Sewing Room Projects - Part Two: Fabric Bins
These bins are great for holding/organizing just about everything! Easily made into any size or any color combo, you could find a use for one in every room. Use them to organize fabric, yarn, projects, finished quilts, special stashes... literally anything.
I've been wanting to make a couple for my sewing room to help tie my style into the room.
These fabric bins are also my go-to for gift baskets!
MATERIALS
To make the large fabric bin, you will need:
- 5/8 yard of Insignia in Navy (lining)
- 1/2 yard of Maker Maker Grid in White (exterior)
- 1/2 yard of fusible fleece
- 1 yard of lightweight interfacing
- One spool of Aurifil 50wt thread in Light Sand 2000
*If your fabric selections are non-directional, you'll need 1/2 yard. If they are directional, you'll need 5/8 yard*
You will also need:
- A rotary cutter
- A rotary cutting ruler
- Cutting Mat
- Fabric scissors
- Fabric marking pen
- Wonder Clips or pins
- A walking foot for the sewing machine
PATTERN
Finished size of the large fabric bin: 12 inches tall (with top folded down) x 9 1/2 inches wide x 8 inches deep
Finished size of the patchwork bin: 7 1/2 inches tall (with top folded down) x 7 inches wide x 6 inches deep
The tutorial follows the large fabric bin. There are instructions at the end of the post for the patchwork version.
CUT
Cut two 18 x 20 inch rectangles from the lining, exterior, fusible fleece and interfacing.
SEW
Following the fusible fleece instructions, iron the fleece to the wrong sides of each exterior fabric piece.
Following the interfacing instructions, iron on to the wrong sides of each lining piece.
On the wrong side of each lining and exterior piece, draw a line 1 inch down from the top (one of the 18 inch edges) and going across the entire piece.
I knew I wanted the top of my finished fabric bin folded over, so I actually made the direction of the lining print face upside down, so that it would be right side up when folded over. So, while working with the lining pieces, the print looks like it is going the wrong direction.
Now, press the top edge of the fabric down to the marked line. Repeat for each lining and exterior piece.
Unfold pressed edge, and with right sides together, pin lining pieces around sides and bottom.
Stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, backstitching at beginning and end. Repress the top edge so its nice and flat. Press side seams as best you can. I like to iron over the seams I just stitched, and then sort of finger press the seam allowance to one side.
Repeat with exterior pieces.
To form the box bottom, start with a bottom corner of the lining. Pull the pieces away from each other and line up side and bottom seams. Flatten to form a triangle, and pin in place.
Draw a line 4 inches up from the bottom point (where the stitching starts).
Stitch across the line. Trim to a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Repeat these steps for the opposite lining corner and both exterior corners.
Turn exterior piece right side out. Lining piece should be inside out.
Now, insert the lining into the exterior.
Starting at the side seams, line up the top folded edge of the lining with the top folded edge of the exterior. Clip or pin in place.
Stitch around top edge with a 1/8 seam allowance. Fold the top of the bin down 3 inches so the lining is showing on the outside, or leave as is.
Fill your new fabric bin with goodies!
My large fabric bin will hold some of my bulkier yarn!
PATCHWORK VERSION
I wanted a smaller fabric bin to keep on my ironing board table, so I used the leftover Early Bird charm squares from my chair cushion project to make this patchwork version.
To make the patchwork fabric bin, you will need:
- Early Bird by Kate Spain charm pack or 18 left over squares (lining)
- 1/2 yard of Maker Maker Grid in White (exterior)
- 1/2 yard of fusible fleece
- 1 yard of lightweight interfacing
- One spool of Aurifil 50wt thread in Light Sand 2000
CUT
Cut two 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 inch rectangles from the exterior, fusible fleece and interfacing.
SEW
To make the patchwork lining pieces, sew 9 squares together in a block of 3 x 3. Make two blocks. These are now the lining pieces.
Follow the tutorial above to complete the fabric bin. The only change will be in making the box bottom. After the 'triangles' are pinned in place, when drawing the stitch line, only go up 3 inches from the point.
My patchwork fabric bin will live on my ironing board table, and it will hold fabrics for the next project I'm planning.
I hope you find as many uses for these as I do :) Enjoy!