Saturday Sewing – Fabric Trash Bag

This fabric trash bag is perfect to hang by your sewing machine to collect all those threads and bits, or even hang in your car for handy access. It’s a perfect beginner project, and eco-friendly, too!

Materials Needed:

2 x 12” x 12” outside cotton fabric

2 x12” x 12” lining cotton fabric

2 x 12” x 12” fusible interfacing or fusible fleece for a sturdier bag

1 x 15″ ricrac or ribbon for the loop from which to hang the bag

Assembly Instructions

• Iron the interfacing or fusible fleece to the wrong side of the 2 outer fabric pieces.

• With Right Sides Together (RST) sew three sides with a ¼ ” seam allowance.

• Box the corners by folding and matching the side seam with the bottom seam. Draw a line 1 1/2” up from the corner. Sew on that line.

• Trim the seam allowance to 1/4″ then turn the bag right side out. Use a point turner or stiletto to poke out the corners.

• Repeat the same steps for sewing the 2 lining fabrics right sides together, but leave a 3” opening along the bottom. It’s helpful to mark the opening with pins as a reminder to stop sewing, and backstitch or lock stitch when you get to each pin.

• Repeat the steps for boxing the corners, but not turn the lining right sides out.

• Fold the ricrac, or ribbon in half and place the cut ends at the top of the outside fabric piece. Pin or baste in place, making sure the fold is positioned toward the bottom of the bag.

• Place the outer bag inside the lining, making sure fabrics are right sides together. Nest the side seams together by finger pressing the seam allowances in opposite directions. Pin or use clips to hold in place. Align the cut edges across the top and pin in place. Sew around the top edge using a ¼” seam allowance.

• Pull the outside bag through the hole at the bottom of the lining. 

• Tuck the lining into the outer bag, poking the corners of the lining into the corners of the outer bag.
• Topstitch around the bag ¼” from the edge.

• Now its ready to use however and wherever you wish!

Happy Sewing

Monique