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How to Sew a Fabric Bowl

January 14th, 2009 in sewing, patterns & designs, gifts, home decorating

Linda Permann, contributor

110 users recommend

Use your fabric bowl to store notions, buttons, jewelry, or other small trinkets.

To start, cut one short edge of any fabric strip at a 45-degree angle. Fold it down over the end of the clothesline as shown and carefully wrap it around the clothesline a few times. Even if its a little messy, you wont notice on the final product.

Once you have the first bit wrapped securely, place the end under the foot of your sewing machine. Put the needle down, using the machine to hold the clothesline in place. Wrap the fabric around the clothesline counterclockwise, angling the strips slightly so that they dont get too bunched up. Wrap anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of clothesline, then use a binder clip to hold the fabric end in place.

Use your fabric bowl to store notions, buttons, jewelry, or other small trinkets.

Photo: Linda Permann

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Sew up a sweet and soft coiled bowl to stow all your notions, threads, and more. I learned to make these at my local sewing store, and they have been such a hit that I just had to share.

Here's what you'll need to get started:

50 feet of 1/4-inch- to 3/8-inch-diameter cotton clothesline. This is available at big box chains and hardware stores—just make sure it seems soft enough for a needle to pierce.
Several strips of 1/2-inch- to 3/4-inch-wide fabric, cut selvage to selvage. You'll find that the thinner strips are actually easiest to work with. If slightly fraying fabric bothers you, you can cut your strips on the bias. This is too fussy for me but will give your finished bowl a cleaner look.
Sewing machine loaded with a NEW quilting/sharp needle
Thread to match or contrast with your fabric. (You will use a lot of thread to make a big bowl, so wind two bobbins before you get started to avoid later frustration.)
One binder clip (they look like this)
Cording foot. (This is totally optional—if you have one, use it; if you don't, your standard foot will be fine.)

The basic idea is that you are going to build the bowl by coiling the clothesline around itself by sewing each successive coil to the previous coil. You will wrap the clothesline with fabric as you go, so the process involves a lot of alternating between wrapping and sewing the coils.

To start, cut one short edge of a fabric strip at a 45-degree angle. Fold it down over the end of the clothesline and carefully wrap it around the clothesline a few times. Even if it's a little messy, you won't notice on the final product.

Place the end under the foot of your machine. Put the needle down, using the machine to hold the clothesline in place. Wrap the fabric around the clothesline counterclockwise, angling the fabric strip slightly so that the wrapping doesn't get too bunched up. Wrap anywhere from 12 to 18 inches of clothesline, then use a binder clip to hold the end in place.

Next, fold about 1 inch of the wrapped end down to the left of the length of clothesline. Place the fold under the foot of your sewing machine as shown. Using a zigzag stitch, sew down the fold.

When you are close to the end of the fold, put the needle down, raise the foot, and pivot your work, turning the folded end to the left. Put the foot down again, hold the wrapped clothesline close to your work, and sew the next part of the clothesline to the piece. Continue to pivot the work, coiling and sewing more clothesline as you go to form a base for your bowl.

When you are about 4 inches from the end of your wrapped clothesline, stop sewing with your needle down (to hold the work in place). Remove the binder clip, and wrap the rest of the clothesline with the remaining fabric of the current strip. Continue sewing the coil.

About 4 inches before the end of the clothesline and fabric wrap, stop sewing with your needle down. Cut the fabric end at a 45-degree angle as shown, then cut a second fabric strip in a reverse 45-degree angle. Insert it underneath the fabric strip on the clothesline, hold it in place, and begin wrapping the clothesline with the second strip.

Continue to sew, wrap, and add new strips of fabric as necessary. Make a base of at least 3 inches in diameter if you want to make a larger bowl; this way, you will still be able to fit the bowl under your machine as you add height.

To begin adding height to your bowl, hold the base at an angle. Continue to coil and sew around the base while holding the bowl at an angle. If you hold the bowl at a shallow angle, it will slowly grow taller and wider. If you hold it at a sharp angle (almost perpendicular to the machine's foot plate), it will grow taller without gaining much width. With time, you'll get a better feel for this.

