I’m addicted to making fabric storage bins. How about you?
I made smaller versions of these last year and have always wanted larger ones. I finally had a few free hours to work on the pattern and get a few made. I love how they turned out and how they look with the top edge rolled down. And they are reversible too!
Wouldn’t they make an awesome baby shower or house warming gift? Fill it with a bunch of goodies and you are good to go..The only problem I see is that if you make one to give as a gift, you may decide to keep it at the last moment. I’ve done this before.
The finished size is 8.5″L x 9″W x 7″H
Supplies Needed:
- Cotton fabric outside – 1/2 yard
- Cotton fabric lining – 1/2 yard
- Pellon Décor-Bond 809 – 1 yard
- Sewing machine and related supplies
- Rotary cutter, cutting mat, quilting rotary cutting ruler
- Disappearing ink pen
- Iron and ironing board
Before we get started, you will need to complete the following:
- Cut your fabric – cut 2 rectangles measuring 18″ x 24″ from the outside and lining fabrics. Repeat and cut another 2 rectangles from the Pellon Décor-Bond 809.
- Fuse the Décor-Bond to the wrong side of the main and lining fabrics.
Alright, let’s get sewing your simple fabric bin!
- Fold the rectangle in half, to measure 18″ x 12.” Pin along sides if needed. Place into sewing machine and stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance.
- Press side seams while closed. Open and press again.
- Sew those boxed corners! Start with the main fabric. Wiggle the fabric around so that the side seams are facing upwards. Make a point and also make sure that the sides sit at a 45 degree angle. Finger press any wrinkles out. Measure 4″ upwards from the tip and mark a dashed line with a disappearing ink pen. Pin. Place into sewing machine and stitch following the dashed line. Backstitch. Repeat for the other side and again for the lining fabric.
- Place the quilting ruler onto the corner. Lay the ruler so you have a 1/2″ seam allowance. Cut along the ruler edge using a rotary cutter [ you will cut the tip off]. Repeat for the other side and again for the lining fabric.
- Turn project so they sit as bins. Main bin is facing right side in and lining bin is facing right side out. Place the lining bin into the main bin. Wiggle the corners into place. Make sure side seams match up. Pin around the top edge. Place into the sewing machine and stitch together with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Leave a 4″ opening near a side seam. Press with an iron.
- Gently pull the bin through the 4″ opening.
- Wiggle the fabric into place. Roll down top edge to sit into place and make sure all corners match. Press along top edge with an iron, turn the 4″ opening seam allowance under. Press in place. Pin if needed. Place into the sewing machine and edgestitch along the entire top edge.
- Press the bin with an iron.
That’s it! Easy right? Well I have great news.. This project is available over at the Pellon Projects website. Click here to head on over to get the PDF. You can save the tutorial and print it later.
Want to sew other reversible projects? How about a great everyday bag? Click here for my Reversible Tote Tutorial.
Fabric reference.. I LOVE this fabric. I bought a bunch of coordinating fabric from this collection. It is from Moda Fabrics and called “Shades of Black” by Me and My Sister Designs.
I love the fabric, too! This looks like an awesome way to stay organized, I’m so messy. 🙂
catscraftsncritters.blogspot.ca
Hi Amy, They are a great landing spot for all the clutter in our house. I might even put one on our stairs to catch the clutter there. They fit perfectly on the tread!
Amazing! So pretty. You’re right that they’re ideal gift baskets.
On another note, I made cheerleader t-shirts for my daughter’s bday party last week with homemade appliqué – my first time. It worked perfectly, and although I didn’t use a pattern you created to do it, you definitely inspired confidence in me so that I wasn’t afraid to make rather than buy. Thanks!!
Hey Ann,
That is awesome! I’m so happy that I helped inspire you to applique and it worked out! Yay! Ps The shrimp salad on your blog looks amazing!!
I want these all over my house!
If you are nice to me.. I might bring one for you when I see you on our girls trip next month! 🙂
These are lovely and your tutorial is so clear – fantastic.
Hi – Thank you for stopping by, I’m glad to hear my tutorial is clear and seems easy to make 🙂
hi marni! this is sooo beautiful! love your choice of fabrics! thank you for sharing! =)
Thanks for stopping by. I love the DIY picture farm on your blog today.. The colors you chose are great!
Hey Girl! It’s Deonna from the Child at Heart blog! I would love for you to link up at our party this week and share your great idea! http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/link-party-with-morganize-with-me.html
Sounds great! Thanks for stopping over. I’ll look into your blog and link party now 🙂
Thank you for the tutorial! I’m new to machine sewing and this looks like a great project to start with! Beautiful choices of fabric! Love them! 🙂
This is adorable! So perfect for craft room storage. I love that they are reversible. I’ve pinned this project to my sewing to do list!
I could use these in every room of my house! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-reversible-fabric-storage-baskets/2014/04/09/
–Anne
I’ve been looking for such a tutorial for quite a long time now, so thank you for sharing! Nice choice of fabric, I’m definitely going to make one… or more! 🙂
Thank you! I’m glad the tutorial works for you.. It’s easy as well, so many bins can be made in a weekend.
I love what you created! Any sort of bin makes me happy, especially one that you can customize. Your blog is beautiful and because I like to sew, this is going to be an excellent spot for me to hang out. Thanks for linking up with me and Deonna!
