Hello friend. Today I’m sharing how to make a DIY Easter basket liner with a free pattern to inspire you to create something special this holiday.
I love Easter time. The special preparations, family gatherings, favorite church hymns, and the beautiful spring colors all make this season so joyful. All of it reminds me of my sweet Mom and always brings a smile to my heart. 💛
How do you celebrate the season? If you love sewing and decorating, you will enjoy making this project.
Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope,
– Janine di Giovanni
renewal, and new life.
Why You’ll Love this Project
Sewing an Easter basket liner is a fantastic beginner-friendly project that’s as fun as it is practical!
Its small size makes it easy to handle, even for those just starting out, and it’s budget-friendly since it requires very little fabric. Most baskets need less than 1/2 yard.
Not only does a custom Easter basket make a thoughtful gift, but it can also become a treasured keepsake, passed down or reused for years to come. If you’re sprucing up baskets for kids, friends, or family, this project lets you add personality and creativity at every step.
Even if you don’t have kids at home, baskets with custom liners are a delightful way to elevate your seasonal décor. Use them to display spring blooms, hold treats, or add a cheerful touch to your home.
If you enjoy sewing small projects, you might also like my Hobo Bag Pattern, Free DIY Crossbody Bag Pattern, and an easy Drawstring Bag tutorial.
🌷 Get the Free Easter Basket Liner Pattern and Tutorial
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Materials
Okay, let’s get started. First, gather your supplies. All items are not in the photo above, so be sure to read the list below. Shoppable affiliate links included below.
Basket
Liner Fabric
Ruler
Pins
Thread
Sewing Scissors Gingher brand or
Rotary Cutter Olfa Cutter
Cutting Surface Olfa Mat
Paper Scissors Scotch scissors
Sewing Machine
Iron Sunbeam brand
If you enjoy practical home sewing projects, take a look at my tutorials for Door Window Covers, Bar Stool Covers, and a How to Cover a Seat Pad. You can also learn How to Make a DIY Pillow Cover for an easy way to update your space with your favorite fabrics.
Variations
This Easter basket liner tutorial is a fun way to turn a simple basket into something special. Use the basic pattern as your starting point, then customize it with fabrics, trims, and personal details.
This simple project is also a great way to create personalized Easter basket or gift basket ideas for family and friends.
Choose liner fabrics in colors and prints that fit the personality of the person receiving the basket. You can use a matching fabric for the drawstring ties or choose a contrasting print for extra charm. The inspiration baskets are from Pottery Barn Kids.
Embellishing Ideas
Add decorative details to the liner to give your basket personality. Try appliqués, embroidery, lace, ribbon trim, ruffles, scalloped edges, or embroidered names and initials. Personalized touches like bunny ears, monograms, or ruffles are especially fun for little ones.
For tweens or teens, consider brighter colors or simpler, more mature fabric prints.
Basket Fillers
Add games, puzzles, stickers, bath products, candles, small plants, fun socks, jewelry, books, or art supplies like markers, coloring books, and notebooks.
Basket Styles
You can also make a rectangular basket liner instead of a round one. The structured shape can feel more grown up and may suit a tween, teenager, or even an adult. Check out the rectangular basket tutorial here.
Pattern Pieces Overview
Before you start sewing, here are the pattern pieces you’ll need for this Easter basket liner.
For a round basket liner, you will cut five pieces of fabric:
2 side panels
1 round pattern piece for the bottom of the basket
2 drawstring ties
The side panels wrap around the basket and gather at the bottom, allowing them to attach to the circular base. A drawstring casing at the top allows you to insert fabric ties to tighten the liner around the basket.
Once the pieces are cut and prepared, the basket liner comes together quickly with a few simple seams.
How to Make a DIY Easter Basket Liner
Here are the step-by-step directions to make this project.
Before you begin, pre-wash your fabric. Use the same drying method you plan to use later, such as air drying or machine drying.
Pre-washing allows the fabric to shrink before you cut it, which helps prevent unexpected shrinking later. If you do not plan to wash the basket liner in the future, you can skip this step.
1 Create Your Pattern
Start by measuring your basket so you can create a custom liner pattern. You will use these
measurements to determine the size of your fabric pieces.
Size of the Basket Bottom
Measure the diameter of the basket bottom. The easiest way to do this is to turn the basket upside down and measure the widest distance across the base.
Add a seam allowance of about 1/4 to 5/8 inch all the way around when creating the bottom pattern piece.
Basket Depth
Next, measure the inside depth of your basket using a ruler.
Then measure the drop on the outside of the basket, which is how far you want the liner to hang over the edge. Be a little generous here so the liner hangs nicely. You can always trim it later if needed.
Add these two measurements together and include a seam allowance at the top and bottom.
This number becomes the total height of your side panels.
Tip: The “outside drop” is how far you want the liner fabric to hang over the basket rim. Picture the liner folded over the top edge and measure from the inside top edge to where you want the fabric
to fall on the outside.
Circumference of the Basket
Now measure the outside circumference of the basket at the widest part of the rim. This is the most important measurement because the liner needs to fit comfortably around the top edge.
You can do this by wrapping a tape measure, or even a strip of fabric, around the rim. Add 1 inch to this measurement to allow a little movement.
Next, divide that number in half. This gives you the width of each side panel because the liner is made from two panels that meet near the
handles. Finally, add a seam allowance of about 1/4 to 5/8 inch to both ends.
Quick Formula
Side Panel Width
(Circumference + 1 inch)
÷ 2 seam allowance on both ends
= Total width of each side panel
Side Panel Height
Inside depth of basket + outside drop
seam allowance at top and bottom
= Total height of each side panel
Drawstring Casings and Ties
Each side panel will include its own drawstring casing. This means the finished liner will have two separate drawstring ties, one on each side
of the basket.
