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DIY Mini Car Trash Can [Car Trash Bag Sewing Pattern + Video]

The mini car trash can is super useful for kids, and adults, to help keep your car neat and tidy. It’s an easy make with HelloSewing’s trash can printable pattern. Use fabric already in your stash for a sustainable make. Slung over the head rests, mini trash cans are convenient for popping in those wrappers that end up on the car floor.

 Learn how to sew a fabric car trash bin in a matter of minutes. Just get the mini trash bin pattern and follow the instructions below

Mini car trash cans hung over the back of the head rests keep sweet wrappers and other bits of trash off the floor of your car, and teach kids tidiness. When you make them from left over fabric you are living sustainably and keeping plastic out of landfill because when the mini trash cans start looking grubby you can whip them off and launder them. Plus, they are an easy make and a useful gift for mums with kids.

Below you will find my step by step written tutorial with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.

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How to make the mini car trash can

Supplies and tools

• fabric – 2 pieces of woven cotton (one main, one lining)
• boning or large zip ties
• matching thread
• scissors (or rotary cutter and a cutting mat)
• ruler or measuring tape
• iron and ironing board
• sewing clips or pins

DOWNLOAD: mini car trash can pattern [Free pdf file]

Follow us for free patterns & tutorials! [easy-profiles]

How to Sew a fabric car trash bin

Watch the diy mini car trash bin video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
Please enjoy and don’t forget to Like and SUBSCRIBE over on YouTube to be kept up to date with new videos as they come out.

Mini Car Trash bin VIDEO TUTORIAL

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:

Print out our the mini car trash bin pattern on either US letter or A4 paper, then join the two pieces of A4 as indicated on the pattern. Trim the excess paper.

STEP 2:

Place the edge of the pattern marked FOLD on the folded edge of your fabric and clip in place allowing  for enough fabric to accommodate the pattern.

STEP 3:

Use a rotary cutter and a self-healing cutting mat to cut around the pattern, or alternatively use pins to pin the pattern in place then cut out using scissors.

STEP 4:

Open out the folded fabric, wrong side up, with the long sides parallel to the top and bottom of the worktop. Use the pattern with the printed side up, and place with the dotted line towards the left hand side of the fabric and transfer the two marks on the lower side to the fabric.

STEP 5:

Flip the pattern over, wrong side up, and transfer the two marks to the bottom right of the fabric.

STEP 6:

Mark a 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) seam allowance (it’s the dotted line on the fabric). To mark simply fold the pattern on the dotted line and use a ruler and fabric marking pen to draw a straight line on the end of the fabric.

STEP 7:

For the lining repeat Steps 2 to 6

STEP 8:

Fold the lining with the right sides facing each other, lining up the edges, and clip along the edge where you drew the seam allowance. Repeat with the outer fabric.

STEP 9:

Stitch along the marked line for the seam allowance, backtacking at the start and finish, first for the lining and then for the outer fabric.

STEP 10:

Finger press the seam open on both lining and outer.

STEP 11:

Take each piece and line up the seam with the center fold and clip on one end.

STEP 12:

Find the marks you made in Steps 4 and 5 and line them up, then fold in on each side and clip. Do this for the lining and the outer piece separately.

STEP 13:

Stitch across the fold and a little past it on the bottom of the lining 3/8 of an inch (6 mm) from the edge to hold the fold in position, leave a gap then stitch across the fold on the other side. The gap is where you will pull the fabric through to turn the mini trash can the right way out. Backtack at the start and finish.

STEP 14:

Take the outer fabric and stitch right across the bottom, 3/8 of an inch (6 mm), from the edge, leaving no gap.

STEP 15:

Turn the lining piece the right way out and slip it inside the outer piece – right side to right side.

STEP 16:

Match up the center seams and the fold lines on the other side and clip in position.

STEP 17:

Cut 18 inches (46 cm) of ribbon or light webbing and seal the ends with a quick pass of a lighter to prevent fraying.

STEP 18:

Place the two ends of the ribbon or webbing next to each other on each side of the center seam of the outer fabric on the right side, with the loop placed between the lining and outer, then clip or pin in place.

STEP 19:

Stitch around the top 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) from the raw edges.

STEP 20:

Pull the lining out from the outer piece, and then pull the outer fabric through the gap in the lining so you have the right sides of lining and outer showing.

STEP 21:

Fold the raw edges of the gap in the lining in line with the seam and stitch closed on your machine as close to the edge as possible.

STEP 22:

Place the lining inside the outer fabric and give the mini trash can a press to make sure the outer and lining lie flat at the top seam.

STEP 23:

Measure 3/8 of an inch (1 cm) from the edge and draw a line across the top, on each side.

STEP 24:

With the side with the ribbon in the middle measure 3 inches (7 ½ cm) on either side of the center seam and make a mark. Then measure ¾ of an inch (2 cm) on either side of the marks made and make two more marks on each side.

STEP 25:

Fold down the top along the horizontal line you drew so the lining peeks out over the outer fabric, and give it a press.

STEP 26:

Stitch down from the top of the fold-over on the first two marks you made in Step 24. Back tack at the start and finish.

STEP 27:

Stitch all around the top except for the areas between the marks you made on either side of the marks where you just stitched. Then fold the ribbon or webbing, up over the fold-over and stitch down close to the top edge of the fold-over, backtacking to make sure it’s secure.

STEP 28:

Cut your boning or zip ties to the measurements specified on the pattern piece which are:

1 pc that is 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1 pc that is 11 inches (25 cm) long. Round the ends of the zip ties using a nail file so they do not have sharp edges that will poke through the fabric.

STEP 29:

Push the shorter boning or zip tie through the gap nearest the back seam and ease into place.

STEP 30:

Take the longer boning or zip tie and push through the gaps that are further from the ribbon and ease into place – the longer piece will make the mini trash can belly out at the front so it is easy to pop in the waste paper etc.

The mini trash can is ready to use! The loop can be fitted over the head rest so it hangs neatly in the rear of the car – if you have more than one child make one for each of the head rests, so there are no excuses for not putting the trash in the mini can.

 

An alternative is to cut the ribbon in half and add Velcro to each end instead of having a loop so that it can easily be fastened to the head rests and removed when you want to empty the mini trash cans and launder them. Love this sustainable idea? Then hit us with a like and subscribe for more great ideas.

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