Basket Case Block 4: Needle Turn Applique

{You can find detailed instructions on how to make templates, mark your fabric, cut, and sew accurate seams as part of Basket Case Block 1.}

In 1978 this basket block was featured on a US postal stamp. Commonly known as Baby Basket or May Basket it is real cutie and features an applique handle. You can download the block template here.

Personally, I prefer needle turn applique with freezer paper, so let’s start with that.

Making the basket handle: Needle Turn Applique

1. Copy the handle template onto the paper side of freezer paper (I happen to have an old stash of gridded freezer paper that as far as I know is not available anymore. Regular freezer paper from the grocery store works just the same way).  Cut it out without adding seam allowances.

2. Iron the freezer paper template with the shiny side down onto the right side of your basket fabric. Trace around the freezer paper template. Cut out the handle with a seam allowance of roughly 1/8″ to 1/4″ around the outer edge. For the time being, keep the xtra fabric on the inside of the handle as this make it easier to keep the piece in place when you begin to applique.

2. Cut out the remaining basket pieces from your chosen fabric (instructions are part of Basket Case 1 here). Pin the handle onto background piece b as shown.

3. Start the applique at the lower right corner of the handle. Thread your needle and make a knot at the end of your thread. Your stitches will be almost invisible if you choose yoour thread to match your applique fabric, rather than your background fabric.

Turn under the seam allowance so that your marking line is hidden. Do this for about 1″ along the curve.

6. Come up with your needle trough the handle fabric right at the corner of the basket handle. Go back down for your first stitch. You want to catch only one or two threads of the handle fabric with each stitch. Come back up a short distance along the handle for your second stitch.

and the view from the back:

7. Continue appliqueing around the curve. Whenever you come to a point where your marking line shows use your needle to catch the handle fabric from underneath and  push the seam allowance under the handle. Do this for about 1″-2″ at a time. Use your left hand thumb to keep the seam allowance in place.

8. At the end knot off. It should look like this:

9. Now cut out the extra fabric on the inside of the handle, again leaving approx. 1/8″ to 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip the seam allowance as shown.

10. Applique the inner curve of the basket handle.

Finishing the Basket Block

11. Sew your basket piece b to your handle segment. Let the seam allowance fall towards the basket body.

12. Sew c to d and another c to dR. Let the seam allowances fall towards the darker fabric.

13. Sew these segments to your basket unit with seam allowances falling towards the block’s edge.

14. Attach the last background piece b, seam allowance falling toward the edge of the block.

All done!