1. Begin the pop bottle Easter
basket by cleaning out the 2 liter pop
bottle. Cut and retain the bottom 4 inches of the bottle. This will be
the bottom of the basket. From the top section, cut out a strip of
plastic one inch thick, going around the bottom. This will be the
basket’s handle. It is already bent to the curved shape for the handle.

2. Take the 20 inch diameter fabric and push it
inside the 4 inch basket. You are making the lining of the basket. Put
a rubberband around the outside of it to keep it in place. Trim off any
excess fabric.

3. Prepare your 12
inch circle of fabric. The lace trim can be sewed on, or glued on. Or,
if you prefer, skip the lace trim and cut the fabric with some pinking
shears for a nice trim without the hassle. Also prepare the 6 inch
diameter piece of batting.

4. Assemble the basket layers. First, put the 12
inch circle of fabric with trim with the wrong side of fabric facing
up, on the table. On top of this place the 6 inch circle of batting. On
top of this, place the basket with the lining. Have a rubberband ready.
Now, wrap the 12 inch circle of fabric on the bottom up and along the
sides of the basket. The batting makes it soft and rounder. Use the
rubberband to hold in place.

5.
To make the handle, place the 1 inch plastic strip on top of the 14” x
2” fabric strip you have. You will need to anchor the sides with
something heavy, since the strip rolls up on its own. Make sure you
have the curve of the strip pointing down, or concave. Place regular
white glue all along the plastic strip, and fold over the fabric on
each side of the strip to conceal the plastic entirely. Weight it down
while it dries. NOTE: Do not use a hot glue gun, it will melt the
plastic. Usually the fabric for the handle matches the fabric of the
outside of the basket, but here I used a darker color.

6.
When the handle dries, staple each end to the outside of the plastic
bottle, stapling through the fabric lining, but inside of the outside
fabric, so you can’t see the staples.

7.
Add a pretty ribbon and tie a bow around the basket to conceal the
rubberband. Wasn’t that easy?
Below right
is another example of a pop bottle Easter basket my mother made.
