Monday, January 31, 2011

Fabric Storage Bin for Baby Gift

I’ve learned so much by reading others' online tutorials I thought it was time to try my hand at one.  This is my first attempt at a tutorial so… please be kind!  




You will need:
2 fat quarters of your choice, one for the outside and one for the lining
1 “fat quarter” of batting
2  strips of heavy-weight Pellon, 2"x20" (opt)*

Trim the FQs to 16"x20"  (do not discard strips cut off the FQs; these will be used for the handles.)
Trim batting to 16”x19.5”
Center batting on outer fabric and smooth.



Fold one 16" side toward the other 16" side, right sides together and pin (optional) on the shorter sides, which now measure 10" each.



Stitch ¼” inch seams; repeat with lining fabric.

 

Mark a 2.5 inch square on each corner of the fold, and cut out; repeat on lining.



 

* I used a 2-inch strip of heavy-weight Pellon on the top edge of the lining fabric to give me a firm, sharp lining edge.  This is optional but I’ve made these bins w/o the Pellon and I don’t like the lining edge quite as well.


Now comes the difficult-to-explain-in-words part.  Open the cut-out square and bring edges together; pin.  Repeat on other end of outer fabric w/ batting.  Repeat with lining.



  

Bottoms together, match the openings of the outer fabric/batting to the lining and pin together.



Sew the outer fabric/batting to the lining to close the cut opening; repeat with other opening.  (“Why?” you ask? Because this will attach the lining to the outer fabric and the lining won’t be all loose and bunchy on the inside.)


 Turn the outer fabric/batting to the outside and your lining will be in the inside.


Fold the lining fabric over ¼” and pin.  Fold the outer fabric over the batting and pin.  Pin lining to outer fabric/batting.  I like to pin the lining just a tad below the edge of the outer fabric/batting… I think it gives a more finished edge but again… completely up to you.


Using the left over strips, make two “handles.”  I used a strip of batting to give a little body to the handles but make the handles however you choose.  Mine were about 10” long and 1.5” wide with the two fabrics.






Pin the handles to the ends of the bin between the outer fabric/batting and the lining.  I pinned the ends about a thumb’s width on each side of the end seam.



Once you have everything squared away, sew the lining to the outer fabric/batting.   



Press the top edge to give give the bin a clean professional look.  The finished bin is approximately 9” long x 6” wide x 7” high without the handles.



I like to fill the bin with diapers, a traveling case of baby wipes, and a tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. (I include the half-package of diapers that don't fit in the gift bag.)  You could fill it with whatever you'd like, of course.  The bin is machine washable and dry-able and you can make the bin w/o handles and any size you'd like for other purposes.  

You could piece fabric strips to make fat quarter-sized fabric, add rickrack or other trim, embroider initials or a name on the outside...  you're only limited by your imagination!




40 comments:

  1. Great tutorial! I can't believe it's your first one!! Fun project and it looks easy enough that even I could pull it off!! Cute!

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    1. Great Job. I love your tutorial. I will certainly be trying this project

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  2. That is Great!! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I love it...great tutorial and I love these fabric bags like this. I'll be making one of these for my new grandbaby (coming in April). Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I love it and I believe the instruction you wrote out and the pictures taken make me believe I can do this too. Thanks for such a great tutorial.

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  5. Love it! Think I will have to give this a try. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  6. This is a great idea! I'm always looking for new ideas of gifts to make, especially for baby showers. I love that it could really be used for anything, though.

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  7. fast easy project I am sure?!! Looks great and serve its purpose in style***** five stars!!

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  8. Thanks so much for linking to my blog party with this great tutorial. This basket can be used for so many things.
    Take care,
    ~Karen~

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  9. Cute idea and nice job on the tutorial! This would make a wonderful gift for those with little ones.

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  10. I followed your tute and created an adorable diaper bin for my brand new granddaughter. Thank you!

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  11. This is a great tutorial. Can't believe I've never noticed it before. In all my years of sewing and making 3-D items, i NEVER thought to sew the outer and lining boxed corners together! That is brilliant.

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  12. Very good tutorial! Love the pictures. Making 1 to hold - what else - fat quarters!

