How to Make a Chicken Basket

I really wanted to create this adorable chicken basket.  I found many examples of this pattern online but couldn’t actually find the pattern so I created one.  This chicken basket is just too cute and the perfect accompaniment to any country kitchen.  It is a simple sewing project that anyone with basic sewing skills can make. There are a few steps in this one but each step is simple to do so don’t be intimidated by this project.  There is both machine and hand sewing in this project so you will have to get out your needle and thread.  This is a good time to brush up on your ladder stitching skills.  I will include a video on how to do ladder stitch if you are not familiar with that stitch.

I used quilting cotton and fusible fleece to create my chicken basket.  This project does not require a lot of fabric so I used remnants that I purchased at JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores as well as the fusible fleece.  Of course you can head over to Hobby Lobby or Fabric.com to get exactly what you need for your chicken basket.  This post contains affiliate links that if you click on them and make a purchase I will receive a s small commission at no extra cost to you. If you would like to make the fabric eggs in the basket checkout my fabric Easter egg post here.  

What you will Need:  How to Make a Chicken Basket

• Pattern you can get by clicking this link
• 1/4 yd outer and lining fabric
• 1/4 yd fusible fleece
• 1/8 yd of white for the head
• scraps of red for the comb and wattle
• Scrap of yellow for the beak
• 2 black safety eyes
• scraps of fiberfill

Step 1: Print the Pattern

There are four pieces to the main part of the chicken.  There is the head piece, two pieces for the body and the bottom.  Tape the two body pieces together by abutting the edges. In addition there are pieces for the beak, the comb, the wattle and the cushion for the head. To cut the head, measure down from the top of the head 6″ and make a dot. Draw a diagonal line through the dot from the front of the neck to the back of the neck so that the line is sloping upward toward the back. Then cut the neck off at that point. This will create the head pattern.

Step 2: Cut the fabrics

Cut two each from the outer and lining of the body. Cut two white pieces for the outer head and two lining pieces for the lining head.  You should cut one bottom piece from each of the lining, outer  and fleece pieces.  From the comb and waddle cut two pieces each.  Cut two pieces of white for the head cushion.   Cut one piece for the beak.

Step 3: Create the Beak, Comb, Waddle and cushion

Place each corresponding piece right sides together and stitch all the way around leaving the bottoms open.  Stuff with a small amount of fiberfill and stitch the bottom closed so that there is a excess fabric that you can attach to the body of the chicken as shown.  For the beak simply fold it in half and stitch along the side and turn right sides out.

Step 4: Add the head to the body

Take the white head piece and place it right sides together with the body piece and stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Do this for both body pieces.  Repeat for the lining pieces as well. Once you have added the head to the body cut two pieces of fleece in the shape of the head and body making sure that you will be able to fuse the fleece appropriately on both pieces.

Step 5: Fuse the fleece

Fuse the fleece to the body and the bottom of the chicken basket pieces following the manufacturers instructions.

Step 6: Stitch the lining to the outer pieces

With right sides together stitch each body piece and the bottom to its corresponding lining piece leaving a small opening for turning.  Clip any curves so that the pieces lay flat after turning. Turn the pieces right sides out and press.  Stitch the openings closed using ladder stitch.  If you are unfamiliar with ladder stitch check out this video.

Step 7: Add the Beak, comb and waddle

Place the beak, comb and waddle to their corresponding places on one of the body pieces on the lining side using the flat part of the fabric that you left when you created them.  Stitch.

Step 8: Put the pieces together

Stitch the front and back of the body pieces together using ladder stitch.  Add the cushion you created to the head.  Stitch the back of the head closed using ladder stitch.  Sew the bottom to the body also using ladder stitch.

Step 9: Add the Safety Eyes

Add the eyes and you have completed your adorable chicken basket.

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