Hello friends! We have another great scrap buster for you today! Saki is joining us again to share this awesome tutorial for a DIY plant bucket that you can use to dress up your house plants. You can also use these handy fabric buckets for storage or knitting, and they make excellent gifts!
About the author: Saki Jane has been sewing for over two decades, with a background in fashion and bridal design. Now, she finds pleasure in crafting her own wardrobe and sharing the joy of sewing with others through workshops and tutorials. You can find her work on Instagram @sakijane and at her blog at sakijane.com.
Hey sewing friends! Saki here with a confession. For years, I was super envious of those people who seemed to effortlessly live in plant-filled homes. I longed for the ability to brighten up my space with interesting and architectural houseplants, but me and my black thumb inevitably killed every green thing that had the misfortune of coming home with me.
One day, I had the realization that since I already treated my cat like it was my child, I could promote my plants to pet-status and treat them like pets. Then—just maybe—I could keep them alive! Spoiler: it worked. Now, every room in my house is peppered with houseplants.
And as spring is fast approaching (or at least I like to think it is), many plants are going to need to be transplanted into new homes. What better time to make a little something special for our plant pets than Spring? With two scraps of fabric and just five(!) seams, you can give them a new way to shine during their growing season!
For this project, you’ll need a 6” potted plant and saucer, two 21.5” x 11” fabric scraps (one outer fabric and one inner that will show at the top), a measuring tape or ruler, and the usual suspects (an iron and ironing board, sewing machine, scissors, thread, and pins).
Want to make a plant bucket in your own custom size? No problem! Just follow this equation* to determine the size of your fabric:
Step 1) Measure the circumference of the widest part of your pot or plant saucer, whichever is greater. Add 4 inches. You now have the width of your fabric piece.
Step 2) Measure the height of your pot. Multiply this number by 1.5.
Step 3) Now, separately, measure the diameter of your pot and divide that by two. If your plant saucer is wider than your pot, you’ll want to use the diameter of your saucer instead. Add this number to the number you got in Step 2. This is the height of your fabric scrap.
Step 4) Cut two pieces of fabric with the dimensions you got at the end of Step 1 x Step 2. (Hot tip: tear your fabric as outlined in this pencil case tutorial.) Your seam allowances are already built-in. Tada!
*While there are points at which this equation breaks (for example, an extremely tiny or large pot), this should work for most small to mid-sized plant pots.
Now that we’ve all gotten our fabric scrap measurements squared away, let’s begin!
With the right sides of your fabric facing, sew one of the long edges with a 3/8” seam allowance. Press the seam to either side.
Next, fold the fabric with the right sides together so that the other two sides meet, making sure to match the corners and the seamline. Stitch along the edge with a ⅜” seam allowance. Press the seam open. You should now have a long tube with all the seams facing out.
Flip the inner fabric over the outer fabric (my inner is the Ikat and the outer is the stripes). The finished end of the tube will be the top edge of your plant bucket.
Center the seam line so it isn’t sitting on the side and flatten the tube like an empty roll of toilet paper you are about the recycle. Yes, I felt as weird typing that as you did reading it, but it helped you visualize it, didn’t it? Making sure that your seamlines on the lining and outer match up, pin the entire bottom of the tube shut. Stitch through all layers with a ⅜” seam allowance. Take caution that the inside of the layers are not pleating themselves as you sew. Optionally, zigzag stitch or overlock here to prevent fraying.
This part is little Origami-like, but nothing you can’t handle. Stick your hand in the open side of the bucket, turn it on its side, and flatten the opening of the tube. Continue to flatten down the tube until the bottom flattens itself into a square.
Two corners of the square have the bottom seam coming out of it. Measure and mark a stitching line 2.5” from these corners, running perpendicular to the bottom seam. Stitch along this marking. For those that went rogue with their own measurements, you’ll divide the width of your bottom edge by 4, and use that measurement instead of 2.5”.
Trim off the excess seam allowance, and optionally overlock or zigzag to finish the seam.
Turn your bucket right-side-out, and cuff the top down. Place your saucer inside and your pot on top. Congrats on your new plant bucket! What other uses can you think of for these easy fabric buckets?
