Trash Bag Tutorial/Pattern

As requested, here is the tutorial/pattern for the trash bag I made recently.

You will need two 10.5" by 12.5" pieces for the outside and two for the lining. In addition, you'll need a 10.5" by 2" piece of fabric (or 10.5" length of ribbon) for the hanger. I used fabric for the outside and hanger and an old flannel backed vinyl tablecloth for the lining. Feel free to use fabric or oil cloth or some of the great new laminates for your liner. (Warning: If you use an inexpensive vinyl tablecloth, don't iron it! One guess how I know.)

If you are using fabric for you lining you may also want to add something to the top to help the bag stay open better. I suggest fish tank airline (you can get 25' at Walmart for about $3) but anything narrow and flexible but holds it's shape would work. I don't address how to do this in this tutorial because I didn't use fabric for the lining. If you need help with this just ask in the comments and be sure that you include an email address if you are a "no-reply" blogger or anonymous.

Step 1: Cut your pieces. My outside fabric is on the left, lining on the right and hanger at the bottom.

I'm making this one for my husband. He selected the fabrics. He didn't have much choice of old tablecloths but this one is "less girly" than the other one.

Step 2: For both the outside and the lining, with right sides together, start sewing at the top of one of the long sides using a 1/4" seam, (I like to back stitch a few stitches at the top since you will be turning this edge later) sew the length of the side and stop 1/4" from the bottom. With your needle down in the fabrics, pivot and sew the bottom closed. Stop sewing 1/4" from the other long side, pivot and sew to the top, back stitch a few stitches. It should look like this.

I'm just showing you the lining because I used black thread so it doesn't show well on my outside fabric. But you need to do this step for both the outside and the lining.

Step 3: (If you are using ribbon you can skip to step 6.) Now we'll make the hanger. Press your 10.5" by 2" piece of fabric in half lengthwise and open it back out.

Step 4: Press both edges to the middle line you pressed in step 3. (Note: the pins are just for the photo, you don't need to pin)

Step 5: Press in half again on the first fold from step 3 and top stitch both long edges.

Now you should have three pieces, the hanger, the outside sewn on three edges and the lining sewn on three edges. The sun is not cooperating and these middle pictures are pretty dark. Sorry!

Step 6: Boxing the bottom corners. Stick your hand inside the lining and push out one of the bottom corners. Line up the sewn side seam and bottom seam. These should match up exactly, or as closely as possible. This is just a trash bag so don't sweat it too much! Take a small square (or any ruler you have handy) and measure from the corner 1.25". A pin (underneath the ruler in the photo below) may help hold everything in place.

Step 7: Draw a line. Your line should be 1.25" in from the corner and a little more than 2" long.

Step 8: Sew on your drawn line.

Step 9: Cut off the corner 1/4" away from your sewn line.

Do steps 6 - 9 for the other bottom lining corner and the two bottom corners of the outside.

Step 10: Turn under the top edge of both the lining and the outside about 1/2".

Step 11: Turn your outside right side out. Don't do this for the lining. Then pin your hanger to the back of your outside. I just picked one side to be the back and pinned the hanger halfway between the side seams. Test to make sure that your hanger is the right length for where ever you plan to hang it. Mine is going in our camper.

If necessary, adjust the hanger so that it will fit nicely over what ever you plan to hang it off of.

Step 12: Sew the hanger in place. You could just pin it but honestly, this is easier for me. And it adds a little extra stability to the hanger.

If there is a lot of extra hanger inside your bag you can trim it off.

Step 13: Put the lining inside your outside bag. Line up the side seams and pin.

Then put a few more pins around the top to hold everything in place while you sew them together.

Step 14: Sew the lining to the outside bag along the top edge. I start at one of the side seams.

Don't rush this step. You will need to adjust everything often and the pins sometimes catch on your machine. Just go slow and everything will work out. If you see that you are starting to get a pucker try to smooth the extra fabric toward the inside of the bag.

Step 15: Hang up your bag. Admire your work! And start using it.

Let's beautify our sewing rooms, campers, cars, etc. one pretty trash bag at a time! If you have any questions please ask in the comments. If you want me to respond directly to you be sure that you aren't a "no-reply" blogger or that I have an email address for you. Otherwise I will still answer your question, but in the comments. So you'll have to check back for the answer to your question.