A clothespin bag.

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I have been seeing the cute clothespin bags around on the internet and decided I would like to have one for myself, except I want to use it for my delicates.  You know, the unmentionable clothing you don’t want to just throw in the wash with your other garments.  Anyhoo, I was telling my sister about it and she decided I should make her one also, except it is a clothespin bag.   Here is a step by step guide to making your own.

1.  Find a sister who feels sorry for you because you can’t afford to purchase antique wooden hangers.  Cry on her shoulders and then she will surprise you with a package of hangers in the mail.  You can use any hanger, but I like the old wooden kind because they are curved nicely, do not have a neck at the hook, and there is no bar across the bottom.

2.  You’ll need:  1/2 yard or so (I really didn’t measure) of cute material and a 1/2 yard of contrasting material.  I used cotton.  A package of 1/2″ wide double bias tape.  Thread, sewing machine, the usual.  Now this is where I pretend I am an expert at sewing and know exactly what I am doing.  You can pretend right along with me. 

 

3.   Measure your hanger and cut your fabric (both outside and lining) to the width of the hanger plus and inch for the seam.  Cut length to 19″.   You’ll need outside pieces and two lining pieces.  My outside piece is of ladies and the inside is red polka dot.  Trim the top of the materials to the curve of the hanger.  You’ll need to leave some space for the seam.

4.  Next cut a 7″ circle from some paper at a template.  I used a dessert dinner dish to make my circle.  I cut it in a tear drop.  See picture below.  Place one outside fabric and one lining fabric back to back.  Pin the template to the top center of the fabric.  The bottom of the circle should measure 11″ down from the top.   This is the front of the bag.  Do not cut the back (the other two pieces). 

5.  Here you can see the circle is cut out and I folded the material back so you can see the lining.

6.  Place the lining pieces face to face and sew all the way around, but do not sew the circle.  Do the same for the front pieces.  Snip corners, so the corners will be straight when you turn the front pieces inside out.  Now turn just the front pieces (the ladies), so that the ladies are showing. 

7.  Now comes the hard part.  Stuff the lining down into the front through the hole.  Poke out all the corners to make them look nice.  Make the circles match up.  Pin and then sew the circles together.  Help later when you add the bias tape.   

8.  Measure the hole and cut your bias tape to that size.  If you gently shape the bias tape around the circle, while ironing the tape, it will keep that shape and make it easier to sew.  Pin the bias tape on and then sew all around, making sure you are sewing together the tape, front piece, and lining. 

9.  Here is what the very top part looks like.  This is where the hook of the hanger will go. 

10.  You are almost finished.  Insert the wooden hanger and pray to the good Lord above that it will fit.   I haven’t quite finished with it.  I really don’t like how the fabric comes together at the hook, so I am going to sew a huge black button there.  I think it will look cute.   After that, this one is going to my sister.  Mine will look exactly like this one, but will be different.  LOL

I hope you have enjoyed this little sewing show.  It may not happen again.  I do not sew well and make lots of mistakes, but I do enjoy doing it once in a while. 

Updated to add:  these instructions come from a book I checked out of the library.  I think it was called Quick and Easy Sewing Projects.   The clothespin bag in the book, does not have a lining in it.  I did that myself. 

5/29/08:  I am searching for this book at the library.  As soon as I find it, I will post the exact name, author, and ISBN#, for those who are interested.    I hope to have it sometime next week. 

6/16/08:  Still haven’t found it, but I have several more books on order from the library.  Hopefully, it will be one of those.