Winter Blues Felt Nesting Baskets


In last week's blog post, I shared a pattern for my Winter Blues Acorn and Oak Leaves. I'm continuing the Winter Blues theme this week with another pattern--this time for a set of small felt nesting baskets. One features an embroidered branch, tiny appliqued leaves and pearl "berries"; the other is embroidered with windy swirls and accented with snowflake appliques and glass beads. 

Before we get to the instructions, I have a big announcement! In just a few days, I'll be hosting an Instagram Giveaway for 10 yards of National Nonwovens WoolFelt in a palette of five wintry colors. Follow me on Instagram--@kberlew; I'll be posting details soon!

Now . . . on to the pattern:

Winter Blues Felt Nesting Baskets

Large basket: 3 inches diameter, 2 3/4 inches high
Small basket: 2 1/4-inches in diameter, 2 1/4 inches high.

Materials 
  • NationalNonwovens WoolFelt: 
  • Two 9" x 12" sheets White; one 9" x 12" sheet Alluring Aqua; one 6" x 9" sheet Blue Snow
  • DMC 6-strand Embroidery Floss: 747 Very Light Sky Blue, 3756 Ultra Very Light Baby Blue, 3766 Light Peacock Blue, B5200 White 
  • Ten 1/8"-diameter pearl beads 
  • Eight glass seed beads
Tools and Supplies
Scissors, white tissue paper, black fine-tip marking pen, straight pins, sewing needle, ¼"-diameter hole punch, tweezers

Cut Felt
Click here to download and print the patterns for this project. Important: patterns must be printed on legal (8 1/2" x 14") paper. Transfer the patterns to the felt pieces. You can trace templates with a pencil or marking pen, but I prefer to use the freezer paper method for creating felt pattern pieces; click here for the link to  my tutorial. Cut the shapes from the felt as follows:

From White: 
  • 1 large basket middle band
  • 1 large basket inner band 
  • 1 large basket base
  • 1 small basket middle band
  • 1 small basket inner band 
  • 1 small basket base
  • 6 leaves
  • Use the hole punch to cut 6 circles from white felt
From Aqua:
  • 1 large basket outer band
  • 1 large basket base inset
From Blue Snow:
  • 1 small basket outer band
  • 1 small basket inset, 
  • 6 leaves

Embroider and Embellish:
  1. To add embroidery to the felt pieces, use the embroidery templates on the pattern sheets to make tissue paper templates. (Click here for the tutorial.)
  2. Trace the large basket embroidery template onto the white tissue paper with the fine-point marker. Pin the tracing to the large basket outer band and embroider the branches as indicated by the dash lines with white embroidery floss and split stitch, sewing through the tissue paper. (The leaf stems will be added later.) When the branches are embroidered, carefully tear the tissue paper away from the stitching. Use tweezers to remove small pieces, if necessary.
  3. Using the large basket embroidery template as a guide, position the white and light blue leaves along the branches and sew split stitch stems and center veins with white embroidery floss to hold leaves in place. Sew pearl beads along branches as indicated on the diagram.
  4. Trace the small basket embroidery template onto white tissue paper with the marker. Pin the tracing to the small basket outer band and embroider swirls as indicated by dotted lines with sky blue embroidery floss and split stitch, sewing through the tissue paper. Use white floss and split stitch to embroider along the dash lines. Tear away tissue paper as above.
  5. Referring to the embroidery template as a guide, position white felt circles on the design and sew them in place with white embroidery floss and straight stitches, working from the center of each circle. Sew seed beads in place.


Assemble the Baskets:
  1. To assemble the large basket, pin large basket base inset centered on the large basket base. Sew along the outer edge of inset with white embroidery floss and running stitch. Fold large basket middle band in half widthwise and sew short edges together with white embroidery floss, 1/8" from edge. Fold the large basket inner band in half widthwise and sew short edges together in the same way.
  2. Next, turn the large basket inner band so the wrong side faces inside and pin the base to one end of the tube with inset facing out. Sew the base to the band 1/8" from the edge with white embroidery floss and running stitch. When you've finished sewing, turn the basket so the inset is at the inside bottom and the side seam is on outside.
  3. Turn the large basket middle band so the wrong side faces inside. Position the embroidered large basket outer band around the middle band. (The middle band should extend 1/8" beyond both long edges of the outer band.) Pin the outer band in place, easing the fabric so the short edges of the outer band abut. Use light peacock blue embroidery floss and running stitch to sew the outer band to the middle band along the long edges of the outer band. Sew over the seam where the edges of outer band meet with closely spaced straight stitches and light peacock blue embroidery floss.Slip the middle band/outer band over the inner band so the top edges of the inner band and middle band align. Sew pieces together with white embroidery floss along top edge.
  4. To assemble the small basket, follow the steps above, using light baby blue floss to sew the small basket outer band to the middle band.