Learn how to sew a basket liner for a rectangular basket using only one piece of fabric and add an extra special touch to your home decor!

One of my favorite items to thrift are baskets. Without fail on any given day, I can go to the thrift store and find wicker baskets, storage baskets, laundry baskets, picnic baskets, etc. Buying second hand, as opposed to brand new is such a great way to save money in general, especially on home decor items. I can usually find nice baskets for around $3 to $6. If I were to buy them brand new would cost $20 to $30+. Baskets are so versatile and I love to use them all throughout my home like in my pantry, in my living room to hold library books, in our rooms to hold clothes that otherwise would land on the floor, and so much more. They’re a great way to conceal unsightly items and add an extra touch of beauty to your home.

The majority of baskets I’ve thrifted are unlined, which is totally okay, but depending on what you want to store in them, that may be a problem. For instance, I like to store clothes in some of my baskets, and without a lining, the clothes can snag. By adding a fabric liner, it creates a barrier between the basket itself and my clothes. Not to mention, basket liners elevate the look of the basket too!

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In this beginner sewing project, I’ll show you how to customize a basket liner for any rectangular or square basket. I like this method because it creates a custom basket liner for any size basket and you don’t have to spend time searching online for one that may or may not fit!

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BASKET LINER FAQS

What is a basket liner?

A basket liner is a piece of fabric that is made to fit the interior of a basket and create a barrier between the basket and the items being stored in it. It’s usually removable and washable as well!

What can I use as a basket liner?

You can use all sorts of materials to create a basket liner. I like to use a nice, sturdy cotton fabric, but you can reuse old bed sheets, curtains, linen fabric, a canvas bag, pillow case and more. If you want to save even more money, try searching thrift shops for old linens. You can usually pick them up for a few dollars, whereas at places like Joann’s, a yard of fabric will cost you around $7.

Can I make a fabric basket liner without sewing?

You can make a basket liner without sewing in a few different ways. If your basket is small enough where you can simply reuse an item like a canvas bag or pillow case, as I mentioned above, then all you need to do place the item in side and that’s it. You can also use items like hemming tape, hot glue or fabric glue to achieve the same look. Simply follow the steps in this tutorial and instead of sewing, use your preferred method!

How much fabric do I need to make my own basket liners?

The amount of fabric you’ll need for this project will depend on the size of your basket. I’d suggest starting with a yard of fabric and adjusting up or down depending on how big the basket is.

Materials Used:

Cotton fabric: For sewing projects like this, I try to first use fabric I already have on hand or that I can find thrifting. I’m using some cotton fabric from a curtain panel I thrifted a while back, but you can purchase cotton fabric at places like Joann’s or Hobby Lobby.

Coordinating thread: Because part of the stitching will be shown on the outside of the basket, I recommend using a thread that matches or blends into the fabric. I chose white thread because it goes will with this basket.

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HOW TO SEW A BASKET LINER FOR A RECTANGULAR BASKET

Tools You May Need:

Materials:

Basket
Cotton fabric of your choice
Coordinating thread

Directions

Measuring the fabric

Measure the height of the basket from the inside, starting at the bottom of the basket and up and over the basket edge and over to the front. Determine where you want the basket liner to sit on the front of the basket, then add 1” to that measurement. For me, the total measurement is 10.25″.

Lay your fabric out on a flat surface, wrong side facing up, and place the basket on top.

Measure from the outside bottom of the basket, out to the measurement you found in step 1 and make a mark. Again for me, this is 10.25”. Repeat this all the way around the entire basket.

Use a flat edge ruler to connect the marks to form a rectangle.

Use your ruler to make a diagonal line from the corner of the basket to the corner of the drawn rectangle and repeat for all rest of the corners.

Then from the corner of the drawn rectangle, measure to the right 10.25″ (or whatever your measurement was) and make a mark, then measure the same to the left and make a mark.

Draw a line from the marks made in the previous step up to the top of the diagonal line to create a square. Repeat this step for the remaining corners.

cutting the fabric

Remove the basket, then cut out the rectangle.