What is the finished size? Could you tell me how to make a large one to hold a bunch of magazines?
Hi – the finished size is 8.5″L x 9″W x 7″H. Magazines will sit in this nicely, however, they won’t stay standing up in my bin. It isn’t sturdy enough with just cotton fabric and the Décor-Bond 809 fused to each side. Try using a heavier weight fabric with the decor bond on each side and bet it will work. Let me know how it goes.
This is so fun and perfect for the huge amounts of fabric in my stash that would be nice as a lining OR the main fabric! Also, congrats because you are featured on this week’s Do Tell Tuesday link party and have been pinned to our features board! Feel free to grab a button and link up this week too. 🙂 http://www.vintagezest.com/2014/04/do-tell-tuesday-19-with-features.html
Diane @ Vintage Zest
I featured you from the Morganize with Me link party: http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/my-favorites-from-link-party-with.html
If you haven’t signed up for my giveaway this month please come by! Have a joyful day 🙂
http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/spring-statement-necklaces-from.html
Thank you! I’ll come on over and check it out. Have a great week-end.
Hey! I love this! Just wanted to let you know I featured you on my blog this morning! http://mommylikewhoa.com/2014/04/best-internet-volume-7/
Thank you! I’ll head on over and check out your blog. 🙂
Thank you Marni for the great post! I’d like to make a bunch of these beautiful bins – any suggestions on how to calculate fabric dimensions if I want bins of different sizes than what you have here?
Hi – Thanks for stopping by. I’m working on a post for a larger size and hope to share this week or next. I have a tutorial for small ones here – http://haberdasheryfun.com/diy-projects/diy-easy-fabric-storage-bin. Good idea for a post – I can share the dimensions for a bunch of sizes. Thank you -I will do this soon 🙂
Thank you for the quick response! I can’t wait for the dimensions! Also, I came across another blog where they suggest using plastic canvas (in addition to interfacing) as a stiffener on bins – what’s your take on this?
Hi – I’m not sure what plastic canvas is.. I’ve used many different products from Pellon. The last one I found is called Decor Bond 809 and it works great – it really makes a light cotton fabric quite stiff. The larger the bin, the more interfacing needed. For a large bin I would use a thicker lining fabric like cotton canvas. If you also interface the cotton canvas lining it will be quite sturdy.
Check out my plate and halloween bowl tutorials.. Theses are round and they use cotton canvas and I like how they turned out:
Plate: http://haberdasheryfun.com/fabric/diy-party-plate-storage-tote
Halloween Candy Bowl:http://haberdasheryfun.com/diy-projects/diy-halloween-candy-bowl
Thanks so much for sharing this great tutorial!
Lynsey x
I love how easy this looks and sounds. I recently got a sewing machine and this looks like the perfect thing to make till I get better! Thank you!
That’s awesome to hear.. yes, this is a perfect first project. You can finish it in a few hours. Let me know how it goes – I’d love to see pictures of your finished project!
Can you tell me what step I could take to add some handles?
Hi- Thanks for stopping by.
If you want to add straps, add them just before step 5. Mark strap placement on either side of the seam – approx 2″ out from each seam. Repeat for the other side. Pin in place. Make sure that the straps hang DOWN/towards the inside of the bin. Now continue with step 5 and place the lining bin into the main bin… When you sew around the top edge, you will sew the straps into place. When you turn the bag right side out the straps will come out facing up.
Let me know if this makes sense and how it goes! Thanks again for stopping by and have a great day. 🙂
Alas! I made this (great tutorial), but I guess it was a pattern that depended on a particular type of interfacing. Mine’s lovely in theory, but terroibly floppy… (I have only a small sew shop near me.)
Great tutorial. The pictures were very helpful. The hardest part was turning the whole thing right sides out!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comments. Once you pull the bag right side out, it works and looks awesome.. Isn’t it so satisfying? 🙂
Awesome tutorial! If I want to make a taller bin would I add inches to the 18″ side correct?
Hi – Thanks for stopping by :). No it would be the other side — lengthen the 24″ side. Think about adding a bit to the 18″ side at the same time. But I would test out the dimensions before cutting. Try different dimensions on a piece of fabric or even paper to see if you like the shape. Pin as if you are sewing and it will give you an idea of what it will look like.
i don’t know where I went wrong– but do you connect the two outside and inside pieces before sewing the sides and boxing the corners? I did the one piece and now I’m wondering why I cut two of the lining and two of the outside pieces? From the looks of it I’ll only use one of each?!
Hi Kate – You do need 2 outside and 2 lining pieces.
#1 – Start by placing the outside fabric right sides together. Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2″ SA. Press with an iron. Turn and twist so you can box the bottom corners.You now have the outside portion of the tote ready. Set aside
#2 – Repeat and do the same for the lining.
#3 – Leave the outside right side facing out, make the lining right side facing in. Place the lining inside the outside fabric. Match along the top edge, make sure the bottom corners match.
#4 – Pin along the top edge about 2″ down. NOW you connect the 2 together along the top edge with the webbing.
Hope this helps, let me know how it goes.
Marni
That makes sense. I don’t know why I didn’t get it the first time. Now to find more fabric so I can re-do the lining! Thanks for responding.
thank you so much! i love your tutorials. Just did this bin for my cats toys. came out so awesome
Hi – Thanks for sharing. Your 3 bins are wonderful and so in the holiday spirit!