December 2025 Swap

Thanks to Gail H. for making all the demo basket!

Every December, our guild celebrates a fun tradition — we all make the same project, then exchange them in a blind swap at our holiday meeting!

Holiday Gift Exchange 2025:

Easy basket with 4 - 10” Squares of Fabric!

Our annual holiday gift exchange is a fabric basket.  The pattern is perfect for beginners and experienced bag makers alike.

You are going to love how the inside corners of the lining and exterior are attached together, so there is no baggy lining.  It’s also reversible, so you can switch out the lining or exterior any time. 

Make one for the exchange, and trust us,

you won’t be able to stop at just one!

Materials:

·         4 squares of fabric, 10” x 10”

·         2 – 10” squares of fusible fleece

Pre-cut fusible fleece will be available at the October meeting until sold out, $2/set of 2 -10" squares (cash only please)

·         Coordinating thread

Follow this pattern by Sew Can She.  It’s free, fast and easy to sew, and reversible too:

Sew Can She Pattern

FABRICS

• Fabric should be modern

• Make sure your fabrics are well coordinated. Hint: fabrics from the same line are designed to coordinate well with each other!

• Quilt store quality fabric

• Please, no Christmas or seasonal theme

Hints we’ve learned:

1. Back tack on each end when sewing the sides and bottom of the lining and exterior.  This ensures the seams won’t separate when sewing the corners.

2. If using directional fabric for the lining, cut out the corners with the pattern of the fabric upside down, when looking at it in front of you.  The final step is to turn the top down, and the direction of the lining now showing will be correct.

3. If using directional fabric on the exterior, and it has a focal point, fussy-cut around that point.  Keep in mind 3” of the panel is on the bottom of the basket.

4. For those of you who have not used fusible fleece:  It is a one-sided fusible fleece.  The sticky side has a rough texture to it.  That’s the side you put “UP” on your ironing surface.  Place the 10” square fabric on top of the fleece with the right side up.  To fuse, press firmly in place for approximately 10 seconds.  Repeat, lifting and slightly overlapping iron until all interfacing is fused.  Let the fabric cool, then check the bond.

5. Pick 4 different modern fabrics.  You can align the inner lining if you want one particular fabric to overhang over one section of the exterior.  

Bring your fabric basket to the December guild meeting in plain wrapping.

The swap will take place at the meeting.