Christmas Nativity One Hour Basket

Need more storage in the workroom?  Or a quick gift for a new baby - or Christmas?  Then look no further than this month’s Across the Pond sew-along project – the ‘one hour basket’ from Hearts and Bees.

Can it really be made in an hour?  Yes - but that doesn’t include time for choosing fabric (always the longest part of any project) or appliqueing, patching or quilting.  

My Red Elephants Mug Rug gets a new lease of life not to mention a change of colour

I had already made a one hour 'elephant' basket last month using my Red Elephants Mug Rug applique to decorate it – perfect for the nursery.

This month I decided to create a Christmas basket using my very latest ChristmasNativity mug rug pattern. 

The Patchsmith's Christmas Nativity Mug Rug 

It will be perfect for the local Christmas Box collection where we fill a box or basket with goodies for families who are struggling. 

If you want to add applique to the one hour basket I would recommend that you leave at least 4” between the bottom edge and sides of the fabric and your applique.  On the Elephant basket I added an inch of matchstick quilting 4” up from the bottom edge and this worked out perfectly - it lies along the bottom of the basket.

Matchstick quilting positioned perfectly for heart-spouting elephants.

Of course you might prefer to add a touch of patchwork.  I added three 3” patchwork Friendship Stars to the back of my Christmas basket.  This time I positioned the stars 5¼” up from the bottom edge (cut your bottom piece of fabric 5½” x 16½” and then add your stars).  

If you are new to basket making this is a great project to have a go at.  But before you get stitching pop over to Susie's Sunroom - she has made two very snazzy baskets (I love how she has added a rim of contrasting fabric to the top).  

Until next time ........