The Petit Four Basket from By Annie.  It's easier to make than you might think, and it goes together quickly.  

There isn't enough time for me to list everything I've put in these Petit Four Baskets for gifts.  I've filled them with wrapped cookies, added a ribbon and a tag.  Sewing friends have received a basket filled with favorite sewing notions, or a "binding kit".  A budding artist received a basket filled with small notebooks and colored gel pens. (What is it about little girls and pens?) 

They can be filled, tied with a pretty ribbon and it's a pretty gift.  They're beautiful put into a cellophane bag because the pretty fabric shows.  Embellish the baskets with labels, twill tape or ribbon, quilting and fancy edge-stitching.

The first basket will take the longest to make - it always does.  Once you've made a few, you'll be able to make one from start to finish in about fifteen minutes.  (Probably less.)

Let Annie Unrein show you how to make a Petit Four Basket.

Supply List:

• Petit Four Basket Pattern from By Annie - it's free.
• 10" x 11" piece of Soft & Stable Stabilizer - also from By Annie
• 2 Layer Cake squares - or two squares 10" x 10"
• Sewing machine - walking foot recommended.
• Steam iron and ironing board
• 12½" x 12½" square ruler is recommended - others will work, this one makes it easy.  (I use this Olfa Frosted 12.5" ruler.)
• Chalk markers - I use Clover's Chaco Pen Style Markers, I recommend Silver, White and Yellow.
• Pins or Wonder Clips
• Thread to match fabrics
• Stiletto - optional but recommended
• Scissors and/or snips

I also use a 10" x 10" square of Pellon's SF 101 Shape Flex Lightweight Woven Fusible Interfacing to line the inner basket piece.  I think it gives it a smoother finish.  Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the 10" x 10" square of fabric, and then follow the instructions to complete the basket.

In addition to the pattern, By Annie has a terrific Petit Four Add-On video showing how the basket is made.  It's also free.  The video is also why there isn't more to this blog post.  

If you're still not persuaded...

So get your favorite Christmas Layer Cake, a package of Soft & Stable, and let's make some Petit Four Baskets.  I used squares from Lella Boutique's Christmas Morning, BasicGrey's Hustle & Bustle, and Me & My Sister's Merry & Bright.  (Christmas Morning and Merry & Bright are in shops now, Hustle & Bustle will be there later this month.)

One Layer Cake?  You can make twenty-one baskets.  For more ideas on what to fill the baskets with - #petitfourbasket

Just in case you missed it, here is the link to the pattern - Petit Four Basket from ByAnnie

Though you might also want to save a few squares for another one of my favorite things to make with Layer Cake squares.

Now that I think about it, you might want to get a big package of Soft & Stable.