|
How to Sew a Fabric Bowl
comments (66) January 14th, 2009
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.)
![]() |
Find more home decorating ideas: • How to Make a Woven Button Coaster • Make a Pet Bed from Recycled Sweaters • How to Crochet a Rug out of T-Shirts • Make Monogrammed Napkins from a Vintage Sheet |
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.
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
|
Comments (66)
Posted: 9:39 pm on November 19th
Posted: 11:57 am on October 31st
Posted: 1:37 pm on September 13th
Posted: 4:31 am on August 17th
Posted: 6:23 pm on March 30th
But can't get my sides straight, they always want to fan out.
Any help sure would be appreciated.
Getting ready to start another!
thanks
Delores
Posted: 11:26 am on October 30th
Posted: 9:24 am on June 13th
Posted: 10:33 am on March 29th
Posted: 5:58 pm on January 11th
Posted: 12:44 pm on January 6th
Posted: 9:30 pm on January 5th
5.5 mm (0.2165 inches) would it be appropriate?
Please help me because i have to take here at least 10 000m to order, and i dont want to waste my money
Is it good enought to do it with 5mm or 5.5mm cotton string??
Best regards
Posted: 2:43 am on December 2nd
Rosie =)
Posted: 7:31 am on June 17th
great project thank you.
Posted: 11:29 am on June 1st
I use a sharp sturdy needle - and pliers to pull it through. I get overzealous and pull too hard and end up breaking the thread.
Hints? Tips?
Most appreciated.
Missy
Posted: 9:12 am on March 10th
Posted: 9:52 am on November 6th
Posted: 8:30 pm on August 3rd
I had a hard time getting mine started too, I had the same problem you are having. Getting it started is by far the hardest part. Here is my possible solution for you
Take a 5 inch or so section of rope and fold in half. Raise your presser foot as high as possible. on my machine there is the normal height and if I pull up on the lever a bit it raised up a bit more. Start sewing about an inch from the fold and do the normal back stitching. What you are creating is a leader. So now you have a leader and your rope for the bowl, put the leader under the presser foot so it almost touches the back of the needle and your project rope so it is just under the needle. Make sure the threads are towards the back of the machine. Start the stitching very slowly and when the thread is firmly locked in place you can help the piece through by pulling on the threads.
Posted: 11:35 pm on July 15th
I would really appreciated any suggestions.
Posted: 8:10 am on July 9th
Posted: 10:02 pm on May 15th
Posted: 9:52 pm on April 4th
Posted: 5:22 pm on March 28th
Posted: 11:19 pm on March 12th
Posted: 9:30 am on February 17th
Posted: 9:57 am on February 8th
Posted: 12:19 pm on February 5th
Thanks for your help!
Posted: 7:17 pm on January 27th
Posted: 9:00 pm on January 18th
Posted: 5:56 am on January 16th
Jan
Posted: 10:08 am on January 15th
Posted: 8:24 pm on January 6th
a 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch that will be showing.
Also, If you want to wrap many strips at a time, a few drops of white glue at the start of a new strip holds it nicely.
It is addicting. I even made a little one, using thin rope, as a Christmas ornament.
Posted: 7:05 pm on January 6th
Posted: 6:58 pm on January 6th
Posted: 7:23 pm on August 21st
Posted: 8:15 pm on July 22nd
Posted: 10:50 pm on July 15th
Posted: 9:21 pm on June 8th
Posted: 12:48 am on April 21st
Posted: 9:56 pm on March 16th
Posted: 12:42 pm on March 11th
Posted: 10:29 am on March 11th
Posted: 4:19 pm on February 21st
Posted: 11:30 am on January 30th
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
Posted: 4:37 am on January 24th
Good luck with your bowls, cat beds, and placemats everyone!
Posted: 2:10 am on January 21st
I could make one and put valentine chocolate kisses in it!
Thanks.
Posted: 1:32 pm on January 19th
Posted: 12:45 am on January 19th
Posted: 4:58 pm on January 18th
Posted: 2:07 pm on January 17th
Posted: 7:51 am on January 17th
Posted: 6:04 am on January 17th
Scandinavian Textile Art, Unique Handmade Supplies
Posted: 2:54 am on January 17th
Posted: 8:10 pm on January 16th
Posted: 5:45 pm on January 16th
Posted: 4:51 pm on January 16th
And the pincushion is awesome!
Kayte, pattern coming soon for that??? hint hint :)
Posted: 2:52 pm on January 15th
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
Posted: 12:36 pm on January 14th
Posted: 12:35 pm on January 14th
Posted: 12:05 pm on January 14th
Posted: 11:55 am on January 14th
Posted: 11:17 am on January 14th
Posted: 11:11 am on January 14th
Posted: 5:07 am on January 14th
Posted: 2:25 am on January 14th