How to Make Your Own Reusable Felt Easter Basket

Skip the store-bought plastic basket and celebrate Easter more sustainably this year by making your own Easter basket out of felt. Since normal felt is pretty flimsy, we’ll show you how to stiffen the material to make a sturdy basket that will last for years to come. All you’ll do is soak a large piece of felt in a mixture of glue and water to stiffen it, then use our free pattern to cut out a template that easily folds into a felt Easter basket for any age child. Tie off the basket with colorful ribbon and fill with Easter basket stuffers that kids of all ages will love.

• Craft felt measuring 12 x 18 inches
• Pencil
• 4 ox. craft glue
• Water
• Plastic grocery bag
• Baking sheet
• Wax paper
• Sewing pins
• Hole punch
• Yarn or ribbon

Follow these simple how-to instructions to make your own felt Easter basket. This project requires less than an hour of working time, although you will need to let the felt dry overnight.

Print and cut out our free template, then lay out a large piece of felt (such as 36-Inch Basic Felt, $4.29, Michaels) and trim it to measure 12 inches by 18 inches. Fold the cut piece in half and trace the template onto the felt by placing the bottom edge of the template directly on the fold of the felt. Keep the felt folded as you cut along the template so that both sides of the unfolded felt will mirror each other.

To make the felt stiff enough to hold the basket shape, you'll need to soak your cut felt pattern in a glue mixture. Add 1/4 cup of white craft glue (such as Elmers Liquid School Glue, $5.97, Walmart) and1/4 cup water to a plastic grocery bag; check for holes before you add the liquid, or double up the bags. Mix the glue and water mixture, then add the felt piece; use your hands to press and turn the felt in the mixture until it is completely soaked.

When the felt piece is completely soaked with the glue mixture, remove it from the bag and place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Wring out the excess glue and lay the felt flat on the wax paper; blot out any excess glue with a paper towel. Use your hands to smooth the felt until it is completely flat. Leave the felt on the baking sheet and let dry overnight (or until dry and stiff).

Remove the dry piece of felt from the baking sheet and fold it in half. Pin the template to the felt and cut the slits as shown, then unfold. Use a hole punch to add a hole in the center of each corner, and use yarn or ribbon (such as Grosgrain Ribbon, $1.19, Michaels) to tie the corners together; this will bring the edges of the felt together to form the basket shape. When each of the holes is tied, fill the basket with your favorite Easter goodies.