Helga's Reversible Basket

Choose two pieces of fabric approximately twice as long as they are wide. My pink and blue sample was made from pieces about 8.5” by 17”.

Decide if you need to add stiffening to your bag.  Since my fabrics are fairly light weight I added a layer of batting.  You might add interfacing or fusible fleece to one or both pieces, or if your fabrics are heavier you might choose not to add anything. 

Add whatever embellishments you like.

I have added a small appliqué to the pink layer.  The short edge of the fabric is the top of the bag.  Fold the fabric in half and decide on placement of the embellishment – be sure to leave room for the bottom of the bag and remember that the cuff at the top will fold down. 

Fold each piece in half, right sides together and stitch each side seam from the top to the folded edge.

Box the corners at the bottom of the bag.  Line up the side seam you just stitched with the fold (centre bottom of the bag), and mark a line across, then stitch.  For this bag my line was about 1.75`` from the corner.

Repeat for both corners of each fabric.  You will have little “rabbit ears” sticking out. 

Optional: -- you can tack the points at the centre of the bottom of the bag.  This will add stability and shape to help your bag stand up.

Turn one of the two pieces right side out.

Place this piece inside the other (right sides are together).  Match the side seams and the top edges.

Stitch around, leaving a few inches open so that you can turn the bag right side out. 

Turn the whole piece right side out.  

Push one piece down inside the other.  Turn in the edges at the opening.  Finishing the edge with a line of top-stitching will close this opening nicely.

If you wish you can further reinforce the cuff with more stitching.  This is a great place to make use of a decorative stitch on your sewing machine.  This bag is about 4” wide and 5” tall.

It might be hard to decide which side you like best – remember, you can change it whenever you wish!

Here we see two different sizes.  The larger bag was made with fabrics about 10.5” by 21”.

Experiment with these directions.  Here are some things to to try:

• Change the size.
• Play with embellishments –  You could use your embroidery machine to decorate the side of the bag or embroider a name on the cuff.  Perhaps you could make a bag with one of the fabric pieces constructed from squares or strips.
• Plan ahead and leave an opening in one side seam for turning instead of at the top.
• Put piping on the edge.