DIY : Linen Laundry Bag

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Today’s craft is an easy-to-make laundry bag made with beautiful natural linen.  This practical bag is so useful on laundry days and has the added bonus of looking great.

A great thing about this quick project is that you can use it for a variety of purposes.  You dont just have to cram your dirty clothes in this bag!   It works great for traveling and storage.  If you like to camp, I’d use this to put my sleeping bag in or any other items you may need on your trip.

The simple drawstring technique can be applied to many other crafts.  I like to make drawstring linen bags in a whole bunch of different sizes to use for just about anything!

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Materials:

  • Linen
  • Measuring tape
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine

I used 4C22 in Natural linen.  I think natural linen works perfectly for this laundry bag.

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To be honest, I did not measure my linen.  I just decided how big I wanted my bag and cut straight lines to give me a symmetric rectangular shape.  The measurements really depend on how big you want your bag to be!

Sometimes I like crafts like this that don’t require much fuss.  I just want to get sewing!

I cut my fabric so that a fold will be on one of the sides of my bag, meaning I will not need a seam here.  The other side and the bottom of the bag with have a seam to hold the edges together and thus creating your bag.

The top of the bag will need a 1 inch hem later so we can insert the drawstring.

First, let’s get sewing so we end up with something that resembles a bag rather than a rectangular piece of linen.

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Sew up the side length and bottom of your bag.  I finished my seams with an outerlock machine, but that step is optional.

This is important to remember! Make sure to leave two 1/2 inch openings towards the bottom and top of the side as you make your seam. This is to insert the ends of the carrying strap we will make in the next step.  I forgot to leave two little openings, so I had to cut a few stitches after.  It didn’t ruin the look or anything but can be an unnecessary step (and a hassle!).

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Otherwise, the seams will look like this, which is perfectly fine!  As long as you sew a good straight line, your bag will hold together just fine.

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I wanted a single strap of the side of the laundry bag so it would be easier to carry.  This is really useful if you have to carry your laundry to the laundromat.

The straps are just the simple type I have done before in previous tutorials.  First, I cut a long strip of linen 3 inches thick.  Then fold both edges to the center and then fold the entire strip down the center.  This will hide the raw edges and leave you with a 1 inch wide strap.  Make a seam along the entire piece on the side with the double-folds.

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Insert the strap and make a seam to hold it in place.  Make the seam from the inside.  It will just be a continuation of the other seam.

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And the just sew the other end of your strap in place!

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I made a one inch hem for the top.

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This is where the drawstring will go through so you will want to leave an opening somewhere along your seam.  I just sew my hem and stop sewing about an inch before the seam is complete.

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I made the drawstring the same way as the strap, except I cut my linen 2 inches wide to give me a 1/2 wide drawstring.I couldn’t find my safety pin, so I used a large paper clip to help guide the drawstring through the opening.

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Just use a safety pin or paper clips to held navigate the string along the space until it comes out the other end.

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Once the other end comes out then you can just even the drawstring out along the top…..and you’re all done!

This is a great gift idea for anyone you know that is going away to college or going on a trip somewhere.  This same drawstring bag can be made in so many different sizes and used for just about anything!

*Let us know how you liked this simple DIY project.  How do you like using linen to make useful crafts?  Also, stop by our Facebook and "Like" us!  We share post lots of fun craft ideas on our wall!

To pick out the linen you need for your next craft, visit our online store! >> Shop linen here!


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6 thoughts on “DIY : Linen Laundry Bag

  1. I am just a new member. I have wanted to get back into sewing. Thanks for all the information. This is such a great idea and I am looking forward to the daily projects and all the exciting information you have given us!!

    Kind Regards,
    Betty Stanavage

  2. what is the name of the beautiful light blue color of linen you used to make the LAUNDRY BAG for this project ! I love the color !

    thank you love your ideas ! sooooo much ….

  3. If you sew the strap end to the bottom of the bag, and make it only long enough to reach to the top of the bag, you can attach the end of the strap to the knotted end of the drawstring. This way, the drawstring becomes part of the strap, and the weight of the bag hanging from it pulls and keeps the drawstring top closed in transit.

    For another variation, you could make the strap long enough to sew it over the bottom seam of the bag (thus reinforcing the bottom seam, which is the one getting the most wear) and then leave it free from the corner to reach up and connect to the drawstring. THis would be the strongest of the three construction methods.

  4. nicole novembrino February 27, 2012 at 2:17 pm - Reply Author

    @Hope- It actually is the same Natural color linen. The lighting for that picture is different than the steps of the tutorial. Sorry for the confusion! We do offer a light blue linen though in our lightweight IL020!

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