Easter Basket Handle Tutorial for Button Boats

Easy DIY Easter Basket or cute fabric basket.

Lazies, Make an easy DIY Easter basket by adding a handle to our Button Boats. With the simple addition of an easy handle, our Button Boats make perfect Easter Baskets (and gift baskets)! I’ll show you how to add a handle for perfectly Lazy Easter goodies. You’ll need the Button Boats pattern LGD138 in addition to this tutorial and some extra supplies to make the handle.

Grab the FREE printable tutorial (valued at $9.95) below!

Picture of two Easter Baskets filled with grass, candy, and plastic eggs.‘Easter Basket’ Button Boats
(Button Boats plus handle tutorial)

Project Planning

You don’t need to make any changes to the project as it is shown in the Button Boats pattern. Simply identify which of the three boat planks will be the two outside planks or the center plank. Add ribbons to the outside planks. Add the handle to the center plank. Construct according to the pattern, add the ribbon embellishments and create/attach the handle where shown in this tutorial. Then fill your beautiful baskets with love and enjoy!

Supplies for Easter Basket With Handle

  • Button Boats pattern LGD138, plus listed supplies
  • Download the free Handle tutorial below
  • Extra supplies for handle: size 1 1/4″ x 9 1/2″
  • 1 yard of 7/8″ wide ribbon to decorate handle and both outside planks

Picture of the Button Boats sewing pattern by Lazy Girl Designs Make Button Boat Planks

  • Make your Button Boats sandwich of fabric and interfacing according to the pattern.
  • Cut planks and stitch edges according to the pattern.
  • Before proceeding, make and add handle and ribbon embellishments as shown below.

Ribbons and fabric that will make a Button Boats small organizer

Make a Handle, Embellish Outer Planks

  • You’ll need some extra supplies to make another small sandwich, then cut a handle 1 1/4″ x 9 1/2″.
  • (Or use other supplies you have on hand to make a handle from fabric/interfacing, fabric/fleece, etc.)
  • Zigzag stitch the edges of the handle.
  • Center the ribbon on the handle (below left), and on each of the two outer planks (below right).
  • Topstitch through all layers close to both long edges of the ribbon.Finish the cut edges with a zigzag stitch to control any fray at the end of the ribbon.

Close up picture showing where to add decorative ribbon to parts of the Button Boats sewing project.

How To Attach The Easter Basket Handle

  • Handle is attached to the center plank on the ‘Inside View’ on page 3 of Button Boats pattern.
  • Center the handle on top of the center Boat plank.
  • Zigzag along both ends of the handle to attach it to the plank.

Close up picture of how to finish the end of a project when sewing ribbon in place. Shows zigzag stitching.

Add Buttons and Finish Up!

Close up picture of a button sewn in place on top of decorative ribbon on a Button Boats organizer.

Stitch a Hinged Handle

Actually, the handle is ‘hinged’ to the center plank of the Button Boats at the ends by the zigzag stitching.
When the boat ends are tied together and the boat comes to life, simply lift the handle up and away from the plank.

Close up picture of zigzag stitching showing where a handle is attached to a Button Boats organizer to make it into an Easter Basket.

Easter Basket Folds Flat for Storage

I love this – even with the addition of the handle, the Button Boats still packs flat for easy storage. Untie the ends and the whole Button Boats packs flat so you can take it with you or store it away.

Picture showing where the stitching shows on the lining of the Button Boats Easter Basket.Notice that you can see the two stitching lines on the inside of the
Button Boats where the decorative ribbon was stitched to the project.

Add a Handle During Construction or Later

The handle can be added during construction, or afterward. That means you can use the bounty of Boats you’ve already made and add a simple handle to basket-ize them.

Download Free Tutorial

This Basket Handle Tutorial is available as a FREE download at the end of this post.
Shops: Contact me directly about using this tutorial for your shop.

All-Occasion Gift Baskets
Adding a handle to Button Boats is great for everyday use, or other themes: baby shower, Halloween, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc.

Close up picture of buttons and ties at the end of a Button Boats Easter Basket filled with grass and plastic eggs.

Inspiration
My inspiration for these beauties came from these amazing Renaissance Ribbons designed by Kaffe Fassett, available here. You need one yard of ribbon per boat.

I paired the ribbon with some yummy brights from ‘Brighten Up’ by Me and My Sisters Designs for Moda Fabrics.

Post a comment and tell me how you will use Button Boat Baskets.
Please like and share this post with your stitchy friends.
Join the Lazy Girl community on Facebook here: Facebook Lazy Girl

Close up picture of Easter Basket filled with grass and plastic eggs.

Now, grab the FREE printable tutorial (valued at $9.95) below, then keep it with your Button Boats pattern for safekeeping.

Enjoy!
Joan

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