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Repurposed Laundry Bag
Repurpose your old jeans and create laundry bags using these simple and easy project instructions. This project is a great way to be sustainable, whilst also creating a fabulous bag to use for laundry. Make it for yourself, someone else or even donate it to charity. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, this project is great for all skill levels.
As we donated the laundry bags we created, we have added an extra touch using applique words. You can choose to add words or skip this step in the instructions.
Fabric selection
You will need heavy weight material for this project such as denim, corduroy or curtaining fabric. We have created our bag with recycled and reused denim jeans. A light weight fabric can be used but should be lined.
What you'll need:
- 1 x pair of old denim jeans
- Scrap material for applique words
- 50" of thick cord (preferably 5-7mm thick)
- Hot Melt Web
- Matching or coordinating sewing thread
- Tailors chalk
- Scissors
- Small Echidna clips or pins
Quick tips
- Your laundry bag can be stitched on an Overlocker if you have one.
- If you don’t have an Overlocker, your laundry bag can also be stitched with a ‘triple stitch’. This will form an extra strong seam to hold the denim.
- Leftover quilt binding is perfect to use for the belt/cord on this bag.
Steps
- Fold jeans in half and mark cut lines as shown below.
- Cut across the jeans as marked – you will now have 3 sections: 1, 2 & 3.
- Square up piece 1 along the bottom to create a straight line.
- Cut through one layer of piece 2 along the dotted line and lay flat. Then cut through one layer of the jeans leg (piece 3) along the “dotted” line, repeat on other leg, you will now have 4 pieces . Open out all pieces and lay flat.
- Measure width of “leg” pieces (piece 3), and cut piece 2 to exactly the same size.
- Pin the sides of rectangles together Pieces 2 & 3 – this is the the bottom half of the laundry bag.
- If you are not adding words to your bag, continue onto step 8. Otherwise, follow these steps to add applique words to your bag →
- Stitch the side seams together, and the bottom half of the bag to the top (piece 1).
- Sew the bottom of the bag closed.
- Mark 8 x buttonholes horizontally between each belt loop along the jeans waist band. This helps to close the bag once the cord is threaded through the buttonholes and belt loops.
- Thread cord through the belt loop and buttonholes to finish the bag. You are finished!
Adding embroidery or applique words
Choose your method of attaching the words – applique or embroidery. If using applique method, follow these steps:
- Print out your chosen words on paper.
- Iron hot melt web on the wrong side of your colourful fabric.
- Using a light box & a water soluble pen, trace the letters onto your fabric then cut them out.
- Position the word onto the bag. (Note: the words can be stitched horizontally, vertically or diagonally. You can use as many or as few words as you like).
- Remove the paper backing from the hot melt web and iron onto the fabric.
- Use a zigzag stitch to sew around each letter to affix to the bag.
- Stitch the side seams together, and the bottom half of the bag to the top (piece 1).
- Sew the bottom of the bag closed.
- Mark 8 x buttonholes horizontally between each belt loop along the jeans waist band. This helps to close the bag once the cord is threaded through the buttonholes and belt loops.
- Thread cord through the belt loop and buttonholes to finish the bag. You are finished!
Don’t forget to show us your finished projects on Instagram or Facebook #echidnasewing #madebyme
DONATE SOME TO A CHARITY
These laundry bags can also be donated to charity. If you want to contribute to a great cause, the charities listed below accept our laundry bags to distribute. Just send your creations in to the mailing address provided.
Are you a charity that would accept this item? Contact us to have your details added here.
QLD
Orange Sky Australia
Brisbane Head Office
Address:
17 Dover Street,
Albion QLD 4010
Australia
NT
Maningrida
Orange Sky Australia
C/- Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
Address:
PO Box 136
Maningrida NT 0822
Australia
Wadeye
Orange Sky Australia
Address:
TDC Village
PO Box 19
Wadeye NT 0822
Australia
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Echidna project material/ fabric requirements are an indication only and can seem to be generous. This has been intentional. Should you make a cutting or embroidery mistake you will have sufficient fabric to rectify your error.
