Easter Basket Liners with Bunny Appliques for Kids

5 min read

Easter basket liners with bunny appliques make a plain basket look festive and keep treats from slipping through the gaps. A washable liner also protects the basket from chocolate smudges and grass stains. You can sew one in an evening with cotton fabric and a simple applique, and the same pattern fits most store-bought baskets. The project is a good way to use spring prints and leftover fabric.

Choose a basket first, then make the liner to fit it. Round baskets need a circle base with a gathered side, while oval baskets need an oval base. Measure the basket across the top and the depth before you cut fabric. A liner that is too small will pop out, and one that is too large will bunch and hide the applique. Measure the basket twice, since a liner cut to the wrong size wastes both fabric and time.

Fabric Choices for a Washable Liner

Pick one hundred percent cotton for the liner, because it washes well and holds its shape. Quilting cotton in pastel prints, gingham, or dots suits Easter baskets. Use a plain cotton for the lining side so the liner is reversible. Avoid fabrics that need special care, since an Easter basket liner will meet chocolate, grass, and sticky fingers.

Choose a bunny applique fabric in a contrasting color so it stands out against the liner print. Felt works well for appliques because it does not fray and needs no hemming. Buy a small piece of fusible web to hold the applique in place while you stitch. Wash and press all fabrics before cutting so the liner does not shrink after the first wash. Press the fabric flat so the liner pieces cut cleanly and the seams sew straight.

Measuring the Basket

Measure the basket rim across the widest point and add two inches for the liner to fold over the edge. Measure the depth from the rim to the inside bottom, and add one inch for the seam. Trace the basket base onto paper by setting the basket on the paper and drawing around it. Add a half-inch seam allowance around the traced shape.

Write the measurements on the pattern so you do not have to remeasure. If the basket has a handle, plan for the liner to sit below the handle attachments so it does not bunch. Check that the liner will clear the handle when you lift the basket. A liner that catches on the handle will pull out of place every time the basket is carried. A liner that fits well makes the whole basket look neat.

Sewing the Liner

Cut one base piece and one side piece from the outer fabric, and the same from the lining fabric. The side piece is a long rectangle as wide as the basket rim plus seam allowances, and as tall as the basket depth plus the fold-over. Sew the short ends of each side piece together to form a tube, then pin the tube to the base piece and sew around it.

Sew the outer liner and the lining the same way, then place the lining inside the outer liner with right sides together. Sew around the top edge, leaving a three-inch gap for turning. Turn the liner right side out through the gap, press the top edge, and stitch the gap closed. The liner should sit smoothly inside the basket with a neat fold over the rim. Smooth the liner with your hands after turning it, so the seams lie flat and the shape sets.

Adding Bunny Appliques

Cut bunny shapes from felt with fusible web on the back. A simple bunny silhouette with long ears reads clearly at a distance. Arrange three to five bunnies around the side of the liner before you fuse them, spacing them evenly. Step back and check that the bunnies sit upright and do not overlap the fold-over edge.

Fuse each bunny with an iron, then stitch around it with a straight stitch close to the edge. Add a small pom-pom tail to each bunny with a dot of fabric glue for a playful touch. Keep the stitching neat, since the appliques are the focal point. Use matching thread for the applique stitching so the stitches blend into the felt. Let the glue dry fully before you put the liner in the basket.

Fitting and Washing

Place the liner in the basket and fold the top edge over the rim. Adjust the gathers so the liner sits evenly, and tuck any excess fabric at the handle points. Fill the basket with a little tissue paper to check that the liner stays in place. A well-fitted liner should not shift when you lift the basket by the handle.

Wash the liner in cold water after Easter and dry it on low heat. Iron the liner on a low setting after washing to restore its crisp shape. Remove the pom-pom tails before washing if they are glued on, or hand-wash the liner to protect them. Store the liner flat in the basket so it keeps its shape for next year. A liner stored inside its basket is easy to find when Easter comes around again. A handmade basket liner makes Easter morning feel a little more special.

Keep this tab open a moment longer: below are more Easter Crafts articles chosen to follow this one, led by Easy Easter Crafts for Adults: Free Home Project Ideas.

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