We have a winner! Congratulations to Dawn Rogal in Bellevue Washington! Dawn blogs at More Art, Less Housework, so I’m guessing that the sheets didn’t get ironed while she perfected this little gem. Everything about her project inspires and appeals to me—its simplicity and usefulness, flexibility and just overall charm—a zakka basket with a new twist! (If you don’t have a basket handy that suits the purpose, you can also knit or crochet a base out of linen, hemp or cotton. Think flat-topped hat, upside-down.) And now I turn it over to Dawn:

This sweet “zakka” inspired basket is so cute and so handy. You can use it for everything from carrying and storing your current weaving project to taking a snack on a picnic or wrapping a special gift for a friend.

The project uses:
• six basic weave squares
• 1 fat quarter of fabric (22.5” x22.5”)
• a basket with a 22-inch circumference (this is the length of the squares once they were sewn together)
• 1 yard ribbon
• thread, fabric glue, scissors, large sewing needle
• sewing machine (optional—the minimal amount of sewing could easily be done by hand)
(eLoomanator’s notes: Get the basket first! If your basket opening is larger than 22”circumference, you’ll need more woven pieces and more fabric than listed here. Dawn lined her basket for a really polished finish, but depending on the end use, you might choose to eliminate that step.)

To make your basket:
1. Begin by stitching your woven squares together side to side. Match the squares by placing the finishing knot in the lower right. Pick a “right” side so that your stitching shows only on the “wrong” side. You may use sewing thread, coordinating embroidery thread or matching yarn to sew the squares together. (eloomanator’s note: You could also use woven rectangles or stacked squares for a taller fabric portion.)

Note: At this point measure the length of your sewn squares. This length will be the circumference of the basket that you will need. The basket used in the example is 22” in circumference.

2. Finish by sewing the first and last squares together to form a tube. The tube should fit exactly inside the top of the basket.

3. Make a pattern for the lining of your basket. Trace the bottom of the basket; this is your first pattern piece. Measure the circumference of the top and the height of your basket; this is your second pattern piece. Before cutting out your pattern pieces add a ¼” sewing seam to all sides. Add an additional ½” to the top of the side piece.

Note: Your basket will likely have curved sides. Do not worry about taking these into consideration in your pattern pieces. The fullness will be gathered as you sew. The important measurements are the bottom piece and the top circumference.

4. Cut out your fabric. Sew the long side piece short ends and right sides together to form a tube. Press your seam flat.

5. With right sides together place seam on center of one long edge of the bottom piece; pin. Take the opposite side of the fabric tube and place it on the opposite long edge of the bottom piece; pin. Take the midpoint of the fabric tube (between the pins) and place it at the midpoint of the short edge of the bottom piece; pin. Take the opposite midpoint of the fabric tube and place it on the opposite short edge of the bottom piece; pin.

6. Continue to pin the fabric tube to the bottom fabric gathering excess to the corners. Sew, gathering as much excess fabric to the corners as possible while still making your seam neat. Turn inside out, right side of the fabric facing out. Check your seams for neatness. Turn back, right sides forming the inside of your basket lining, trim seams.

7. Tuck the lining into the basket. Turn the top of the lining down, wrong sides together, so that the top of the lining is even with the top of the basket; press.

8. Overlap the right side of the top of the lining to the wrong side of woven squares. The overlap should be ¼” and fabric lining should still be closest to the basket and the woven squares inside the lining. Stitch together using the sewing machine. (You can hand stitch this but the sewing machine will give you a stronger seam.)

9. Tuck the lining and squares inside the basket. Using fabric glue, glue the lining to the top of the basket. Make sure that the top of the lining is even with the top of the basket; don’t glue the woven squares. (eLoomanator’s note: If your basket has accessible holes under the top rim, you can hand stitch the weaving and lining to the basket.)

10. Using the large sewing needle, thread your ribbon. Weave the ribbon through the top of the squares taking a stitch every inch or so. Be careful to weave between the yarn and not through the yarn. Cut the yarn ends such that when open there is 6” to 8” inches of ribbon.

eLoomanator’s note: It was REALLY hard for me to actually pick a winner. So many wonderful projects, all coming to these pages in short order. Stay tuned…