Upcycled Easter Basket - Bear

I’m taking part in Craft Month sponsored by Crafting In The Rain. U is for Upcycle!

Five years ago I made my first son his Recycled Bunny Easter Basket and we still use it every year to this day. I still love the sweet little face on it and that it’s large enough to hold the small toys and coloring books we give in place of candy. As is often the case, my second born has had to wait a little bit longer for his basket but I think it’s equally cute and functional!

The Bear Easter Basket is made essentially the same way as the Bunny Basket except for the smaller ears and larger button eyes. Here’s a quick rundown on how to make one!

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Upcycled Easter Basket – Bear

Materials:

100% wool sweater, felted (wash & dried)
lining fabric
Fairfield World Stiffen Interlining
2 buttons
embroidery supplies
sewing supplies

Step One. Create an easy square pattern by folding an 8.5″ x 11″ paper diagonally and cutting off the excess. Just for the record, no WAY I used my fabric scissors to cut the pattern. They’re just there for show!Step Two. Cut out five squares and four ear pieces from the fabric, interlining, and lining.

Step Three. Iron the interlining to the lining material and sew each side together with a 1/4″ seam. Make sure to stop 1/4″ away from the bottom (where you will attach the floor panel.)

Step Four. Sew the final panel to the bottom of the basket. Repeat steps three and four with the sweater squares. (Try to remember to leave a 4″ opening at the bottom of the lining basket!)

Step Five. Once your box is assembled. Hand embroider the nose and mouth onto the front. I just kinda winged it but feel free to use a disappearing ink pen for guidelines. Sew the button eyes in place to finish face.

Step Six. Layer the sweater, lining, and interfacing ear pieces (in that order) and sew around the edge. Flip right side out, press, and sew around the round edge to finish.

To make the handles: I cut two 9?x4? pieces of my lining fabric, folded them to the center and then folded again (like bias tape). I also inserted a piece of interfacing in between the folds before I sewed the handles up to make them stand on their own. When your handles are done, attach them to the sides of your sweater box.

Step Seven. Position the ears and handles in place at the top of the basket, matching edges (see pic below). Baste in place.

Step Eight. Place the sweater basket inside of the lining (right sides facing) and sew a 1/2″ seam all around, trying to press the corner seams open as you go.

Step Nine. Pull the sweater through the hole left in your lining basket to turn the whole piece right side out. Press the seams with an iron to finalize the box shape.

My son was so excited when he woke up to see his new Easter basket! We plan on filling it with lots of paper grass, some fun miniature toys, and maybe a chocolate bunny. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and let me know if you have any questions!

This is the final week of Craft Month sponsored by Crafting In The Rain!
Check out all the great projects created by some awesome bloggers and scroll down below to enter a great contest!

T is for Tee Shirt || Mabey She Made It
U is for is for Upcycled Basket || Tried and True
V is for Vinyl Decorated Sweatpants || Play.Party.Pin
W is for Watercolor Calendar || My Craftily Ever After
X is for is for X-acto Knife-cut Jar Pump || See Vanessa Craft
Y is for Yarn Wrapped Eggs || Cupcakes and Crowbars
Z is for Zinnia Wreath || Up to Date Interiors

To celebrate the end of Craft Month, we’re offering you not one but TWO opportunities to win some awesome giveaway prizes! Check these out:
Prize 1) DecoArt Metallic Paint Set, FloraCraft goodie bag, Duck Tape, Starbucks gift card
Prize 2) $50 Royal Design Studios gift card, American Crafts goodie bag, Duck Tape, Starbucks gift card

Giveaway runs 3/28/15 – midnight 4/4/2015. Open to US residents 18 and older. Giveaway not affiliated with Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook. Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

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