admin
A fabric planter DIY is a simple way to add color and texture to a room while using fabric you already have. This coiled design can be made in different sizes and thicknesses, so you can create a coordinated set or make a single cover to fit a favorite plant pot.
The finished piece is best used as a decorative cover for a nursery pot rather than as a watertight container. Keep the plant in its existing pot, and remove it for watering or empty any water that collects inside the fabric basket.
Supplies for a Fabric Planter DIY
For a large basket, gather the following materials. Use the same method with fewer materials for a smaller planter.
- Two yards of cotton canvas fabric for the coils
- One yard of gauzy cotton fabric to wrap the coils, or 20 yards of cotton yarn
- A plastic tapestry needle
- Fabric scissors
Prepare the Fabric Strips
To make a continuous, rope-like strip from a yard of fabric, cut into one long edge at intervals of about 3 inches, stopping just before you reach the opposite edge. Turn the fabric and make cuts from the other long edge, positioned between the first cuts and again stopping short. When pulled apart, the fabric becomes one connected strip with angled joins. Twisting the strip helps those angles blend into the coil.
Once the strips are cut, loosely coil them to prevent tangles. Twist about 3 feet of canvas fabric to begin. Keep the remaining fabric loosely bundled so it feeds out easily as you work.
How to Make the Coiled Planter
- Start the wrap: Cut a 3-foot length of gauzy cotton. Tie it around the ends of three canvas strips, making one canvas strip about 1 foot longer than the others.
- Cover the join: Lay the short tail of the knotted cotton along the canvas and wrap the longer end around both materials to conceal the tail.
- Form the center: Bend the wrapped end into a small circle. Wrap the gauzy cotton once around the point where the canvas meets.
- Secure the first coil: Wrap twice more around the canvas, then thread the gauzy cotton through the tapestry needle. Stitch through the center of the coil and pull the thread snug.
- Build the base: Continue wrapping twice around the canvas alone, then stitch through the outer canvas layer and the layer beneath it. Twist the canvas as you work; this helps the coil hold its shape.
- Add more wrapping fabric: When the gauzy cotton runs short, tie on a new 3-foot length. Open the canvas slightly and tuck the ends of the knot inside.
- Conceal the tails: Twist the canvas again to cover the tucked ends, then continue wrapping and stitching.
- Raise the sides: When the base reaches the desired diameter, position each new canvas coil directly above the previous one. Wrap twice around a single canvas layer, then once around the adjoining layers to join them.
- Join new canvas strips: Before a strip runs out, add two more strips near its ends.
- Cover the connection: Use the longer canvas section to wrap over the new and old ends so the join is less visible.
- Finish the basket: Keep coiling, wrapping, and stitching until the planter reaches the height you want. Wrap the gauzy cotton 4–5 times around the canvas tail, stitch through all five wraps, and pull the thread through. Trim the gauzy cotton and tuck its end underneath.
Choose a Coil Style and Use Your Basket
The number and thickness of the canvas strands affect the finished look. A coil made with one thick strand has a different texture from one made by twisting four wider strands together. Thin coils suit smaller pots, while thicker coils can make a larger basket more quickly. For a matching set, vary the coil thickness while choosing colors that work well together.
More Ways to Use a Fabric Planter
These coiled baskets can also hold household items. Place a small basket on a side table for remotes and charging cords, or use a larger one to gather items while tidying a room. Match the basket size to its purpose, and check that the finished opening is wide enough for the objects or pot it will hold.
This fabric planter DIY offers a flexible way to make useful, decorative baskets in a range of sizes and textures. Keep plants in their original pots to protect the fabric from moisture, and adjust the coil thickness to suit the look and scale you want. — Rachel
