How to Sew a Fabric Trash Bag for Your Car
Make a fabric trash bag for your car using this simple sewing tutorial.
This car trash bag is designed to hang from your gear shift or from the seat head rest to hang in the back seat area. You can even add a little trash bag liner for easy emptying and to help keep the bag clean. I decided to hang this car trash bag from my gear shift and cut a plastic shopping bag to fit inside as a liner.
The finished car trash bag is approximately 7.25″H x 5.5″W x 4″D with a 14-inch strap.
Check out similar sewing tutorials such as the fabric basket (3 sizes), and a simple tote bag for other sewing projects to try.
Here are the simple instructions for the car trash bag:
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***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 12 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Trash bag sewing supplies needed:
- Two 10″x10″ and one 14″Wx4″H outer fabric pieces – my favorite fabric shop
- Two 10″x10″ lining fabric pieces
- Stabilizer – two 10″x10″ pieces – Pellon Peltex Ultra Firm Stabilizer Sew-In
- Fusible interfacing – Pellon P44F Fusible Interfacing
- Cutting mat
- Clear ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Matching thread
- Marking pencil
- Sewing scissors
- Sewing machine
Measure and cut fabric pieces
Using your cutting mat, clear ruler, and rotary cutter, cut two pieces of the outer fabric and two pieces of the lining fabric, each measuring 10″ x 10″. Cut one piece of the outer fabric 14″W x 4″H for the strap.
Attach the interfacing
Cut two pieces of fusible interfacing – I use Pellon P44F Fusible Interfacing – 10″ x 10″ and one piece 14″W x 4″H inches for the fabric strap.
Attach the interfacing to each outer fabric piece and the strap following the package instructions.
Make the trash bag strap
Once you have the interfacing attached to your strap, place the strap right side down on your ironing board. Fold the strap in half lengthwise and press along the fold.
Open the strap back up and fold the outside edge to the center fold you just made and press.
Turn the strap around and repeat with the other outside edge and press.
Fold the strap in half again and press.
Using your sewing machine with matching thread, stitch along each edge lengthwise, using 1/4″ seam allowance.
Attach the strap to the car trash bag
With one of the outer fabric pieces right side up, place each end of the strap at the top of the fabric piece four inches from each edge. The edges of the strap should be next to each other. See above picture.
Baste the strap to hold in place.
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 12 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Sew the outer car trash bag together
Use a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Place the outer fabric pieces right sides together. The strap should be at the top edge of the bag and in between the two fabric pieces.
Pin and sew along the sides and bottom.
Add the extra-firm stabilizer
The extra-firm stabilizer will help keep the shape of the car trash bag and prevent it from sagging. I used Pellon Peltex Ultra Firm Sew-In but you can use any firm stabilizer.
Cut two pieces of the extra-firm stabilizer 10″x10″. The stabilizer is not a fusible interfacing. You are going to sew it together with the lining pieces.
Sew the lining pieces together
Place one lining fabric piece right side up on top of one of the stabilizer pieces. Then place the other lining fabric piece on top right side down so the fabric pieces are right sides together, lining up the corners. Last, place the other stabilizer piece on top of the last fabric piece. The order should be: stabilizer / lining fabric right side up / lining fabric right side down / stabilizer.
Follow the same instructions to sew the lining fabric trash bag as you did for the outer fabric trash bag, using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Time to square the bottom
You are going to cut squares from each bottom corner to create the square bottom of the car trash bag.
Starting with the lining bag, use your clear ruler and marking pencil to make a 2 inch square at each bottom corner.
Cut the squares along the lines using your sewing scissors.
Repeat with the outer bag piece.
Pinch together and line up the seams. Pin or clip in place.
Sew along the edge using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
RULE OF THUMB: The finished bottom width is going to be two times the width of the squares you cut. For this car trash bag, the squares are two inches which makes the square bottom 4 inches. If you want a 6 inch square bottom, you’ll cut the squares 3 inches wide.
At this point you should have one outer fabric bag and one lining fabric bag.
Sew it all together
Turn the lining bag right side out. Keep the outer bag wrong side out. Place the lining fabric bag INSIDE the outer fabric bag. The right sides of each fabric piece should be facing each other.
Be sure your straps are in between the bags.
Line up the seams and pin or clip all around, leaving an opening for turning.
Sew around the top of the car trash bag, leaving an opening for turning. Sew over the straps a couple times for extra durability.
Turn right side out
Through the opening, turn the trash bag right side out.
Push the lining inside the bag. Press around the top of the bag and pin the opening.
Top stitch all around the bag. This gives it a finished look and closes the opening made for turning.
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 12 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Pin for later!
You are finished!
I hope you enjoyed this sewing tutorial on how to make a trash bag for your car! Happy sewing!
Other fun sewing projects to try:
- How to Make a Fabric Easter Basket
- Lined Zipper Pouch Sewing Project
- Easy Travel Fabric Tissue Holder