Cut out the squares at the corners. Add an extra 1/2” for the seam allowance. I measured and made marks around the two sides of the square to help make it a bit more accurate. Repeat this for the three remaining corners.

Sewing the basket liner

Lay the fabric, right side facing up, onto a flat surface, then pick up two corners and line the edges up.

Sew these two sides together using a 1/4” inch seam allowance, making sure to forward and backward stitch at the beginning and end. This creates a side seam. Repeat this for the remaining corners.

With the wrong side of the fabric facing up, fold the raw edge of the fabric down ½”, then another 1/2”, press and pin.

Sew all the way around the edge of the basket liner with a ¼” hem or by lining the edge of the fabric up with the edge of the presser foot.

Place the basket liner into the bottom of your basket, then pull it up and over the top of the sides and fill it with all sorts of goodies!

Notes

This method works best for rectangular and square baskets where the top of the basket and bottom of the basket have the same or similar width and the sides of the basket are not angled.
I prefer to use a sturdier fabric like a nice cotton or linen, but you can upcycle old pillowcases, sheets, curtains and more!
This is a super basic basket liner, but you can easily add a bow, ties or even a ruffle. You’ll just need a few more pieces of fabric to achieve the look.

Basket Liner for Rectangular Baskets

Yield: 1 basket liner

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to sew a basket liner for a rectangular basket using only one piece of fabric and add an extra special touch to your home decor!

Materials

Basket
Cotton fabric of your choice
Coordinating thread

Tools

Fabric tape measure
Straight edge ruler
Pencil or sewing chalk
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine
Iron and ironing board

Instructions

Measure the height of the basket from the inside, starting at the bottom of the basket and up and over the basket edge and over to the front. Determine where you want the basket liner to sit on the front of the basket, then add 1” to that measurement. For me, the total measurement is 10.25".
Lay your fabric out on a flat surface, wrong side facing up, and place the basket on top.
Measure from the outside bottom of the basket, out to the measurement you found in step 1 and make a mark. Again for me, this is 10.25”. Repeat this all the way around the entire basket.
Use a flat edge ruler to connect the marks to form a rectangle.
Use your ruler to make a diagonal line from the corner of the basket to the corner of the drawn rectangle and repeat for all rest of the corners.
Then from the corner of the drawn rectangle, measure to the right 10.25" (or whatever your measurement was) and make a mark, then measure the same to the left and make a mark.
Draw a line from the marks made in the previous step up to the top of the diagonal line to create a square. Repeat this step for the remaining corners.
Remove the basket, then cut out the rectangle.
Cut out the squares at the corners. Add an extra 1/2” for the seam allowance. I measured and made marks around the two sides of the square to help make it a bit more accurate. Repeat this for the three remaining corners.
Lay the fabric, right side facing up, onto a flat surface, then pick up two corners and line the edges up.
Sew these two sides together using a 1/4” inch seam allowance, making sure to forward and backward stitch at the beginning and end. This creates a side seam. Repeat this for the remaining corners.
With the wrong side of the fabric facing up, fold the raw edge of the fabric down ½”, then another 1/2”, press and pin.
Sew all the way around the edge of the basket liner with a ¼” hem or by lining the edge of the fabric up with the edge of the presser foot.
Place the basket liner into the bottom of your basket, then pull it up and over the top of the sides and fill it with all sorts of goodies!

Notes

This method works best for rectangular and square baskets where the top of the basket and bottom of the basket have the same or similar width and the sides of the basket are not angled.
I prefer to use a sturdier fabric like a nice cotton or linen, but you can upcycle old pillowcases, sheets, curtains and more!

This is a super basic basket liner, but you can easily add a bow, ties or even a ruffle. You'll just need a few more pieces of fabric to achieve the look.

Looking for more easy sewing projects?

Looking for more easy sewing projects like this basket liner? Check these out:

Did you make a basket liner using this tutorial? If you did, I’d really love to see it. Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own creations!

How to Sew a Basket Liner for a Rectangular Basket

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