Crafting: December 2012 Archives

I have seen these great Woven Felt Baskets all over the design scene lately. They are popping up in all the design shows and stores. They are a great storage option for living rooms and kids rooms. The look can easily be modified depending on the colors you use. You can make one for a little boys room in blue and gray, one for a girls room in cream and neon green, one for your room in a bold Fuchsia and one for the living room in cashmere tan to blend in. They are really a snap to make and lots of fun. The only supplies you will need are a calculator, 72'' wide felt, a glue gun and some embellishments. Each strip is woven of doubled felt to give strength to the basket.

To make your own, first you need to decide how big and what shape you want.

Square Basket (Width, Length and Height is X)

Length of each strip is the width of the bottom plus the height of the side (X+X).

Length of each ring is the width of the side times 4 plus 1 '' (4X+1)

Rectangle Basket (Width is X, Length is Y and Height is Z):

Strips A are the length of the bottom plus the height of the side (Y+Z)

Strips B are the width of the bottom plus the height of the side (X+Z)

Each ring is two times the width plus two times length plus 1 ''(2X+2Y+1)

The number of strips needed for the width is the number of inches (i.e. you want the bottom of your basket to be 15'' then you will need 15 one inch strips). The number of strips needed for the length is the same process. And it is also the same for determining the number of rings for your height.

Here is a great example, for a basket 15''w by 17''l by 12''h you will need to cut:

Strips A- 17, 29'' strips

Strips B- 15, 27'' strips

Rings- 12, 65'' strips

And you will need approx 2 yds of Rainbow Felt (remember each strip is doubled)

Once all your strips are cut you will need to assemble your rings. Glue one short end to the other end, overlapping one inch. Once all your rings are glued set them aside. Start weaving your bottom by laying out all your width strips parallel. Then weave in your first length strip using an over-under method. It helps to start at the center and mark your centers with pins or small chalk marks. Once you have all your length strips woven into your width strips, your bottom is complete and you can add your first ring.

Flip the strips that will go inside the ring toward the center of your basket and leave the rest lying out. Place the ring on top and then reverse your flip (flip all the inside strips to the outside and all the outside strips to the inside). Place another ring and do another flip. Repeat the ring and flip until you are out of rings. Glue and trim (if needed) your strips to the top ring, starting with the outside strips first and then doing the inside. Hold your strips in place until the glue is cool before moving on to the next strip. Finally add the trim around the top by cutting a 3'' wide piece of felt that is the same length as a ring. Start gluing it or hand sewing it in place. If gluing start with the outside first and then glue around the inside.  Your basket is now basically done. You can finish it off with some embellishments as you see fit. I added a whipstitch around the bottom of my trim and added a few small pom-poms. Try adding rope handles or braided fabric handles. You can even try fusing some fabric onto your strips to add a print or extra "wow" factor to your basket. Vary the sizes and using them for anything around the house.

It will cost less than $13 to make a huge 15''by 17''by 12'' basket!

Here is a Target version for $25 15''by 15'' by 11'' for gray and cream

West Elm's large basket is $49 for 18'' by 14.5'' by 11 for gray only

Both start at twice the cost of our DIY version and by making your own you can choose your colors!

With 2 kids, I am constantly looking for ways to involve them in the holidays but without the risk to any of our decorations. That is a hard task when Christmas rolls around: glass ornaments, ceramic table toppers and porcelain angels abound. However, when I saw this Felt Christmas Tree project idea on Pinterest, I knew it was just right for my family. I set about planning my tree. I wanted it a bit different to blend with my funky/traditional Christmas decorating theme that I always seem to end up with so I cut my tree from turquoise felt. Next I cut several different circle shapes from red, green, blue and purple felt and some square and rectangle as well to serve as presents.

To decorate each ornament I used a combination of fabric and felt. I cut small polka dots from felt for my 3 yr old to decorate ornament. I also cut a snowflake inspired overlay for another. A simple white flower centered on a red circle serves as nod to the traditional. For my fabric decorations I let my love of polka dots have full access. I used several sizes of polka dot fabric and cut using my pinking shears for a decorative edging. Some of the presents feature ribbon and some felt add-ons.

I recommend using fabric glue for affixing fabric to felt but for felt-on-felt and ribbon on felt use your glue gun or a simple running stitch in a matching thread. The felt really soaks up the fabric glue so you need something thicker to stick anything other than fabric. When gluing fabric to felt, apply your glue to the fabric and then press it to the felt. Don't apply the glue to the felt first as it will soak it up.

Lastly, I hung my tree with thumb tack so my little one could hang "real" ornaments from the branches. I made her some small pom poms and tied the ends into a loop for hanging. You could also make more felt ornament for hanging. My little bit loves her Christmas tree and re-decorates it every morning after a visit to her advent calendar (free pattern available here). It makes a great backdrop for her Christmas photos. The best part is it is unbreakable and cheerful!

P.S. I realize the length of her pants ruin my credibility but she could not be persuded to wear anything else