Estimated reading time: 10 min

Sewing a basket from fabric strips – fun with the fabric tube maker

19.05.2026 by Sabine Schmidt

Korb aus Stoffstreifen nähen – Spaß mit dem Stoffrohrformer

Sewing a basket from fabric strips: A super cool project that is really fun! Perfect for putting the Clover fabric tube maker to use.

The most important things at a glance

In this tutorial, we will sew a shopping basket out of fabric strips.
Fabric rolls – also known as jelly rolls – are perfectly prepared fabric strips for creative sewing projects.
The fabric rolls from Westfalenstoffe harmonize wonderfully with each other and make sewing especially relaxing.
For a large shopping basket, you need:
- 1 fabric roll
- 1 matching batting roll
- a Clover fabric tube maker
Your sewing machine should have a zigzag stitch.
The shopping basket will be lightweight, stable, beautifully individual, and absolutely suitable for everyday use.
✂️ Sewing level: easy
⏰ Sewing time: 1 - 2 afternoons

Sewing with fabric rolls – uncomplicated and incredibly beautiful

Sometimes it is exactly those projects that are quick to succeed and still really make an impression. A shopping basket made of fabric rolls definitely belongs in that category.

The pre-cut fabric strips—also called jelly rolls—take a large part of the preparation off your hands. No cutting, no sorting, no long hours of combining. Simply select your favorite design and start sewing.

The fabric rolls from Westfalenstoffe work particularly well for this. The fabrics are perfectly color-coordinated and bring that typical cozy, high-quality patchwork look that immediately makes you want to sew.

And the best part: just one fabric roll is enough to create a large shopping basket in a beautiful country-house look.
I have to say: basically, this project is a classic rope bowl – just with homemade fabric ropes instead of macramé cord.

YouTube Video: Sewing a basket from fabric strips

Sewing a basket from fabric strips – light, stable, and exactly in your style

A self-sewn shopping basket is simply something special.

It comes with many great features:

pleasantly lightweight
nevertheless stable
wonderfully handy
sustainable
just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside
and exactly as large as you want it to be.

Furthermore, you can adapt it completely to your own style. Whether modern, playful, Scandinavian, or colorful – you decide for yourself which fabrics to use.

This is how you create not just a basket, but a true favorite piece that will accompany you for many years and can simply be washed in the washing machine.

Batting rolls – the perfect addition to fabric rolls

To ensure your shopping basket stays nice and stable later, you additionally need a matching batting roll.

The prepared batting strips have exactly the right width for the fabric rolls and save an incredible amount of time during preparation.

Sewing a shopping basket from fabric strips, Sewing with fabric rolls, Sewing a shopping basket from fabric rolls, Sewing with the fabric tube maker, Sewing with the Stoffel, Sewing a basket from fabric strips

For a large shopping basket, you need:

1 fabric roll^*
1 batting roll^*
Fabric tube maker^*
plenty of sewing thread in a neutral color, e.g., cream white
Pins^*

The batting ensures that the basket keeps its shape while still remaining pleasantly soft and flexible. Especially with larger bags and baskets, this makes a huge difference.

The Clover fabric tube maker makes sewing much easier

The fabric tube maker from Clover is a real game changer for this project.

With its help, fabric and batting are neatly formed into uniform fabric tubes. This not only saves time but also ensures that everything looks nice and tidy.

Especially with long fabric strips, you will quickly notice how comfortable working with it becomes.

The result:

uniform fabric cords
cleaner seams
more relaxed work
professional look

Which sewing machine is suitable for shopping baskets made from fabric rolls?

For this project, you should definitely use a sewing machine that has a zigzag stitch. Ideally one where the width of the zigzag stitch can be adjusted individually.

This is because the fabric tubes or fabric cords are sewn together with a wider zigzag stitch. Depending on the material and the desired look, you can adjust the stitch width.

