DIY Car Trash Can Sewing Tutorial

Today we are going to help out all the parents (myself included) with this DIY Car Trash Can Sewing Tutorial! One thing you probably didn’t know when you became a parent was that your car would immediately become a catch-all for all your kids stuff, crumbs, and trash. I wish I had thought of this sooner, as it is going to take a miracle to get some of these stains out of my car. But, kids are worth it, and moving forward at least they will use this car trash can instead of the floor and the cupholders. This is a simple sewing project. It is great for beginners and advanced sewists and can be done in about

This easy sewing tutorial is great for any skill level and only takes about half an hour from start to finish. You can pick some subtle fabric or go all on a cute pattern fabric as I did here. Everyone that gets into my car asks me where I got my car trash can from and I always smile and say I made it myself and now you can too!

What You’ll Need:

• 2) 10″x10″ pieces of Fusible Fleece (can be slightly smaller than 10×10)
• (2) 10″x10″ pieces of outer fabric
• (2) 10″x10″ pieces of liner fabric
• (1) 3″x15″ piece of outer fabric
• Sewing Machine
• Rotary Cutter & Mat
• Scissors
• Iron
• Pins and Clips
• Matching Thread

I love sewing this car trash can because unless you want to use some special or new fabric you probably have everything you would need to make this sewing project in your stash. I have made several of these DIY card trash cans and everyone loves them, they make a great new car gift.

DIY Car Trash Can Sewing Tutorial

Start this DIY car trash can sewing tutorial by fusing the fleece to the backside of the 10″ outer fabrics. You do this with the iron on medium heat. I like to use a pressing cloth to lay over it. You only need to iron it for about 30-40 seconds to fuse it in place.

Next, lay the two pieces of outer fabric on top of each other with the right sides touching. Pin or clip them together along the edges.

Now on this DIY car trash can tutorial, it’s time to sew! Sew them together along the bottom, and sides using about a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Make sure you leave the top of the DIY car trash can open for turning. Be sure to do a backstitch at the start and finish.

At the bottom corners that are stitched together, pinch them together so the seams are flat against each other. Use the ruler to mark about an inch and a half from the end and pin in place. This will form a boxed edge for our diy car trash can. Do this on the other corner as well.

Now, simply sew across the corner where the pin is. Be sure to do a backstitch at the start and finish. Repeat on the other corner.

When you are finished, it should look like this. Now that we have boxed the corners of the outer fabric, let’s make the handle for our diy car trash can.

To make the strap for the handle, fold the long 3″ x 15″ piece of fabric in half lengthwise to make a crease in the center. Then unfold it. Now fold each side into the center so that it touches that crease and just touches the other edge.

Then fold in half again so those two flaps are on top of each other and pin or clip in place.

Sew down each of the long sides of that folded piece making sure to do a backstitch at the start and finish.

You want to sew as close to the edge as you can. I did it with about a 3/16 seam allowance.

Turn the bag/can right side out.

Find the center of one of the sides of the bag without the seam. Then pin the strap ends to the bag. You want the raw edges to be lined up. You will sew the straps on in a step near the end of this DIY Car Trash Can Sewing Tutorial.

To make the liner for your trash can, lay the pieces of liner fabric together right sides touching if you are using a print. Clip and pin it on two sides as well as the bottom. The bottom needs to have about a 3-inch opening left that is not stitched.

Sew the diy car trash can liner pieces together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Remember to leave about 3 inches open at the bottom section for turning.

Now we will box the corner of the liner fabric like we did the the outer. Pin and sew the bottom corners for the liner just like before, an inch and a half from the tip of the point.

Now insert the right side out outer fabric into the inside out liner. Make sure the side seams are lined up with each other. Pin and clip in place around the top raw edges.

Now it’s time to sew out diy car trash can together. Sew the pieces together around the top using about 1/4 inch seam allowance, doing a backstitch at the start and finish. When you get to the area where the strap is, be sure to sew over them a few times, do a backstitch, and then sew over them again.

Now through that opening you left in the liner fabric, pull the outer bag through that opening so that it turns the liner right side out.

To close that opening, fold the raw edges in slightly and sew along the edge as close as you can. Do a backstitch at the start and finish.

Finally, in the last step in this DIY Car Trash Can Sewing Tutorial, tuck the liner inside the outer bag. Smooth the edge and pin or clip in place to hold them together while you sew. Sew all the way around the edge using about 1/4 inch allowance. Do a backstitch at the start and finish. Make sure the strap is out of the way when you get to that area.

And that’s it! Now you have a cute DIY Car Trash Can! Now you won’t have to throw trash in the floor. Hopefully your kids will be on board with using this as well!

If you liked learning how to sew a DIY Car Trash Can with free pattern, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!

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• Easy DIY Messenger Bag Tutorial
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