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| Not a mask! |
Thankfully, a closer inspection determined that this was in fact a basket that cleverly resembles a face mask. In fact, you could use it to store your supply of masks at home, so that everyone can grab one to go. Or maybe make one, fill it with masks and gift it to someone you care about.
This is a recent (uploaded August 13, 2020) video tutorial from one of my favourite YouTube channels, sewingtimes. The pattern is included; she actually calls it a swing basket. (And with that, I've given you enough information to search for it.)
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| This orientation is the reason why it's called a "swing" basket... |
It's a very straight forward project, but as you can tell by looking at it, it will require you to sew some curves and the final result is three dimensional. So it's not for absolute beginners, but if you're willing to go slowly and carefully, it's certainly not impossible.
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| View of the curved side panel... |
I made my way through it in three leisurely hours during one of my Quick Craft Mondays.
As I ran the video for a second time, I mentally picked out fabric. (Remember to support YouTube channels by running the videos with uninterrupted ads. You don't have to watch during that time, but it gives them the ad revenue. To save time, run them at 2X speed, which — I admit — is my preferred speed regardless.) I still had most of a fat quarter of Dollarama "linen" left over after my exploding fabric box project a couple of years ago and wanted to use it.
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| My Dollarama linen fabric and Eclectic Elements selections... |
When I saw that this basket is actually reversible, I decided to use a coordinating fabric that could be featured on both the exterior and lining. It turned out to be an Eclectic Elements fat quarter ("Dictionary"); a second Tim Holtz selection can be seen in the binding that was left over from my hanging file organizer.
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| Pins are your friends when sewing up curves like this... |
The tutorial suggests fusible fleece as the interfacing for the exterior fabric. Since my "linen" is extremely loosely woven, I interfaced all of those pieces with SF101 before daring to sew with them; I gave the fusible fleece treatment to the Dictionary fabric.
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| Big enough for a lot of things... |
This basket is deceptively large. The dimensions are given as 11" long x 4" high, but it's also about 9" across. If you don't want to use it to organize your household masks, it'd be handy for corralling fruit, dinner buns, bath and beauty products, small toys, and of course, sewing supplies.
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| My Lily and Loom selections... |
My baskets are usually employed as keepers of my small fabric stash, such as these selections from my final Bluprint purchase of Lily and Loom half yard cuts.
I'm not fond of loose linings, but given the way the basket is constructed, it can't be helped. If I hadn't wanted the reversibility factor, I would have sewn the lining part with a bigger seam allowance. One centimetre or 3/8" was the norm; bumping it up to 1/2" or even 5/8" at certain points would have produced a tighter fitting lining... something to consider if you decide to make this.
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| The same number of pieces were cut in each fabric; their placement was alternated on the lining and exterior... |
The video shows the side panel fabric pieces (the curved part) as rectangles first, the fleece being fused on and then cut into their required shape with a 1cm border around the fleece. That's a good way to ensure that you have a stitching line to work with and is probably recommended for beginners.
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| View of the bottom... |
For those who are decidedly frugal with their fabric and don't want to waste more material than necessary, you could draw a 1cm border around the pattern template (which is meant for the fusible fleece, by the way) and cut your fabric with that.
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| Another view of the "swing" basket... |
The downside is that when you fuse the fleece on afterwards, it's usually not perfectly centered.
I'll give you another tip if you're going to make this. When it comes time to sew up the top edge of the basket (prior to turning right side out), you'll need to line up the seams to get everything looking even.
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| Lay seam allowances to opposite sides to avoid bulk... |
To avoid too much bulk at those locations, lay the seam allowances in opposite directions as shown above and then snip away the overlapping bits.
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| Reversed view of interior... |
Oh, and I probably don't need to say that using bias tape for the handles is just a plain ol' time saver.
Although I immediately wanted to make this basket as soon as I saw it, it was with no specific purpose in mind. The unique look and the potential for a "quick win" project made the decision for me.
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| Holds a whole bunch of granola bars... |
However, it's usually the case that when I make this kind of item, it doesn't go unused. Lookee here, it's just right for holding my hubby's sweet tooth treats.
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| Is there going to be a Halloween this year? |
When I took this picture, a thought occurred to me. Not like I'm a fan of Halloween, but I wonder if it's going to be business as usual this October? Still so many unknowns.
'Til next...
I think with all the masks we are looking at things differently and the handles and the shape of the basket makes you think mask, lol! I made another mask for myself yesterday because I saw a tutorial for one that a fabric designer wrote for the panels she is now selling on Spoonflower. I had no idea people were designing face masks that are printed on fabric that you just cut out and sew, like the printed panels for aprons or stuffed toys. She also told you what to cut if you didn't have her panel fabric, so I thought I would make one because it was a big boxier where the mouth and nose area is to allow for easier breathing. It was quick and easy to make and came out nice. I wanted an extra mask in case one was in the laundry and so wanted to try her style. Oh an as for Halloween happening, well all I know is they already opened the Spirit Halloween Stores here early. I don't know if you have those in Canada, but that company rents space in any business that has gone out of business. It's only Halloween stuff and no returns are allowed. Mostly costumes and decorations. People love to go to parties I guess. But as for children trick or treating, that seems to have become less of a thing anyhow.
ReplyDeleteI saw a meme that said this year if Halloween is cancelled, the kids should dress up and sit in their front lawns and adults can drive by and throw Halloween candy to them! Hey, it might work!
ReplyDeleteKathleen - kakingsbury at verizon dot net
My family lives in a subdivision, and in years past the parents drop the kiddos at one end of the street and pick them up at the end! We have had as many as 2 to 3 hundred kids come to our house in years past. My thought for Halloween is to create a pathway marked with luminaries or lighted pumpkins from the driveway through the lawn to the sidewalk creating a nice loop where the kids and parents can 'social distance'. In the middle of the loop I want to put a witches' cauldron full of candy so the kids can help themselves. I will of course be out there in a lawn chair in costume to keep an eye on things! I am hoping to run it by the neighbours to see what they think!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to leave a big pail of candy out on my porch for kids to "help themselves"! So if someone in my neighbourhood volunteered to oversee the process, I'd give that idea a big thumbs up. Hopefully your Halloween will go on as usual. Our city just this week said that Halloween poses no big risk to kids as long as the same precautions are taken as in any other situation... like going to school.
DeleteA few hundred kids though — that's way too many!
As this tiny city has grown, there are a few more subdivisions, so it's not quite that many anymore, thank goodness! But we love it, the little kids are such charmers and the older kids are so creative and fun. The fun starts around 7 pm for the little kids and we never have trick or treaters after 8:30. We have one kitty who thinks they are coming to visit him, and we've had babies that come into the house and sit and share their candy. All in all, good fun!
DeleteAnd it will be lovely if that can continue this year despite all the challenges. Be well!
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