Wilma - Wash Basket.
This is such a simple and enjoyable wash basket to make. Once you have mastered your first, I promise you will be making one for every bedroom. Wilma is very versatile and while she was designed to collect dirty washing, Wilma, is equally happy storing toys or your secret fabric stash. As with all the patterns and tutorials from SEW RETRO you can make it your own, add fabric handles or use webbing. Wilma is a great scrap bag make too, if you do not have one piece of fabric that measures 117cm x 44cm, why not join a few bits of fabric together to make the outside of the wash basket or the lining. I think Wilma could look awesome made from a old pair of jeans.
Materials and Equipment.
If you do not have any fabric in your scrap bag, the Wilma wash basket takes:
60cm of fabric that is 150cm wide
40cm of lining fabric
50cm of heavy weight interfacing
Print 4 x the PDF pattern, cut out and join the segments on the black line to make a circle this is the base of the Wilma basket, and you will need to cut,
1 x main fabric
1 x lining
1 x interfacing
You will also need to cut (no pattern piece)
117cm x 44cm main fabric.Main part of wash bag.
117cm x 15cm main fabric . Inside top section of lining.
117cm x 30cm lining/contrast fabric
117cm x 44cm in interfacing
27cm x 3cm leather/vegan leather strap x 2
4 x eyelets
Matching thread or contrast thread, pins, tape measure, chalk and scissors.
Tips for beginners
Seam allowance 1 cm this is the distance between the edge of the fabric and the stitch line. You will find a series of parallel lines engraved on the needle plate of your sewing machine pick the one marked with the measurement you need and keep the edge of the fabric to this guide
RS = right side of fabric WS = wrong side of fabric.
If you are using denim machine-wash your fabric first on a hot wash.(no need to wash jeans)
Pin the interfacing onto the wrong side of the main fabric and the main fabric circle. With the foot of the edge of the fabric stitch the interfacing to join the main fabric, then repeat and join the interfacing to the circle. This stitching will not show when the wash bag is finished.
With RS facing and main fabric, join the short seams together using a 1cm seam allowance.This is the side seam on the wash basket.
Pin the base to end of the wash bag. *It may feel you have too much fabric in the base, but it does fit, continue pinning, and moving the pins along as necessary re-distributing the fabric until it fits. Stretch the fabric that is the main part of the wash bag and ease in the base. Using a 1cm seam allowance machine stitch into place. *
Leave to one side for now.
Lining
With RS together pin the main fabric (116cm x 15cm) to the lining fabric along the long seam, as shown above. Using a 1cm seam allowance, machine stitch into place.
Iron the seam flat and open.
With RS together, pin the short seam, matching the seam that joins the main fabric to the lining.
Pin and stitch the main fabric ending the seam 1cm below the main fabric, as shown.
Leave a large gap and pin, then stitch 3cm at the end of the lining. The large gap is to turn the wash basket to the RS at a later stage.
Pin the base to the lining and repeat from * to *.
Put the RS of the lining inside the RS of the wash basket as shown and pin the top seam into place. Using a 1cm seam allowance machine stitch the seam.
Using the gap in the side of the lining turn the wash basket to the RS.
Pin the gap in the lining together, as shown, machine stitch close to the edge to close the seam. Push the lining into the wash basket.
The wash basket will now need a good iron! Roll the seam at the top on the RS of the basket slightly, so its just turned inside the basket and press.This step helps to avoid the seam showing on the RS of the basket. Iron the basket thoroughly for a professional finish.
Handles.
Cut 2 x 3cm x 26cm in the leather/vegan leather. Using the tool that comes with the eyelet kit punch 2 holes each end of the strap 0.5cm from the short seam.
Mark the position of the straps on the wash basket, with chalk and punch a hole for the eyelets using the same tool. The eyelets are 1.5cm down from the top of the basket and each strap is 11cm measuring from the outside seam as shown.
Follow the manufactures instructions to insert the eyelets and attach the straps to the Wilma wash basket. Repeat the process until the straps are attached.
Congratulations ..............High five you have just made an awesome Wilma Wash Basket
please share your finished Wilma's on social media, and tag me please ! I love seeing all your awesome makes.
