Spring Cleaning Just Got Cute With DIY Slouchy Storage Bins
Just because spring cleaning is a seasonal chore doesn’t mean it has to be boring. That’s because you can stash your stuff in style instead of splurging on bins, baskets and boxes that don’t fit in with your decor. Simply put your fabric scraps in the “keep” pile and use them to make a slouchy storage bin. That’s just what we did for this project: We paired the striped fabric we had on hand with leather we yanked off of an old couch, and now our mess is quite the organizational masterpiece. Yours can be too!
Materials:
– 1 yard leather (at least 48 inches wide)
– 1 yard striped fabric (at least 48 inches wide)
– polyester jean finishing thread
Tools:
– scissors
– sewing machine
– ruler
– compass (optional)
Instructions:
1. Cut a 15 inch diameter circle and a 47 1/2 x 17 inch rectangle from your leather and striped fabrics.
2. Sew the short ends of your leather rectangle together inside out leaving a 1/2 inch seam. This will form a cylinder.
3. Pin the leather circle to the leather cylinder (both pieces should be inside out). This will form the bottom of your bin.
4. Sew the circle to the cylinder leaving a 1/2 inch seam.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the striped fabric pieces to create equal size bins, except leave a 3 inch hole in the bottom seam of the fabric bin.
6. Turn the leather bin right side out and place it inside the fabric bin. Pin and sew the two bins together at the top.
7. Pull the bins through the hole so they are both right side out.
8. Sew the hole shut, tucking the fabric ends inside.
9. Tuck the striped fabric bin inside the leather bin.
10. Fold the top of the bin over so the striped fabric shows on the outside.
First, cut your fabrics. You need a 15 inch diameter circle and a 47 1/2 x 17 inch in rectangle from each. Just use a ruler to measure out your rectangle. To create the circle you can use a compass (let your inner math nerd guide the way) or a large circular object you have laying around your house, like the top of a round side table or a large mixing bowl. If your circle is not 15 inches in diameter, you will just need to adjust the length of your rectangle to the circumference of your circle + 1/2 inch. Next, sew the short ends of your leather rectangle together inside out leaving a 1/2 inch seam. Now it’s a cylinder. High five!
Now pin the leather circle to the leather cylinder. Keep in mind both pieces should be inside out. This will form the bottom of your bin. Then, sew the circle to the cylinder with a 1/2 inch seam. This is somewhat tricky because you are sewing a circle, but keep in mind bunches in the fabric will look great on the bottom of the bin when you turn it right side out.
Now, using the striped fabric pieces, repeat the last two steps with one exception: leave a 3 inch hole in the bottom seam of the striped bin. You should be left with two bins that are the same size: one leather and one striped.
Turn the leather bin right side out and place it inside the striped fabric bin — the striped bin should remain inside out. Pin the top of the fabric bin to the top of the leather bin. Sew the two bins together with a 1/2 inch seam.
Pull the bins through the hole you left in the striped fabric. Both of your bins should now be connected and right side out. So sew the striped fabric hole shut, tucking the ends of the fabric inside.
You’re almost done! Next, tuck the striped fabric bin inside the leather bin. And finally (finally!), fold the top of the bin over so the striped fabric peeks out.
Here’s one time when slouchy ≠ messy. ‘Cause this storage bin is nothing but chic. Almost unbelievable that it was made with trimmings headed for the trash!
We love the idea of using this piece as a catch-all near your entryway. You can stash keys, sunglasses, dog leashes and more. Even if it’s empty, it doesn’t look out of place.
Or give items like magazines a more permanent home. They look WAY nice rolled up in here. Oh, and the storage bin? Not too shabby either :)
What other DIY storage solutions have you made? Tell us in the comments below.