Trapezoid Fabric Basket Tutorial

Easy sewing project to make an unusual trapezoid fabric basket and mug rug from the same material without any scrap fabric left.

A Different Shape Fabric Basket To Sew

The sewing project this time is to make a different shape basket. It is a trapezoid prism shape. The bonus is that there will be two different finished items from just one pattern.

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It sounds like we are back to school using this geometry term. But it is fun to incorporate various shapes into sewing projects.

Supplies To Make a Basket

Back to the project, the basket is made from two pieces of fat quarter fabrics. There are no wasted materials from these two squares. Because you can make two different things from one pattern.

The pattern is easy to measure. For a printable PDF version, click on this link to get the trapezoid fabric basket and mug rug pattern.

2 pieces of 15″ x 15″ fabrics
1 piece of 15″ x 15″ fusible fleece
1 piece of 3″ x 15″ fabric for the basket handle
Disappeared ink marker. I use this dual-purpose fabric marker
Quilting clips or pins
Thread
Ruler
Chopstick
Sewing machine
Clothes iron

Boxy Trapezoid Basket Tutorial

The video tutorial is also available. Click on this link to watch the Trapezoid Prism Fabric Basket With Mug Rug video tutorial on my YouTube channel. Subscribe for more videos.

For the basket, press the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the fabric for the outer layer using a clothes iron.

Draw a diagonal line on the fusible fleece. Mark from each corner 5.5″ left and right, up and down, mark it as A. Mark on a diagonal line 5″ from each corner, mark it as B. Draw a 4.5″ line from A to B on each side.

Cut each corner along line A, so that you have four dart areas. Trace the outer layer to the inner fabric piece. Cut each corner. Keep all trimmed corners for the octagon mug rug.

Pin each dart corner or the V shape edges together. Sew along the edge with 0.25″ seam allowance.

For the basket handle, with the wrong side face up, fold the fabric in half lengthwise, then unfold it.

Fold both long fray edges toward the center fold line. Then fold it again so that the fray edges are inside the fold. Sew along both long edges.

Pin the basket handle strap on the top edge of the right side outer layer fabric. Sew both ends of the handle strap.

Turn the inner layer right side out, then insert it into the outer layer basket with the right side of both fabrics facing each other. Align each corner, and pin it.

Then sew along the top edge with a 0.5″ seam allowance. Skip 2.5″ for the opening gap.

Turn the basket right side out. Fold the opening gap inward, then press the top edge with a clothes iron.

Topstitch the top edge and close the opening gap at the same time. The trapezoid shape fabric basket is ready to use now.

Blue trapezoid fabric basket with purple handle.

To make the mug rug, use the extra material cut from each corner. Align all edges for both layers to make a simple patchwork.

Sew two pieces at a time. So that there will be two halves of the octagon for each layer.

Patchwork blue and purple scrap fabrics.

Pin and sew the two halves together so the layers form a full octagon.

Pin both layers together with the right side of both fabrics facing each other. Sew along the edge with 0.5″ seam allowance, and skip 2.5″ for the opening gap.

Turn the mug rug right side out, then fold the opening gap inward. Press the mug rug with a clothes iron.

Sew along the edge, and close the opening at the same time. The mug rug is ready to use now.

Size Of The Basket

The basket is big enough for an Easter egg hunt and also a great storage basket for a craft or sewing room, organizing sewing notions or storing small items.

The base of the basket is 7.25″ (18.4 cm) wide on each side and 3″ (7.6 cm) tall from the base to the rim.

The mug rug is not for microwave use. It is an octagon shape mug rug, 9.25″ (23.5 cm) long and 9.25″ (23.5 cm) wide. You can use the mug rug as is, as a basket liner or as a basket cover.

Get The PDF

Trapezoid Fabric Basket And Octagon Mug Rug Pattern And Sewing Instruction PDF.

If it is more convenient to have the printable version of this tutorial for the project, you can purchase the PDF Format Of Trapezoid Fabric Basket With Octagon Mug Rug Template And Sewing Tutorial here. The e-book has the template and complete tutorials with pictures included. There are no ads or video displays on the PDF so that you can print it, and it will be available for you anytime you need the tutorial for your next project. Click on the e-book cover image above to purchase.

Make two different items from one pattern, perfect for an Easter basket or for a daily storage system in your sewing room. #fabricbasket #mugrug Share on X