Continue to coil around until your bowl is approximately the size you want it to be. If you don't want to add handles, skip the next step.

To add a handle, pull the wrapped coil away from the bowl and continue to sew along the edge of the bowl, skipping the wrapped coil for about an inch or two, as shown. Press the coil back into the side of the bowl, and catch it again where you'd like the handle to end. Continue sewing around and add another handle directly opposite of the first, if desired.

When you come around to the handles again, just line up the wrapped coil with each handle and sew it in place. The easiest way to do this is to place one on the left side of the handle and one on the right, holding the coil to the handle as you sew. I only add two rounds of coil for each handle on small bowls, but as always, you can play with it.

Cut the clothesline where you'd like to end the bowl. (You may have to unwrap back to that point—just make sure there's at least 4 inches of fabric strip overhanging the end of the clothesline.) Wrap the end of the clothesline as best as you can. I usually leave a little bit of the fabric strip hanging off so that I can hold on to it.

Press the end under the edge of the bowl as shown so that the end point won't be so obvious. Sew over the end, backstitch, and remove the bowl from your machine. Trim off any excess fabric from the wrapped end, and you're done!

Use your fabric bowl to store notions, buttons, jewelry, or other small trinkets.

Be sure to log in and share your creations!

See more of my projects on my personal blog, and look for my new book, Crochet Adorned, in stores August 11, 2009.

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posted in: sewing, patterns & designs, gifts, home decorating, how-to, tutorial, fabric bowl

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Comments (33)

etees writes: Hi Just made 2 bowls.They came out okay for this first try.I would like to make a small rug. Do I do it the same way.????
Posted: 7:23 pm on August 21st

don_mae writes: I LOVE this fabric bowl. Getting ready to start on the 3rd.
Posted: 8:15 pm on July 22nd

Susanspel writes: This is the post that got me started on making these baskets. I have made about thirty to date and sold ten of them already. This post gave great directions that are easy to follow. I have started coiling the fabric around the rope when I am watching t.v. or riding in the car. Once I have several clotheslines wrapped I sit down and sew. Creating different shapes and adding details with sculpting the line around the basket has given new interest to the baskets. I also go to thrift sales and antique stores to find fabric and other embellishments. You can find a lot of different buttons and beads that give the basket character and make it one of a kind. Thanks for getting me started.
Posted: 10:50 pm on July 15th

texasjewell writes: I love these. They should come with a warning. Very addictive. Your directions are great.
Posted: 9:21 pm on June 8th

jkundhi writes: This is such a cute idea! I totally need to make one!
Posted: 12:48 am on April 21st

allenma writes: I have been looking for instructions to make this basket everywhere, thanks for posting it. I am making one of these baskets for my daughter to be used as her Easter basket. Could someone please give me some ideas on how to make a handle for it. Thanks so much.
Posted: 9:56 pm on March 16th

LindaPermann writes: shellyc- i totally understand-- they are so addictive! i was just thinking about going to stock up on more clothesline this week.... not that i need any more bowls.
Posted: 12:42 pm on March 11th

shelleyc writes: I'm obsessed with making these - I'm on my 8th bowl. They have totally different personalities based on what fabrics you use. LOVE THEM! Thanks for this tutorial.
Posted: 10:29 am on March 11th

tacoslinger4 writes: Just found this pattern and really excited to get started on it. Thanks for sharing it.
Posted: 4:19 pm on February 21st

LindaPermann writes: thanks all- i'm glad you're enjoying the tutorial!
Posted: 11:30 am on January 30th

love3Es writes: I just finished my first fabric bowl, and I LOVE IT! It's so sweet, and it was so easy to make (thanks to your great tutorial!). I'm going to use it as a thread/waste catcher beside my sewing machine.

Now I think I'm going to make a few for Valentine's gifts and fill with Hershey's Kisses!

