Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
  • About Us
  • Needlecraft
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Quilting
    • Sewing
    • Embroidery
  • Cricut
  • Jewelry Making
  • Paper Craft
    • Origami
    • Drawing
  • Engraving
  • Collectibles
    • Numismatics
43K Followers
25K Followers
1K Subscribers
Subscribe
Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
  • About Us
  • Needlecraft
    • Crochet
    • Knitting
    • Quilting
    • Sewing
    • Embroidery
  • Cricut
  • Jewelry Making
  • Paper Craft
    • Origami
    • Drawing
  • Engraving
  • Collectibles
    • Numismatics
  • Craft
  • Needlecraft
  • Sewing

How to Make a Car Trash Bag or Reusable Lunch Bag?

  • Lindsay
  • Posted: March 8, 2022
How to Make a Car Trash Bag or Reusable Lunch Bag?
Total
731
Shares
0
0
731

I find that the car is never more cluttered than when filled with wrappers, empty drink bottles, and waste from a summer road trip. I try to pick up all the trash I can when I can, but sometimes straw wrappers, bottle caps, and food receipts literally take over.

Enter the car trash bag! The sturdy bag is built to carry odds and ends, so you can just fill it up and dump the contents when you stop to refuel. The trash bag is unlined  (see note below if you’d like to add a lining) with the interior covered in interfacing for durability. Simply toss the bag into the washing machine when it’s ready to be cleaned.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Materials need to make the bag:
    • 1.1 Step 1
    • 1.2 Step 2
    • 1.3 Step 3
    • 1.4 Step 4
    • 1.5 Step 5
    • 1.6 Step 6
    • 1.7 Step 7
    • 1.8 Step 8

Materials need to make the bag:

– 1/2 yard Amazon home decor weight fabric

– 14″ cut of medium-weight fusible interfacing (Pellon 808) >> Buy it here on Amazon

– Matching thread, iron, scissors, sewing machine, and pins

Cut fabric and interfacing

Step 1

From both fabric and interfacing, cut two pieces 14″ x 11″ and remove a square 2.25″ x 2.25″ from the bottom two corners of each piece. Adhere interfacing to lining with iron.

Mark handles

Step 2

From fabric, cut two pieces 11″ x 6″ for handle lining. Place the one handle lining fabric on top of the bag fabric, right sides facing. Use a ruler to mark dots 2″ from the top of the bag at the 3.5″ and 7.5″ marks. Move the ruler down to 3″ from the top of the bag and again mark dots at the 3.5″ and 7.5″ marks. Connect dots into a rectangle for the bag handle.

 

Stitch and cut handles

Step 3

Pin pieces together and stitch on top of line to create handle. Use scissors to snip almost into the corners and down the center line through all layers of fabric.

Flip handle fabric inside out

Step 4

Now for the magic part. Push the handle lining fabric through the slot you just created and pull it through the other side. Press and pin handle lining flat against inside of tote. Secure with zig-zag stitch, and trim excess fabric away from handle lining (see below).

Attach the handle to other side of bag.

Note: If you’d like to make a lining for the bag, cut lining fabric in the same dimensions as your outer fabric, follow the same instructions to make handles and sew the lining, then refer to Tote Bag Tutorial for instructions on inserting your lining. Line up handles of outer and lining fabric and hand-stitch together.

Pin bag front and back right sides together

Step 5

Next, pin bag front and back right sides together, avoiding the corners or the top of the bag. Stitch 1/4″ from the edges along left and right sides of bag and bottom (center only, not corners yet).

 

Pinch together corners of bag

Step 6

Pinch together the corners of your bag, so the seams on the bottom and sides of the bag line up. I like to iron my seams open.

 

Pin and stitch corners

Step 7

Pin together the matching edges and stitch 1/4″ from edge. (You can see more photos of this method on our Tote Bag Tutorial).

Fold under rim and pin

Step 8

Turn bag right side out and push out corners. To finish top edge, use pinking shears or zig zag stitch along top edge to prevent fraying. Then fold top edge down so it lines up with handle cutout without being visible from the outside. Pin fold in place along top edge of bag, and use zig zag or straight stitch to fix top fold in place.

 

Reusable Lunch Bag

And there you have it–just grab your bag and go! The car trash bag also doubles as a reusable lunch bag in a pinch. Or, fill it with summer essentials like a snack and sunscreen for trips to the park, beach or playground.

Reusable Lunch Bag

If you use this tutorial, we’d love to see your bag in the Craft Buds Flickr pool. This post is part of the Summer Sewing Contest, so check out the blog hop for more projects inspired by the season and enter your own June 10-17 at at Ellison Lane Quilts for a chance to win prizes!

Total
731
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 731
Related Topics
  • car litter bag
  • car trash
  • car trash bag
  • cloth lunch bags
  • free sewing patterns for bags
  • how to sew a bag
  • reusable lunch bags
  • sewing bag patterns
  • trash bag for cars
Lindsay

Hi, I’m Lindsay Conner, an author, modern quilter, editor, and founder of the Lindsay Sews blog. I’m a Baby Lock ambassador and Stash Books author who loves writing modern sewing and quilt patterns for beginners and weekend sewists! I live in Indianapolis, Indiana with my husband, son, and two loveable cats, Murph and Chloe. I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I saved my dollar bills for trips with my mom to Jo-Ann Fabrics, where I’d find new floss for friendship bracelets or mini cross-stitch kits. Because my mom has always shared my love for crafting, she bought me my first sewing machine, a Hello Kitty Janome.

