer than 100% cotton fabric.
    However, the best product for these projects is Soft and Stable by Annie’s. It is expensive. I don’t know if Joann’s sells it. You have to really shop around online to find a decent price. ;p

  30. I’ve used cotton/linen blend fabric with a fusible interface and had good luck. The cotton/linen fabric is a little stiffer than 100% cotton fabric.
    However, the best product for these projects is Soft and Stable by Annie’s. It is expensive. I don’t know if Joann’s sells it. You have to really shop around online to find a decent price. ;p

  31. Try soft & stable, Pellon SF101 (a woven cotton fusible, or cotton duck cloth with batting. I just used the cotton duck with quilt batting (quilters dream) in a little scrap bucket and it worked great – not too stiff and not too floppy. If you use this method you will need to quilt the layers some but not a lot.

  32. Try soft & stable, Pellon SF101 (a woven cotton fusible, or cotton duck cloth with batting. I just used the cotton duck with quilt batting (quilters dream) in a little scrap bucket and it worked great – not too stiff and not too floppy. If you use this method you will need to quilt the layers some but not a lot.

  33. Try soft & stable, Pellon SF101 (a woven cotton fusible, or cotton duck cloth with batting. I just used the cotton duck with quilt batting (quilters dream) in a little scrap bucket and it worked great – not too stiff and not too floppy. If you use this method you will need to quilt the layers some but not a lot.

  34. There is a product that is similar to car headliner. Similar to a foam and easy to sew. I think it is called soft and stable and comes in black and white. I have used it with great success in totes and bags. Keeps it shape without the hassle. What your using is used in making post cards for those that like to do that sort of thing, Hope this helps.
    Marge

  35. There is a product that is similar to car headliner. Similar to a foam and easy to sew. I think it is called soft and stable and comes in black and white. I have used it with great success in totes and bags. Keeps it shape without the hassle. What your using is used in making post cards for those that like to do that sort of thing, Hope this helps.
    Marge

  36. There is a product that is similar to car headliner. Similar to a foam and easy to sew. I think it is called soft and stable and comes in black and white. I have used it with great success in totes and bags. Keeps it shape without the hassle. What your using is used in making post cards for those that like to do that sort of thing, Hope this helps.
    Marge

  37. Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl Designs might work for you. Probably best for smaller baskets. I can’t remember the cost.
    I am currently trying a Pellon product called Flex-Foam on a duffle bag. There is a sew in and a fusible version. They were out of the fusible when I went to my local big box fabric store so I purchased the sew in. Both versions were $10.99 but I was lucky to have a 50% off coupon. A few days later I happened to be in the big box variety store (starts with a W)and they had the sew in for $6.99 or $7.99 (I can’t remember which). It would be better for larger baskets but you’d still need to be aware of how much weight you’re putting in the basket.
    Hope this was helpful. I really enjoy your blog.

  38. Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl Designs might work for you. Probably best for smaller baskets. I can’t remember the cost.
    I am currently trying a Pellon product called Flex-Foam on a duffle bag. There is a sew in and a fusible version. They were out of the fusible when I went to my local big box fabric store so I purchased the sew in. Both versions were $10.99 but I was lucky to have a 50% off coupon. A few days later I happened to be in the big box variety store (starts with a W)and they had the sew in for $6.99 or $7.99 (I can’t remember which). It would be better for larger baskets but you’d still need to be aware of how much weight you’re putting in the basket.
    Hope this was helpful. I really enjoy your blog.

  39. Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl Designs might work for you. Probably best for smaller baskets. I can’t remember the cost.
    I am currently trying a Pellon product called Flex-Foam on a duffle bag. There is a sew in and a fusible version. They were out of the fusible when I went to my local big box fabric store so I purchased the sew in. Both versions were $10.99 but I was lucky to have a 50% off coupon. A few days later I happened to be in the big box variety store (starts with a W)and they had the sew in for $6.99 or $7.99 (I can’t remember which). It would be better for larger baskets but you’d still need to be aware of how much weight you’re putting in the basket.
    Hope this was helpful. I really enjoy your blog.

  40. I like the feel of the Soft and Stable as well. It’s easy to work with and gives the baskets form.

  41. I like the feel of the Soft and Stable as well. It’s easy to work with and gives the baskets form.

  42. I like the feel of the Soft and Stable as well. It’s easy to work with and gives the baskets form.

  46. Foam works great and is easy to sew. My favorite is the 1 hour basket on Craftsy. Try it with the foam.

  47. Foam works great and is easy to sew. My favorite is the 1 hour basket on Craftsy. Try it with the foam.

  48. Foam works great and is easy to sew. My favorite is the 1 hour basket on Craftsy. Try it with the foam.