Posted: 11:20 am on January 30th

miekenoor writes: This is such a wonderfull basket, i really must try it! There's one thing I don't understand, maybe my English isn't good enough. Do you stitch on the cord when wrapping around the fabric or just on a side of the cord to hold the fabric around it? Or did I read it wrongly?
Posted: 4:37 am on January 24th

LindaPermann writes: elle1- the cord is round. think of a round shoelace- it's basically that, but slightly larger. It's called clothesline at the hardware or big box stores, but if you can't find it, you can also buy cording in the home dec section at joanns (it's $.29/yard or you can get it in a package). i think the nylon cord would work fine too (in fact, i'm pretty sure i tried some of that with good results, because i started experimenting with everything!).

Good luck with your bowls, cat beds, and placemats everyone!
Posted: 2:10 am on January 21st

jodieth writes: Awesome. I hope I can make one as good as you. This is a great gift idea.
I could make one and put valentine chocolate kisses in it!
Thanks.
Posted: 1:32 pm on January 19th

elle1 writes: Linda, is the cord you use round or flat? Can you use nylon cord, the type used for blinds? Thanks, I'm dying to make one of these baskets.
Posted: 12:45 am on January 19th

RumbleFluff writes: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this project!!! I'm going to make a cat bed, starting with basically a flat "placemat", then building up the edges with strips made from really long "Z's". I hope it works! Thanks for this tutorial!
Posted: 4:58 pm on January 18th

eveh writes: I never use my cording foot but I am sure I must have one. This is wonderful.
Posted: 2:07 pm on January 17th

shelleyskud writes: Linda, this is sooo amazing. i live in South Africa and this is very similar to baskets one can buy here, except, they are not made of fabric. I'm showing all my needlework friends.
Posted: 7:51 am on January 17th

adina60 writes: Another wonderful idea for using up scraps and i have plenty of those!
Posted: 6:04 am on January 17th

SewDanish writes: Great instructions! Batik fabric works really well and makes beautiful bowls. And one can make great placemats using this technique :-) http://www.SewDanish.etsy.com
Scandinavian Textile Art, Unique Handmade Supplies
Posted: 2:54 am on January 17th

LindaPermann writes: quiltertq- awesome! post 'em up in the gallery if you have a chance!
Posted: 8:10 pm on January 16th

quiltertq writes: I have made three of these baskets so far. They are so fun to make and give to friends.
Posted: 5:45 pm on January 16th

gracie_girl writes: Very nice...You could make a whole plethora of beautiful storage containers to match your decor! Lovely...

Posted: 4:51 pm on January 16th

PetitGateau writes: This is great! I can't wait to try it!

And the pincushion is awesome!
Kayte, pattern coming soon for that??? hint hint :)
Posted: 2:52 pm on January 15th

LindaPermann writes: thanks everyone! it's really fun and addictive-- just took me a while to get around to the instructions. i hope you have fun with it.

and kayte- i love that pincushion. this probably isn't the only time it will show up in my posts. :)
Posted: 4:22 pm on January 14th

Sister_Diane writes: I love your fabric bowls. Thank you so much for the tutorial!
Posted: 12:36 pm on January 14th

erika_kern writes: Add me to the lovers! I'm a huge fan of this and have so many scraps! This is great!
Posted: 12:35 pm on January 14th

Androides writes: Very interesting tutorial!!! Great idea!
Posted: 12:05 pm on January 14th

kaytet writes: hah! and i was so excited by the bowl that i didn't even notice the pincushion that i gave you!!
Posted: 11:55 am on January 14th

kaytet writes: this is so great linda! i am so glad you posted the instructions!!!
Posted: 11:17 am on January 14th

CalPatch writes: GORGEOUS linda! i will have to try this; it would also make a great rug... and i love your little pincushion too ;n)
Posted: 11:11 am on January 14th

Lewidoo writes: Looks great. I want to try this. It's a pretty versatile idea. Might try and make coasters or hot mats.
Posted: 5:07 am on January 14th