Silver-Coated Lined Basket Centerpiece

Dress up plain woven bread baskets by painting them a single, glistening shade and fitting colorful fabric inside. For a lush centerpiece, insert a plastic liner, and fill with a mix of neutral, silvery-leafed plants along with flowers in deep purples and soft magentas. Here, we used mums, dusty miller, viburnum, globe thistle, cabbage rosettes, and kale leaves -- all inexpensive and readily available in fall.

Most baskets are slightly wider at the top than at the bottom, so the liners should follow suit. With four darts in the side-wall fabric where it meets the base fabric, you can create a snug fit.

Tools and Materials

Basket
Metallic spray paint
Fabric, such as linen
Tape measure
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Needle and thread

Silver-Coated Lined Basket Centerpiece How-To

1. Coat basket lightly with spray paint; let dry.

2. Cut out a fabric circle with a diameter 1/2 inch larger than that of the bottom of basket. Cut out a fabric rectangle on the bias: The length should be 1 inch longer than the circumference of the top of basket; the width should be 1 1/2 inches longer than basket's height.

3. Fold rectangle, right side up, so short sides meet; pin together to make a loop.

4. Stitch loop with 1/2-inch seam allowance.

5. To attach loop to fabric circle, first gather excess fabric at the bottom of loop in 4 even darts, so the circumference of the base of loop is the same as that of the fabric circle; pin darts to secure.

6. Pin base of loop to fabric circle, right side up, so the edges of both pieces meet around the entire perimeter.

7. Stitch perimeter with 1/2-inch seam allowance.

8. Turn liner right side out, and place in basket.

9. Fold excess fabric over the rim. Turn edges under 1/2 inch, and pin around the perimeter.

10. With doubled thread and slip stitches, sew, pulling thread through basket every couple of stitches to secure.