Level: Intermediate - Advanced

This sensational Valentine Gift Basket is an exciting project for someone who enjoys being creative. It is so easy and fun to create you will want to make one for yourself. Fill it with candy, cookies, bath soaps, or potpourri for a special someone. What a sweet way to say I love you!

Janome Supplies Required:

• Compulock Serger or combination Cover Pro/Any Janome serger
• Serger needles size 14 for Compulock and/or any Janome serger
• Schmetz size 14 elx705 needles for Cover Pro machine
• All purpose foot (no special foot required)
• 4 spools Janome Overlock thread J360052 for Compulock and/or serger
• 3 spools of Robison Anton Polyester thread (red)
• 2 spools of Robison Anton Serger floss (red decorative thread)

Fabric and Notions Required:

• Plastic canvas- cut 19” x 1”
• Rotary cutter
• Valentine print fabric – approximately 1 yard
• Cut 2 strips 21” x 5”
• Cut 1 strip 18” x 18”
• Solid white fabric – approximately 1/9 yard
• Cut 1 strip - 4” x 45”
• Batting – 2 strips 20” x 5”
• Cardboard circles – cut 6” and 5 ¾”
• Yardstick compass – for drawing circles
• Permanent fabric glue
• Seam sealant
• Hand sewing needle
• All purpose thread

Serger or Compulock:

Set up serger for 4 thread overlock stitch. For the Compulock use suggestged default settings. For any other Janome serger use 3-4 tension settings for all positions.

Instructions:

1. Take one of the two pieces of Valentine print fabric that is 21” x 5” and serge the short sides together to form a tube. (Right sides together). Repeat for other piece.

1. Press seams to one side.
2. Do not sew the batting together. Pin one piece of the batting to the wrong side of one Valentine print tubes. Repeat for the other tube.
3. Place one tube inside the other so that the RIGHT sides of the Valentine print fabric are together. Pin all four pieces together at the top.
4. Using a 5/8” seam allowance, serge the four pieces together at the top. One end ONLY.
5. Turn tube so that Valentine print fabric is on the outside and the batting is encased on the inside.
6. Pin raw edges together at the bottom and press the crease at the top.
7. Set up serger for a 3 thread standard overedge stitch with Robison Anton decorative serger thread in both loopers.

Compulock – use suggested default settings

Any other Janome serger – suggested settings - left needle tension 4, upper looper 3, lower looper 3, stitch length 2 ½, and differential feed at 1.0 or refer to manual for suggested settings.

1. Take the piece of white fabric that is 4” x 45” and with wrong sides together, press in half lengthwise. You should now have a piece of fabric that is 2” x 45”.
2. Using a ¼” seam allowance, serge along both the long sides of the strip.
3. Take the piece of plastic canvas and feed it into the tube.
4. When the plastic canvas is approximately 1” from the open end, secure with hand sewing needle and thread. Note – stitch across to prevent plastic canvas from exiting the opening.
5. Continue feeding the rest of the fabric over the plastic canvas until you are 1” from opposite open end or raw edge. Secure with hand sewing needle and thread (same as before). Set aside.
6. Set up Compulock for coverstitch with the decorative thread in the chain looper and regular serger thread in the two needles. Or set up the Cover Pro for a decorative cover stitch placing decorative thread in the chain looper and Robison Anton polyester thread in the needles. (2 or 3 needle stitch may be used.)

Compulock – use suggested default settings

Cover Pro 1000 – suggested settings -Left needle 8, center needle 8, right needle 8 and chain looper 4, stitch length 3, differential feed 1.0.

Cover Pro 900 – suggested settings – Left needle 6, right needle 8, chain looper 4, and stitch length 3, differential feed 1.0.

1. Take the basket tube and start sewing approximately 1” down from the crease (top) and continue around the tube. When you reach where you first began, overlap stitches approximately 1” and then remove from under the presser foot.

1. Leave pins in bottom so fabric doesn’t crunch up.
2. Dab overlapped stitches with a seam sealant. You may hide the thread tails or clip when dry.
3. Using the presser foot as a guide, continue making rows until you reach approximately 1” from the raw edge. (Bottom)
4. Remove decorative thread from Compulock or serger and replace with regular serger thread.
5. When all rows are complete, turn tube so that decorative stitches are facing out.
6. Set up Compulock or serger for a gathering stitch. Refer to manual for suggested settings.
7. Gather bottom of basket tube. Pull needle threads if necessary to turn under raw edge. Set aside.
8. Using your yardstick compass, trace two circles from the Valentine print fabric that are 8” in diameter.
9. Take one circle and gather the outside edge. Repeat for the other circle.
10. Place 6” cardboard circle on wrong side of one of the Valentine print circles.
11. Pull needle threads to tighten fabric around the circle.
12. Place 5 ¾” cardboard circle on the wrong side of the remaining Valentine print circle.
13. Pull thread to tighten fabric around the circle.
14. Glue gathered basket bottom (right side) to the 6” cardboard base that you covered with the Valentine print fabric. Pinch as needed so that it seats properly. Set aside to dry.
15. Place handle inside the basket sides and glue raw edges to bottom of base. They should easily fold under using the 1” that does not have the plastic canvas.
16. Glue inside sides of handle to basket – but not too near the top of the basket.
17. Generously spread glue inside bottom of basket.
18. With gathered side DOWN, place 5 ¾” cardboard base that you covered with Valentine print fabric inside the basket.
19. Place something heavy inside to set the glue or pinch edges until it starts to set.