DollarTree Ruffled Decorative Mesh Easter Basket

I discovered colorful decorative mesh at the Dollar Tree.  Five yards for a dollar!  Yes!  Can you believe it?  But I'm tired of making the usual mesh wreaths and wall hangings.  Aren't you?  There are some beautiful creative mesh wreaths and unique wall hangings out there, but let's do something different with that fabric for a change.  Let's have another way to work that mesh.   How about dressing up a woven basket!  What's Easter without a frilly easter basket? 

You will need:

• Dollar Tree Decorative Mesh (three rolls - 6 inches x 5 yards)
• Heavy duty thread and needle
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• DT basket w/handle
• Skewer stick

                                        

To make:

Cut  mesh length about 3 1/2 - 4 times the width of the basket. Be generous.

Fold mesh in half, finished edges together. Loop the thread a couple of times into a knot around the end finished edge of mesh. Sew a running basting stitch, over and under, around the finish edges, pulling the thread to gather the mesh into a ruffle as you stitch.  You must use heavy duty thread because the friction of pulling the thread against the nylon mesh might cause the thread to break. Finish the end ruffle by double looping the threads into a knot.

Hot glue the end of the ruffle to the side bottom of the basket, making sure to hold the glued spot until cooled.  Continue gluing the ruffle around the basket, straightening the ruffle sewn edge as you go.

 

Glue on another ruffle as before.

Continue gluing on ruffles until the woven basket is covered depending on the size of the basket.

For the handle:
Cut an 18" length of mesh and using a skewer stick, roll the mesh, beginning at the corner edge, into a rod, lightly gluing the end.

 

Wrap the mesh rod around the handle, gluing the ends at the beginning and end.

Flowers:
Double together approximately 12 inches of mesh, first sewing a tight end rolled together, gathering the fray ends to sew and then loosening the roll as you sew the bottoms together into a swirl effect. You can cut off any loose fibers.  The key to making these flowers is to roll and sew the bottoms together as you roll keeping the flower portion together.  Glue flowers onto basket.

 

Now fill this lovely basket with your favorite Easter goodies!

 

 

 

How cute is this!

 

 

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!

 

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