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  13. Just finished one for my granddaughter. Thanks so much for a great tutorial. The basket is extra cute in tinker bell materials

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  14. Thank you for the tutorial. I made mine for my 3 years old grandson, he could put some bedtime story books in there or his favor toys. Can't wait to give it to him. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Thanks for sharing! What a clever idea! These would make great gifts. The fact that they are washable and dryable are an added bonus.

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  16. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you ever so much. I'm going to make these cute baskets to colour coordinate my quilting fabric! Again, thanks so much!

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  17. Hey! Great to see a post from you! And this lil bag is precious! Nicely done~ Hang in there!
    \!!!/
    (o o)
    --ooO-(_)-O00--------

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  18. Hi, I finally tried your tutorial and I love how it turned out. It will be part of a birthday gift for my SIL. I am going to fill it with quilty stuff. I did make one change. It seemed like it was going to be kind of floppy so I stitched a narrow seam on each of the 4 corners from the boxed seam line to the top. Now it stands up and I am happy!

    Thanks again.

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  19. Great idea and wonderful idea. I can already see my fat quarters all organized by color in these great baskets on the shelves in my new sewing room!!! Now to get the room set up so I can actually sew!!

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  20. Love this idea and what a great tutorial. I can already imagine my stash of fat quarters all organized by color on shelves in my new sewing room in these great baskets!!! Now to finish unpacking, set up the sewing room and get cracking!!

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  21. Great first attempt! I am definitely trying this

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  22. Great first attempt! I am definately doing this bin. Thanks!

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  23. wow! absolutely lovely and so well explained. I learnt a couple of new 'tricks' - especially stitching lining and main fabric panel together!
    Just completed my fabric bin for a friends 75th birthday - quick and easy!
    now to fill it with fat quarters!!

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  24. Brilliant project! I picked up a couple of valuable tips - especially the one on sewing lining and outer fabric together.
    Just finished my fabric bin - a present for a fellow quilter who turns 75 month end - thank you so much.

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  25. If you made this a bit longer, they would make great knitting bags. Good for gifts.

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  26. you write excellent tutorials ... can't wait to make this for my grand daughter .. i am sure she will find it very handy for her new baby ... thank you so much ...

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  27. Does anyone know the dimensions of this wonderful little basket? Thank you.

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    1. The finished bin is approximately 9” long x 6” wide x 7” high without the handles.

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    2. I followed the directions and mine came out approximately 14" long, what did I do wrong?

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    3. I am not able to email you directly to discuss this issue because you are a "no-reply commenter"... meaning you have not set up your Blogger acct to allow others to email you.

      After spending some time with paper and pencil... and closely checking the photos... I found an error, which I have corrected. Instead of folding one 20" side to the other 20" side, you should fold one 16" side to the other. I apologize for the error... just goes to show that, no matter how careful one is writing a tutorial, mistakes happen. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.


      Hope this makes sense.

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  28. Amazing tute! Already have a list of them to make :) Going to make one or two for fast quarters, two for diapers and wipes, and for my granddaughters baby bassinets!! These will be great! Thanks for sharing!!

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  29. Thank you for your great tutorial, I've made one 3 years ago for my 1st grandson and now I'll going to make two of them for my friends' babies. Thanks again.

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  30. I have not used heavy weight pellon before. Is it iron fusible or did you stitch it on? I can not tell by the pictures. Thank you, I can't wait to make one for my DIL.

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    1. The Pellon I used was not ironed on. I pinned it in placed and it got stitched down in the side seams and the top stitching. I don't see why you couldn't use iron-on Pellon....

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  31. Outstanding tutorial! Perfect for charm squares, FQs, and anything else that is laying around that should be organized. Many thanks.

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  32. Your 1st tutorial. Whoa its good . Easy 2 follow and better presented than some i have read. Well done will b watching 4 others from you

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  33. I just made 3 of these in superhero prints for my granddaughter. Great project, wish I could send you pictures.

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  34. Woohoo 🎉 and I'm doing a happy dance 💃 I did it !! So excited !!! That was a fantastic tutorial , oooo I was nervous.... but I buckled down and followed it ! Thank you SO MUCH for the pictures, your explanation was wonderful and easy to follow💕 So I have made five so far ! Organizing my sewing room and for grandkids small toys ♥️

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