How to Sew a Bike Basket Liner

This bike basket liner tutorial was originally written for Laura Ashley’s Make and Do Blog in 2015.

The fabric used in this post was gifted.

Got a cute bike with a basket? Can you just about work your way around a sewing machine? Do you need a must-have bike basket liner to take your cute bike to new heights? Well, look no further!

To make the liner, you will need to create paper pattern. Once made, you will always have it to hand to create more liners, so it’s well worth hanging on to.

rolls of fabric lie next to a sewing machine

a selection of fabric next to a sewing machine

You will need…

A measuring tape
Dot and cross paper
Greaseproof paper/tracing paper
Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Sewing machine
Pins
Thread
Fabric (I used Laura Ashley’s Pink Painterly Cotton Fabric and Oriental Garden. Both were gifted)

My Victoria Pendleton basket has an oval bottom and the top edge of the basket is slightly larger than the bottom. To create the pattern for my bike basket liner, I traced around the bottom of the basket onto the greaseproof paper and cut out the shape. To refine the shape, I placed the cut shape into the bottom of the basket and trimmed it until it fit perfectly into the base. For the sides, I measured the circumference of the base, the top edge circumference and measured the depth of the basket too. These measurements are all you need to create the side pieces.

Now for the measuring

So, starting with the base circumference (87cm), I divided the figure by two (43.5cm) and added two centimetres on for the 1cm seam allowance on each side (45.5cm). I used dot and cross paper to map out the pattern to ensure straight lines. I drew out my bottom line and then used the basket depth figure to inform where the top of the basket line should run. Here, I divided the top circumference (107cm) by 2 (53.5cm) and added on 2cms for seam allowance and drew out the 55.5cm top line, ensuring that the centre point of each line was matched up. I then measured 13cms up again and marked a line where the fabric will end. Now, with three horizontal lines mapped out on the paper, I used a ruler to connect the ends of each line, creating a trapezium shape.

Once this is cut out, you need to remove a wedge from the top corners. This will allows the liner to fit around handles and helps it be securely fastened with ties. I placed a ruler vertically from the top edge of the basket measurement to where the edge of the fabric will be, marked it and cut off the corners.

Time to pin

I pinned the oval base shape to the fabric and cut out the fabric 1cm larger than the pattern, to allow for a seam allowance. The side shapes were just pinned to the fabric and cut out, as seam allowance is included in the pattern

I also cut out two long strips of fabric (4cm x 101cm) for the ties and a square piece, measuring (16.5cm x 16.5cm) for the pocket. You can make you bike basket liner pocket any size you like.

Let’s get sewing

Before I started to construct the liner, I sewed a zigzag stitch all around the edges of the main pieces. This stops the fabric from fraying in the wash.

I then pinned the two side pieces right side to right side, only on the angled section of the side seam, like in the picture below. This section was then stitched with a 1cm seam allowance, taking care to backstitch the start and end of the seam.

Now for the top part of the seams, where the wedge was removed, use the iron to press a-small double fold hem onto each side and pin before sewing.

Time for the pocket

You can make your pocket any size you desire. Take your pre-cut shape and double hem all four sides. Position the pocket in the liner, taking care to ensure that it sits low enough in the basket and pin and stitch into place on three sides, leaving the top open to slip in whatever you need.

For the top, first you need to make the ties that will secure the liner onto the basket. Use the iron to press the fabric strip in half. Then fold each side into the middle and again press well before sewing together.

a close up of the fabric pressed ready to sew ties

a close up of a sewing machine stitching a seam on the ties for a bike basket liner

Now, along the top edge of the sides. Fold a small hem and press and then fold again ensuring enough space for the ties to fit and stitch into place, creating a channel for the ties to run inside of.

Once the channel has been created, I attached a safety pin to one end of the ties and fed it though the space. Now it’s time to turn your attention to securing the base of the liner to the sides.

Pin the base onto the sides

To do this, I folded the circle piece in half and marked the half-way fold and then folded it the other way and marked again. When attaching the base, I matched up the marks with the seams on the side pieces. I then pinned all the way round, ensuring the fabric was evenly spread.

Once in place, I stitched a 1cm seam all around the circumference, removing the pins I went.

Once finished, the liner will just slip into place and can be secured with the ties

Your bike basket liner is complete

So all that you now need is an obligatory bunch or flowers and a free hour to cycle around feeling oh so instagrammable and super proud of your handmade bike basket liner.