Basket Purse Supplies Needed: 5/8 yard 45" cotton for basket 3/8 yard 45" coordinating print fabric 2 yards of ribbon or cord Floriani Wet N Stick Floriani Stitch N Shape Double Sided Fusible Floriani Appli-Kay Wonder Floriani Embroidery Thread Coordinating sewing thread Embroidery motif (Our project uses the Cat motif from A Time to Stitch's Primitive Country Collection.)

All seam allowances are 1/4".

1. From the basket fabric, cut
   a. 7 pieces 2 1/4" x 15"
   b. 5 pieces 2 1/4" x 18"
   c. 4 pieces 2 1/4" x 22"
   
   
2. From the coordinating print fabric, cut
   a. 2 pieces 11 1/2" x 18"
   b. 1 piece 5" x 7"
   
   
3. From Floriani Stitch N Shape Double Sided Fusible, cut
   a. 7 pieces 3/4" x 15"
   b. 5 pieces 3/4" x 18"
   c. 4 pieces 3/4" x 22"
   
   
4. To prepare the basket pieces, match the basket fabric strips with Stitch N Shape strips of the same length. Lay the first fabric strip on the pressing surface, wrong side up, and position the corresponding Stitch N Shape strip along one edge.
   
   
   
   Flip the Stitch N Shape and fabric over, folding the Stitch N Shape inside the fabric. Press to fuse.
   
   
   
   
5. Cut several 1/4" wide strips of Appli-Kay Wonder. Press one Appli-Kay Wonder strip along the basket strip's extended edge. (If the Appli-Kay Wonder strip isn't long enough, abut a second strip to fill the gap. If the strip is too long, just cut away the excess, reserving it for later use.)
   
   
   
   
6. Remove the Appli-Kay Wonder's paper backing. Fold the fabric over the fused portion of the strip and press to fuse, covering the Stitch N Shape completely. Repeat for all the basket strips.
   
   
   
   
7. Set the sewing machine for a serpentine or other decorative stitch 7.0mm wide and 2.0mm long. (Alter the settings as desired for other stitches.) Thread the machine with variegated Floriani Embroidery Thread. Wind the bobbin with matching thread or use embroidery bobbin thread. Stitch along the length of each strip. This will also secure the raw edge on the strip wrong side.
   
   
   
   
8. Lay the 18" strips side by side on the work surface with wrong sides up (the wrong side is the one with the raw edge). Weave the 15" strips through the 18" strips in a simple over one, under one pattern. Begin with the central strip. Use a ruler to ensure the strips stay centered and at right angles to the crossing strips.
   
   
   
   
9. Continue until all seven 15" strips are in place. Carefully straighten the strips and tighten the weave as much as possible. Be sure all the strips are wrong side up.
   NOTE: Some space will always remain between the strips and has been allowed for in the fabric measurements.
   
   
   
   
10. Fold the strips along one side toward the center and press to crease. Repeat for the other three sides, so the strip ends stand up vertically around the woven base.
    
    
    
    
11. Bend each 22" strip into a circle so the ends lie side by side. Join the ends with a short, wide zigzag stitch.
    
    
    
    
12. Continuing the over and under pattern already established, weave the first circular strip into the basket. Keep the wrong side facing inward, and hide the zigzagged join behind one of the vertical spokes.
    
    
    
    NOTE: Weaving this first strip of the basket's side is the most difficult step in the project. It may help to pin the circular strip to the vertical strips at the corners to hold their positions as you work. You can also use clothespins to clip the strips together. Once the second circular strip is in place, the work becomes much easier.
    
    
13. Repeat with the remaining three circular strips. Pinch each at the corners to maintain the basket shape, and stagger the zigzag stitch joins behind adjacent spokes.
    
    
    
    
14. Gently pull on each vertical spoke to tighten the basket weave. Use pins to hold the uppermost circular strip in place against the vertical strips.
    
    
    
    
15. Zigzag around the basket's upper edge to hold the strips in place. Position the stitch so it just catches the upper edge of the top circular strip, so the stitches will be hidden in the finished purse.
    
    
    
    NOTE: The free arm configuration available on many sewing machines makes this step easier.
    
    
16. Trim the vertical strips 1/4" above the top horizontal strip.
    
    
    
    The basket is complete; set it aside while you make the upper bag and lining.
    
    
17. The two contrasting fabric rectangles will form the upper sides of the purse and the lining. The 11 1/2" dimension of each piece runs side to side; the 18" edges will be joined in the side seams. Press 7 1/4" to the wrong side of one 11 1/2" edge of a contrasting fabric rectangle and crease firmly.
    
    
    
    
18. Press under 1/4" on the same raw edge. Repeat with the second rectangle.
    
    
19. For embroidery, find and mark the vertical center of one rectangle. Draw a cross mark 2 3/4" above the 1/4" pressed hem.
    
    
    
    
20. Hoop Floriani Wet N Stick and moisten. Open out the folds and attach the fabric to the stabilizer, centering the marks. The first fold pressed in Step 17 will be the top of the purse; be sure the motif is oriented correctly. Embroider the design, remove the excess stabilizer, and press the design from the wrong side.
    
    
21. Place the two rectangles right sides together and stitch the side edges. Break the stitching and backstitch 1/2" to either side of the fold, leaving a 1" gap in the seams.
    
    
    
    
22. Press the seams open. Stitch the seam allowances in place beside the 1" openings.
    
    
    
    Refold and press the hems from Step 17 again.
    
23. Stitch 1/2" from the top fold through both thicknesses to form the drawstring casing.
    
    
    
    The gaps left in the seamlines form openings for inserting the drawstring.
    
24. Stitch the 5" x 7" rectangle to the purse and lining unit, right sides together. Match the side seams to the midpoints of the 5" sides, and match the center front and center back to the midpoints of the 7" sides. Clip into the lining fabric at the corners as you stitch around the rectangle. The lining (wrong side out) will extend below the bag (right side out).
    
    
    
    
25. Slip the lining into the basket. The pressed 1/4" hem will fit over the basket, just covering the zigzag stitches from Step 15.
    
    
    
    Pin the pressed edge in place and stitch invisibly by hand.
    
    
26. Cut the cord or ribbon in half. Insert one piece into the drawstring channel from the opening in the right side seam. Go all the way around the bag and exit from the same opening.
    
    
27. Repeat with the second piece of cord, this time beginning and ending at the left side seam. Tie the ends of each cord together to secure.

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