Monday, February 23, 2009

fabric bucket

So, I'm already contemplating Christmas gifts for next year. A lot. Every single year I get busy and overwhelmed right at the very end and every year I swear to get things done earlier next year. This time I'm thinking the only possible way to do that is to have most of it done in summer. Really done. So this is the start of that. I want to make fabric boxes or containers of some sort into which we will bundle homemade jams and whatever else we are giving that year. So last weekend I made this soft bucket, just to sort of get my feet wet. It's been sitting on my shelf with office supplies bundled into it.
This one is soft, but I'd have to interface the ones for gifts. And I'm thinking that maybe a box shape would be better for most people? But on the other hand, this round shape is useful and very quick to make up. I just wonder if other people would find it to be useful as well. Or is it a weird gift. Faith thinks no one would know what to use it for. What do you think?
Here's how it looks inside. See all these ugly things it bundles together? I like that they are well contained but close at hand. But I could also see this container holding craft supplies in the studio, baby supplies on the changing table, toys in the "children's area", etc. There are lots of pretty fabric buckets/fabric boxes online to get inspiration from. I loosely used the tutorial here. Other inspriration here and here.

Happy Monday! It's raining a little here. Hooray!

13 comments:

Sarah said...

I love it! I knit and felted a totebag for my SIL at Christmas. She absolutely loved it. I'm inspired to make more for extended family this year.

Maria said...

I think that it's a wonderful idea. And yes I do think people would definately use it. You could make them slightly bigger to accomodate toy for kids to pick up and put away too.

Its_Lily said...

I think it's a great idea and, seriously, who can't use a beautiful storage container. Let's see, I have fabric baskets in my kitchen cupboards and they hold container lids, gadgets for the food processor, misc. accessories that are only rarely used that I don't want taking up valuable drawer space, kid cups and lids so they can get their own......

Yeah, the recipients will find uses.

Amanda @ www.kiddio.org said...

I think that it's wonderful! I especially like the lining fabric that you picked. It's such a nice contrast to the roughness of the outside. I would love these for toys or, as you said, to corral baby things on the changing table. As the kids got older, maybe to keep mittens and hats together?
How about a set of nesting ones, with coordinating but different fabrics on the inside?

Rachel said...

It's a great idea, I've made a couple of soft buckets like that myself and they are so useful for storing bits and bobs all over the house. I also think a firmer, squarer shaped "basket" would be good for your Christmas gifts - so really, either idea is a winner in my opinion! :)

Natalie said...

The fabric bucket is a great gift. Buckets full of yarn. Oh I can see it now. I may have to join in on the bucket brigade. You could also dispense with gift wrap. How cute would fabric buckets look under the Christmas tree?!

Christy said...

I think fabric buckets are a great idea..we always have lots of little things around our house that we need, but don't necessarily need to see.

Jessica said...

Fabric boxes are such a good idea for the holidays (I've been thinking about gifts recently as well). I can only imagine the gifts you'd fill these boxes with!

Melissa said...

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one already planning for next Christmas! I love the bucket and think it's a great idea :)

tawnya said...

I LOVE that! I would be thrilled to get something like that (and I love the bucket shape, as well).

appleandi said...

i have been looking for something like this! so yes i think it would be great to get one as a gift! i think once it is in someone's hands they will find a use for it since it is SO cute!

Lisa said...

My only problem with fabric buckets is the looseness of the lining fabric. I have the same problem with tote bags. I need to find a way to tack it down smoothly. Any suggestions?

Gretchen said...

very cute!