Previous Article
How to Make a Headband?
  • Craft
  • Needlecraft
  • Sewing

How to Make a Headband? 2 in 1 Tutorial

  • Lindsay
  • Posted: March 8, 2022
View Post
Next Article
Square in Square Quilt Block
  • Craft
  • Needlecraft
  • Quilting
  • Sewing

Square in Square Quilt Block Tutorial

  • Lindsay
  • Posted: March 8, 2022
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • DIY projects
  • Home

nPhoto – Professional Photo Printing Services for Photographers: Develop Your Brand with Us!

  • Jeremie Berton
  • Posted: January 14, 2025
View Post
  • Craft
  • Outdoor

5 Great Destinations in Costa Rica for Your Next Crafting Retreat

  • Craftbuds Editorial Team
  • Posted: December 16, 2024
Why-Professional-Locksmiths-Are-Essential-for-Home-Security
View Post
  • Home

Avoiding DIY Disasters: Why Professional Locksmiths Are Essential for Home Security

  • Jeremie Berton
  • Posted: April 3, 2024
Putting Together a Wooden Nativity Set for the Holidays
View Post
  • Craft
  • DIY projects
  • Home
  • Outdoor

Putting Together a Wooden Nativity Set for the Holidays

  • Sheila Mae Pedregosa
  • Posted: February 7, 2024
How is AI Impacting Crafting
View Post
  • Craft
  • Tools & Supplies

How is AI Impacting Crafting

  • Craftbuds Editorial Team
  • Posted: December 5, 2023 - Updated at: December 7, 2023
Embroidery Couching Stitch
View Post
  • Embroidery
  • Needlecraft

How to Do an Embroidery Couching Stitch: Variations and Applications

  • Jewel shaju
  • Posted: December 1, 2023
How to Do an Embroidery Back Stitch
View Post
  • Embroidery
  • Needlecraft

How to Do an Embroidery Back Stitch: Variations and Uses (+Video Tutorials)

  • Jewel shaju
  • Posted: November 13, 2023 - Updated at: December 1, 2023
How to Do an Embroidery French Knot
View Post
  • Embroidery
  • Needlecraft

How to Do an Embroidery French Knot Stitch & Variations: Step-by-Step Video Tutorials

  • Jewel shaju
  • Posted: November 6, 2023 - Updated at: December 1, 2023
15 comments
  1. thejackpot says:
    May 18, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Very nice! Love the fabric and this looks easy enough for me to pull off, which says a lot 😉

  2. Eileen says:
    May 26, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Love those handles. Thanks for the how-to and photos.

  3. SewNSan says:
    June 13, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    Do you give permission to make and sell items from your directions/patterns? Would love to market these car trash bags at my craft shows!

  4. Lindsay says:
    June 13, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    Hi Sandy! Sure, you can make these to sell at craft shows. I do ask that if you make any and post online (blog, Facebook, Flickr), that you link back to the tutorial. Thanks for asking!

  5. Pam says:
    June 17, 2012 at 11:01 am

    Great tute and lovely bag.

  6. Fny says:
    January 29, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Thank you for this tutorial,I had absolutely no difficulty following the steps and the size of this bag is perfect! I do not have a car so I will be using my new bag to carry my lunch to university.

  7. Doris Hall says:
    March 26, 2013 at 3:43 am

    Lovely clear instructions and a lovely bag

  8. GrowingUpKiddo says:
    October 11, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    I LOVE this design, wrote a little blurb on my blog about it with a link back to you guys. At some point I am hoping to sell a version of this (with your permission) but will absolutely give you ALL the credit for such easy instructions and great design.

    https://growingupkiddos.blogspot.com/2013/10/lunch-bag.html

    Thank You!
    B

  9. Kathleen Herold says:
    December 6, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    This is such a fine-looking bag to replace the ‘highfalutin’ grocery bags I’ve been using for so long! Now, ie. sooner than later, I might-even replace my stretched-out wheel-cover, to match or contrast this bag. Knowing me, I’ll need to make a vinyl liner, & FINALLY use some of the ‘Recycle/Go Green!’ fabric from my stash! Thanks for sharing.

  10. wendy says:
    September 5, 2015 at 8:36 am

    We just got a new car, this is just what it needs! Thanks!

  11. Julia says:
    September 16, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    Help!
    I just tried making the handles and I get pointy triangles on the inside.
    How did you get nice full rectangles after turning your fabric through the opening? It seems impossible when I see that you cut straight across and diagonally into each corner.
    I tried to insert a photo but it doesn’t work, sorry.
    Thanks, Julia

  12. Lindsay says:
    September 16, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Julia! Before cutting your straight line and triangles, did you sew an 11″x 6″ handle lining to the bag sides? (2nd photo under “Materials) If you have triangles on the inside, it’s possible you forgot this step. Once I pushed the lining through my opening (the “magic” step!), the triangles get layered between the bag and handling lining, which I then trimmed into a rectangle in the photo you see later.

  13. Julia says:
    September 17, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Thank you for replying Lindsay.
    I looked for more tutorials last night and realized that I had not pushed the entire piece of handle fabric through to the wrong side. Once I pushed it all through it worked perfectly. I’m a beginner and almost need to see photos of every stage. Your tutorial is good, I was the weak link.
    BTW, the bag looked wonderful!
    Thanks again.

  14. Suzy says:
    August 13, 2017 at 11:38 am

    Hi Julia,

    Can I download this in a nice PDF?

    Thanks,
    Suzy

  15. Lindsay says:
    September 29, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    Right now, we don’t have it available as a PDF. You can copy and paste into a Word document, and then change the font size to your desired print size, however. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Art & Craft, DIY ideas and Tutorials – Craftbuds
  • About Us
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Our Experts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Find fun and creative craft ideas and tutorials across various categories such as Knitting, Quilting, Sewing, PaperCraft, Jewelry Making and much more

Input your search keywords and press Enter.