Selvedge Fabric Basket

I am absolutely thrilled with my latest creation - a little fabric basket made with selvedges. With a finished size of 5" x 3" x 5" it's a handy size to hold bits and pieces in my sewing room - to help keep it tidy.

Last month, when talking about the return of my sewing motivation, I mentioned that an online friend had sent me a lovely email and a copy of one of her patterns. She knows I collect and like selvedges, and thought that her pattern might get me in the mood to use some of said selvedges.

Her email did more than that - it helped bring back my sewing mojo!!! I've been powering along since.

And so I present to you my little selvedge fabric basket, made using the Sewing with Selvedges pattern, by Daryl, from Patchouli Moon Studio.

This is one comprehensive pattern - 55 pages of colour photos and instructions - and shows

four methods for sewing selvedges
how to make a mug rug
three methods for finishing a mug rug
how to make a fabric basket

Once you follow Daryl's instructions for binding a mug rug, you'll know how to bind a quilt. Yes, the instructions are that detailed. Daryl uses the same method I use for binding quilts - no cutting corners because it's a little mug rug.

Unlike me, I followed Daryl's instructions - with one exception. I have a thing about using glue. When at quilting retreats and the tutor is standing watching, I do use glue as is often suggested. Otherwise, however, I do without. And, as Daryl wasn't looking over my shoulder, I didn't use the glue. I can see how the glue would hold everything in place, though.

I stuck to the one colour theme, and I do like the effect. My first selvedge project, a little drawstring bag (tutorial), used a black, white and red colour combo.

My selvedges are all random widths - whatever I felt like at the time the initial projects were cut out.

I use both selvedge sides - the one with all the markings and text, as well as the side where the print sometimes goes right to the edge of the fabric. And that has caused me to come unstuck with this basket. Did you notice that some of the text is upside down? Look closely at the first two photos.

Truth be told, I didn't even notice this until I was editing the photos!!! So, quite frankly, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. If it's something you would worry about, pay particular attention to the direction of text while laying out the selvedges.

I still have a very healthy selvedge stash!!! This little basket didn't even make a dent, but it's a start. I need a larger project next, or maybe several baskets in different colours, to organise my selvedge stash.

If you would like to make your own fabric basket (or mug rug)...