This ensures:

stable connections
beautiful transitions
more flexibility while sewing

Of course, you could also connect the fabric cords with a wide decorative stitch. But make it clear to yourself beforehand: long, loooong seams are coming your way. And some decorative stitches test my patience because they stitch forward, backward, and then sideways again. If you have that much patience: Great! I don't. But there is of course nothing wrong with a round or two of star stitches or whatever you happen to like, as long as both edges of your fabric cords are caught well. By the way, some decorative stitches can also be adjusted in width. Go ahead and try it out!

Equally important: Definitely have enough bobbin cases as a backup ready. Why? You use a surprisingly large amount of thread when sewing long fabric tubes – and nothing interrupts the flow of sewing more than a suddenly empty bobbin in the middle of a long seam 😁

A small supply therefore makes sewing much more relaxed.
By the way: You can also use up all your colorful bobbins for this project. That gives it a very special look and makes your basket beautifully colorful.

Personalizing the shopping basket made from fabric strips

Do you love it individual? Me too. Personalizing is exactly what makes this project so much fun 😊

You can:

put together your favorite fabric colors
combine different fabric designs
sew handles in your favorite color
add labels or small details like buttons or similar
adjust the size individually

Whether for the weekly market, the beach, the sewing room, or as a gift – every shopping basket becomes a true one-of-a-kind piece.

Conclusion: Sewing sustainably and having fun for a long time

A self-sewn shopping basket replaces many disposable bags and often accompanies you for years.

Thanks to the stable workmanship and high-quality fabrics, a long-lasting project is created that is not only practical but also makes every shopping trip a little bit nicer.

And that is exactly what we love about sewing: creating something beautiful with your own hands that is at the same time practical, sustainable, and absolutely personal.

By the way: From the prepared fabric cords, you can sew not only baskets but also chic placemats, coasters, pot holders, seat cushions, and much more. Would you like more sewing ideas for the fabric rolls and the fabric tube maker? Then let us know in the comments!

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Tutorial: Sew a basket from fabric strips

Fancy a relaxing afternoon at the sewing machine? Then grab your fabric coil and the Stoffel (that's what I call the fabric tube former, because the official name of the thing is far too long for me) and get going!

This project consists of three simple stages (sounds funny, but that's how it is):

sewing the fabric strips together into one looooong band
folding and sewing the band into fabric cords (we do that with the Stoffel)
sewing the fabric cords together into a chic basket

Step

Phase 1: Sew the fabric roll into one long strip

Unroll the fabric roll and lay out the strips in the order you want to sew them together. I simply kept the order in which they were rolled up.
Step

Grab two of the fabric strips.
Place the ends on top of each other at a right angle and pin them in place.
Draw a diagonal line between the corners where the strips overlap.
Step

This is what it should look like now.
Step

Sew the ends together along the line with a straight stitch, stitch length 2.5 mm.
Step

If you now look at the strip from the right side, the long edges should run in a straight line.
Step

Trim the seam allowance to 1 cm.
Step

Also trim the protruding seam allowance tips to the width of the strip.
Step

Press the seam allowances open.
Now sew all the remaining strips together in the same way.
Step

Phase 2: Sew the fabric strip together with the fabric tube maker

Now comes the moment you've surely been waiting for: time to use the Stoffel, hooray!
Step

Take the two parts of the Stoffel apart. The Stoffel itself consists of four parts: two large and two small.
Unroll the interfacing roll. Place the interfacing tape flush on the wrong side of the fabric strip.
Step

Fold the long edges at the end of the strip in towards the centre from both sides.
Step

Slide the folded strip, interfacing side up, into the large open part of the Stoffel.
Pull the end of the strip a little way out of the front of the Stoffel so that it settles nicely into the Stoffel.
Step

Insert the second large part of the Stoffel from the back. Make sure the interfacing tape doesn't get trapped; it needs to glide smoothly through the Stoffel.
Step

Important: You need to hear a CLICK, the second part has to sit firmly.
Step

Pull the strip a little way out of the front of the Stoffel. Fold the long edges towards the centre so that you can slide the folded strip into the smaller open part of the Stoffel.
Step

