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Home » Sewing » Sewing For Home

Diy Storage Bin - Free Template

May 26, 2020

Today I'll show you how to sew an easy diy storage bin using my free small bin pattern with a fold-over top. So easy to organize your home in style, and they make an excellent handmade present. Scroll down to get your free template.

diy storage bin

This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for your support. First off, you might not know it, but I've got tons of FREE PATTERNS on this site, including these you might want to check out:

  • How To Make A Hanging Storage Basket
  • This Cute Large Basket
  • Free Template - Super Easy Felt Storage Cube to DIY
  • Or try our new, popular SewPretty HOME series:
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Diy Storage Bin Pattern

Back to the diy storage bin - these handy little diy fabric bins will keep just any spot in your home look cute and fresh: your work desk/counter tidy, store coupons neatly tucked in, or tiny toiletries neatly lined up on your bathroom shelves, your sewing notions - all easy to find!

This diy storage bin is lined and reinforced by fusible interfacing to give it some body to keep its shape. It's a great scrap buster and has an easily adjustable height.

diy storage bin

SUPPLIES to Sew the Diy Storage bin:

  • 2 pieces of 12x8 inch midweight cotton
  • 12 x 8 inches of lightweight fusible fleece
  • coordinating sewing thread
  • sewing machine, iron, scissors, pins, ruler

Diy Storage bin TEMPLATE

This is the template for the small fabric bin that should help you along the way. Feel free to pin, save or bookmark this tutorial, so you'll be able to use it later, too.

diy storage bin

A ⅜" seam allowance is included in the template.

FINISHED SIZE of the Diy storage bin

apprx. 3.5″ wide, 3″ deep, 6″ tall (top unfolded)// 4″ tall (top folded down)

This little bin is easily adjustable even when finished: you can adjust the height any time by folding the top over. (So it WILL fit into that messy kitchen drawer, too 😉

Sewing Steps For Your Storage Bin

Use the free storage bin template to cut 3 rectangle pieces of fabric:

1 piece from outer fabric

1 from lining fabric, and

1 piece out of fusible fleece.

diy storage bin

2) Apply interfacing/stabilizer to the WRONG side of the outer fabric, using an iron.

diy storage bin

1. Place your outer fabric FACE DOWN on an ironing board.
2. Place stabilizer on the fabric, the coating must face down. (this image shows another type of stabilizer, not fusible fleece - sorry!)
3. Cover with a damp cloth to prevent getting interfacing onto the iron
4.Apply iron carefully. Press, up, press, up. Don't glide, to avoid shifting any of the layers!

3) Place the lining and outer fabric right-sides-together. Pin in place. Then stitch using a ⅜ sewing allowance (= 1cm) along the top line:

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

4) Trim the seam allowance close to the seam, to reduce bulk.

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

5) Spread the sewn piece face-up on the sewing table. Then fold it once again, right sides together, but this time putting both outer fabric fold onto itself, and lining folding onto itself, like this:

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

6) Pin in place to avoid shifting. Make sure to mark the spot where you'll leave an opening for turning (here: yellow pins!)

If you're curious why the patch and the zig-zag stitches are shown on the stabilizer, check out one of my other tutorials!

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

7) Sew around using a straight stitch and a ⅜ (1cm) seam allowance. Start at the outer fabric, and go around.  Leave a 1.5 inch (or a bit wider) opening in the bottom of the lining.

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

8) Clip the corners to reduce bulk.

More on corner clipping here, with a few great beginner sewing tips. You'll never go back to the simple diagonal corner-cutting once you learn this little thingy:

easy sewing tips - how to clip corners

BOXING THE CORNERS

10) Make 4 BOXED CORNERS:

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

1. Fold the corner flat matching up the center bottom seam with the center side seam. (The side seam should lie directly over the bottom seam!)

2. Place a pin in the matched seam to hold them together.

3. Measure 1.1 inch up from the tip of the corner and mark (see a blue dot and blue arrow in the photo). Draw a horizontal line there (see the red dashed line in the photo)

4. Then stitch over the (red) line. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to reinforce it.

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

11) Repeat on all 4 corners. When finished, you can snip off the excess fabric to reduce bulk.

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

12) Turn the mini bin right side out.

To push out the corners, use a point turning tool or something similar, like a chopstick, a knitting needle, or simply a pencil. Don't use anything sharp since it could make holes in your fabric.




A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

13) Handstitch or machine-stitch the opening closed.

A mini fabric bin tutorial with a FREE template is a beginner ​sewing project that uses only little material and doesn't take a lot of time to complete​. Easily adjustable, simple and beautiful. ​Make a unique, cute DIY mini fabric bin with a fold-over top.

14) Tuck the lining into the bin and topstitch around the top.

15) If you want to hide the thread ends really neatly, check out this easy sewing tip. My readers love it!

Best Sewing Tips: How To End Stitching Neatly

16)Press well -  it makes the finished item look so much cuter! And here's your finished fabric bin. Fill it with a bunch of crayons, sharpies, or anything else you can think of. This bin is now home to our Ikea stamping pens.

diy storage bin

Done! You've made a beautiful, unique mini bin! You can fold the top over or leave it up. Either way, adorable! I hope you'll enjoy the free template and tutorial.

Save The Diy Storage Bin Project For Later:

diy storage bin

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Diy Storage Bin - Free Template

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny

    June 09, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    I do not sew, at this time, but I do knit. I purchased this bag from a vendor at a knitting expo. It makes a wonderful project bag and it is adorable. It looks exactly like the one pictured here, except it has cats instead of birds, and is extremely well-made. Some day, I may attempt to make some of my own.

    Reply
    • Damjana

      June 09, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Jenny hi,
      so happy to hear that. And yes, go ahead and make one - you'll be surprised how easy it comes together. xoxo,
      Damjana

      Reply
  2. Sum of their Stories

    October 13, 2017 at 8:07 am

    What a brilliantly clear tutorial. I love a lot of photos so I know exactly what I'm doing.
    Great little bin too!

    Reply
    • Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage

      January 18, 2018 at 7:17 am

      Happy to hear the tutorial is easy to use. Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Melinda Glover

    September 21, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    What a great organizing tool. Would be easy enough to add pockets on the outside or handles. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage

      January 18, 2018 at 7:18 am

      Melinda,
      yes, pockets too, that's a great idea, thanks!

      Reply
  4. robert & madeline Newton

    September 21, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    so very cute and with Christmas coming it is a great idea for a gift ...thank you for the great free pattern for i need cute little things that i can make with what i have ...again thank you and may you have a great day ...

    Reply
    • Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage

      January 18, 2018 at 7:16 am

      Thank you!

      Reply

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