These ties gather the liner around the rim and allow you to tie bows near the basket handles. The exact length of the drawstring ties will be determined later in the tutorial.
Important. Add seam allowance to every fabric piece. A seam allowance is the space between the raw edge of the fabric and the stitching line where pieces are sewn together. It usually ranges from 1/4 inch to 5/8 inch, depending on your
preference.
Cut the Fabric
Using sewing scissors, cut your pattern pieces from the fabric.
2 Side Flaps and Drawstring Casing
To create the drawstring side flaps and casing, you will work with both side panels.
First, fold 1/8 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric on one vertical end of a side panel. Press with an iron, then fold another 1/8 inch and press again. Slightly taper the crease at the bottom of the fold with your iron. Repeat this process on the remaining three vertical ends.
Next, fold the top edge of both side panels toward the wrong side 1/8 inch and press.
Fold another 1/8 inch and press again. To create the drawstring casing, fold the top edge down one more time by 3/4 inch and press.
3 Topstitch the Hems
Topstitch the double-fold vertical hems on both side panels. Then topstitch along the bottom edge of the casing from end to end, catching the folded hems as you sew. Be sure to leave both ends of the casing open so you can insert the drawstring later.
4 Join the Side Panels
With right sides together, sew the side pieces (panels) together at the lower bottom of each side seam. Start sewing at the bottom of the rolled hems. Backstitch at both ends of your stitching to reinforce it for wear.
5 Sew the Basket Liner Together
Gather the Bottom Edge
Using a long stitch length, sew a gathering stitch around the entire bottom edge of the side panels, about 1/4 inch from the raw edge. Gently pull the bottom bobbin threads to gather the fabric. Continue gathering until the bottom edge measures approximately the same circumference as the circular bottom piece.
Attach the Round Bottom
With right sides together, pin the round bottom circle fabric piece to the gathered side panels. Ease and adjust the gathers evenly as you pin. Sew around the circle to attach the bottom. Press the seam toward the center of the basket liner for a neat finished look.
6 Make the Drawstring Ties and Finish
You are almost finished. Now it is time to make two drawstring ties, one for each side of the basket.
Determine the Length of the Ties
Your basket circumference provides a helpful starting point for determining the length of each drawstring tie.
If you plan to tie bows on both sides of the basket, each tie should have two loose ends extending from the casing. Each end should be about 8.5 to 11 inches long, so you have enough length to tie a bow.
To estimate the total length of each tie, measure roughly half of the basket circumference, then add 17 to 22 inches to allow for the two bow ends.
For larger baskets, you may want to make the ties slightly longer so the bows look fuller. If you prefer, you can also tie simple knots instead of bows. Adjust the length as needed for your basket.
Sew the Drawstring Ties
Cut two fabric strips, each 2 inches wide and the length you determined.
With wrong sides together, fold each strip in half lengthwise and press with an iron. Open the strip again. Next, fold each raw end inward about 1/8 to 3/8 inch and press.
Then fold both long raw edges toward the center without touching and press again. Finally, fold the strip in half so the folded edges line up. Press.
Topstitch along both long edges and across each end to close the tie. For help, see my fabric tie tutorial.
Finish the Basket Liner
Feed one tie through each casing. Place the liner inside the basket, pull the ties snug around the handles, and tie bows on both sides to secure the liner. Enjoy your beautiful handiwork!
Make an easy lavender eye pillow and matching handmade drawstring bag for another handmade gift idea.
FAQs
Cotton or quilting fabric works great because it’s easy to sew, lightweight, and comes in many colors, patterns, and prints. You can also use linen or lightweight canvas for a more durable liner. Avoid slippery fabrics like satin for easier handling.
Yes! While this tutorial is for round baskets, you could adjust it for oval or rectangular baskets by carefully measuring the base and sides. Check out my rectangular basket tutorial for a different design.
Pre-wash and dry your fabric using the method you plan to use later. This prevents unexpected shrinking and ensures your finished liner fits the basket perfectly.
Tips & Tricks
Use contrasting or coordinating fabrics for the drawstring ties to add a fun pop of color.
Mark your measurements clearly with chalk or a fabric marker before cutting to avoid mistakes.
Press each seam as you sew to create a polished, professional-looking liner.
Customize with embellishments like appliqués, embroidery, or ribbon for a personal touch.
Test fit the liner before finishing the drawstring ties to make sure the fit around the basket handles is perfect.
Looking for more quick and thoughtful sewing ideas? Try my DIY Dog Bandana (Free Printable Pattern), a sweet Heart Shape Eye Pillow, or an Envelope Pillow that’s great for refreshing your home décor.
Your basket liner is finished and ready for Easter. Let me know in the comments if you make one. I would love to hear how it turned out! Be sure to subscribe or follow me on social media for more inspiration.
Thanks for visiting. Have a blessed Easter!
xo,
Cindy
Did you make an Easter basket liner?
I would love to hear all about it! Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest!
Thank you!
About Bloom
Cindy Munson is a lifelong sewer, pattern designer, and former graphic design studio owner. She shares approachable, stylish sewing projects through her blog, Be Brave and Bloom. Her mission is to help others discover the joy of making and live a more creative life. Cindy works from her sunny sewing studio in Minnesota, where she lives with her husband of over 30 years.
I love the pink basket liners with the ruffles. Do You make and sell these?
Thank you.
Hi Lauren, sorry those were simply liners for inspiration. 🙂