Here too, pull the strip a little way out of the front of the small Stoffel.
Step

Now clip the second part of the small Stoffel firmly in place from the back. It sits in the fold between the long edges of the strip that are folded inwards.
When you pull on the strip now, the fabric should fold itself inwards twice.
Step

Now clip the second part of the small Stoffel firmly in place from the back. It sits centred on the long edges of the strip that are folded inwards.
When you pull on the strip now, the fabric should fold itself inwards twice.
Step

Put a fresh needle in your sewing machine. I recommend a size 80 Super Universal from Schmetz. It glides particularly well through the many layers of fabric.
Step

Place the folded end of the fabric strip under the presser foot. Lower the presser foot and move the needle position to the right. The needle should go in about 2-3 mm from the edge of the fabric.
Step

Now pull the strip evenly through the Stoffel and sew the folded edge together with a straight stitch, stitch length e.g. 4 - 4.5 mm.
Step

Only ever pull the Stoffel far enough that you can still hold the double-folded fabric strip in place with your fingers. Then sew until just before the Stoffel, leave the needle in the fabric, pull out another piece of strip and keep sewing.
Step

When the interfacing tape runs out (it is split roughly in the middle), simply place the beginning of the new tape under the end of the old tape with a 1 cm overlap.
Then you can carefully pull the strip through the Stoffel and keep sewing.
Step

This is what it should look like now.
Step

Phase 3: Sew a shopping basket from fabric strips

Now comes the real fun. We're going to conjure up a rather decent shopping basket from these pretty strips. If you have one, attach a large extension table to your sewing machine. The bigger and flatter the surface you turn the basket on, the better. If you don't have an extension table: you can also create a flat surface with a few books. Nu geiht dat lous!
But before you start: cut off a 180 - 200 cm long piece of the fabric cord and set it aside. We'll need it shortly for the handle.
Step

Fold the end of the fabric cord so that it forms a curve.
It's fine if you twist the cord around itself now and then. This can help it lie flatter.
Step

Now wrap a few rounds of fabric cord around the small starting coil.
Step

Secure the small flat starting coil with a few straight stitches in a criss-cross pattern.
Step

Set a wide zigzag stitch.
Now guide the fabric strip neatly and flush around the starting coil, sewing it in place as you go. The needle should alternately go into both edges of the fabric strips.
Step

Try to put as little tension as possible on the loose end of the strip. Tension can make the bottom of the basket bulge. The flatter it lies now, the smoother the base of the basket will be afterwards.
Step

Keep turning and sewing until the base is as big as you want it to be.
Step

Then change the angle of the base slightly by holding it at a slant. I sewed 2-3 slanted rounds and then let the base run at a right angle.
Step

Feel free to take the basket off the sewing machine now and then (secure the thread first!) and check whether you like the shape.
Step

Make the basket as tall, as narrow or as wide as you like.
Step

Support the basket with your free hand while sewing.
Step

With slight, even tension on the free end, you can make the opening of the basket narrower. Without tension, the walls of the basket will be straight.
Step

When the basket has the size and shape you want, cut off the strip leaving about 15 cm extra. Form a loop with the end and sew it in place with a zigzag stitch.
Step

Fold the remaining 180-200 cm strip in half twice.
Step

Stitch the two strips together up to the middle with a zigzag stitch.
Step

Stitch the two loose ends to both sides of the strip. Secure the ends with a zigzag stitch.
If you have slim hands, 3 cords sewn together might be enough.
Simply stitch the ends in place with an overlap.
If you like, you could also trim them straight and finish them with bias binding.
Step

Mark the centre of the basket by squeezing it flat.
Step

Pin the handle inside the basket. I attached my handle on the inside, but you can also sew it on the outside.
Step

Sew the ends of the handle to the basket with a straight stitch.
I stitched across the top edge and then along both long edges as well.
Step

If you like, you can now add two buttons or labels as decoration.
And then the basket is ready for its first outing!

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.