TUTORIAL : how to make a 1:12th scale dollhouse miniature basket

TUTORIAL

by DMZ Miniatures
for a dollhouse miniature basket in 1:12th scale

***************************************************

Let's get started

Read the tutorial and while making your basket, follow the steps and pictures in the same order

I always put the text first and the picture(s) right underneath

Should anything be unclear or uncomprehensive, feel free to contact me either via the form here on my blog or directly via email : dmzminiatures@gmail.com, I'm here to help

To get started, here's a list of the materials you'll need :

Multi purpose glue

No-Sew fabric glue

Super glue (optional)

Ruler

Scissors

Xacto Knife

Cotton swabs

Old paintbrush (to apply the glue)

Pencil or Marker

Tweezers

1 piece of cardboard (+/- 2 mm thick)

1 piece of embroidery canvas

Fabric of your choice

Embellishments of your choice (silk flowers, bows, rhinstones)

Ribbons

Optional items for the basket handle : 

thin leather strip, silk ribbon, braided waxed thread

Let's start with the pattern 

When you print and cut out your pattern, take a look at the photo below to get the correct measurements. Depending on the size you want your finished basket to be, the measurements can of course be changed 

STEP 1 

Print or copy the pattern (onto normal printing paper) and cut it out  

Transfer it by hand to a piece of cardboard (2 mm thick) using your pencil or maker. Keep the printed pattern at hand, you’ll need it again later

Before cutting it out, use your pencil to trace the middle piece of your pattern to check the measurements (should be 4 x 2 cm). Check the rest of the measurements too as shown. If they are correct, cut it out

Should you have any trouble with the pattern, feel free to contact me and I’ll gladly send it to you as a PDF (email : dmzminiatures@gmail.com)

STEP 2 

Take a piece of fabric of your choice and cut it at least 2 cm larger than the pattern. 

Glue the cardboard pattern to the fabric using either a multi-purpose or a no-sew fabric glue. I recommand using an old paintbrush to apply the glue as evenly as possible, to avoid it lto eak through the fabric

Start cutting the fabric as shown. It’s best to start by making 4 cuts to the sides, all the way through to where the cardboard edges are. Then cut all around and leave at least 1 cm of fabric all around the pattern

As shown in the next 3 pics, cut the fabric above all 4 sides of the basket and leave a triangle to get a neat finish on each corner. The trick is to cut notches all around, because it will give a much better finish than to glue the edges in one piece

STEP 3

Start by gluying the overlapping notches using a cotton swab (optional) and repeat this step for each side of the basket. Let the glue set for a few minutes.

Once the glue has set, turn around and check the borders and corners. Your basket should now look like this. Set aside to dry

STEP 4

Once the glue has completely set, start by folding in all 4 sides of the basket and check if the edges look good. 

If they do, glue the edges together. I recommend using a toothpick to apply the glue, since you really won’t need much. I find that the fabric glue works best here, but if you prefer, you may use a tiny litte bit of super glue. 

Your basket should now look like this 

STEP 5

Take your initial pattern and transfer it to the piece of embroidery canvas using either a pencil or a marker, whatever works best for you. 

Cut it out. I recommend cutting inside the lines here, since it will be a bit too large anyway. 

Fold all 4 sides and insert it into your basket to check the size. 

Adjust the sides by cutting down the sides until it fits the inside of your basket perfectly. 

Glue the canvas into the baset using your paintbrush again to apply the glue. 

Set aside to dry

STEP 6

While your basket is drying, let’s make the handle. If you wish, you can use differents things to make your handle (see list of items), but I decided to make mine with cardobard and a matching piece of fabric

Start by cutting out a piece of cardboard (11 x 0,5 cm) and a piece of fabric (12 x 1,5 cm) and glue the cardboard to the fabric. 

Just a little tip : don't laugh ... just saying ... always check that you’re gluying it to the correct side of the fabric (inside) 😀😀

Cut off the edges as show in the pic and start by gluying the 2 little overlapping notches on each end first. 

Then put some glue on one side of the fabric and fold it and repeat this step with the other side.

Your finished handle should look like this 

STEP 7

Glue your handle to the inside of the basket using clamps until the glue has set 

STEP 8

Now that the basket is almost finished, let’s give it a nice finishing touch by adding some embellishments.

For this basket, I decided to add some wavy ribbon all around the outside. Again, when gluying fabric, the no-sew fabric glue works best in my opinion. It sets quickly but still gives you a little time to move back and forth. 

I added a little slik bow to one side of the basket (Step 8.4) 

and a silk rose to the other (Step 8.5)

What kind of embellishments you want to add to yours is entirely left to your own imagination of course.

Hey, you're done ...... make as many baskets as you want or need for your future projects. Here are some fun ideas to fill them 

1) Grocery Basket

These are the things I made to fill this grocery basket

 

2) Bathroom Gift Basket (as you can see, the handle is glued to the shorter sides here)

and these are the items I made for the bathroom gift basket

3) Valentine's Day Gift Basket

Here are the items I made to fill my Valentine's Day Basket

 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorials. I would be happy to see any pictures of the baskets your made from it, so feel free to send them in

Have fun creating your own