Small Bin Pattern

Today I’ll show you how to sew an easy mini fabric bin using my free small bin pattern. So easy to organize your home in style using these DIY mini bins with fold-over top! And they make an excellent handmade present.Scroll down to grab your free template!

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:

Back to the small bin pattern – 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 mini fabric 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.

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.

SUPPLIES to Sew the small bin pattern:

2 pieces of 12×8 inch midweight cotton
12 x 8 inch of lightweight fusible felt
coordinating sewing thread
sewing machine, iron, scissors, pins, ruler

Your FREE Small bin TEMPLATE

This is the template for the mini 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.

A 3/8 seam allowance is included in the template.

FINISHED SIZE of the small fabric 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 😉

Small Fabric Bin -Tutorial

1) Use the PDF sewing pattern to cut 3 rectangle pieces of fabric:

1 piece from outer fabric

1 from lining fabric, and

1 piece out of fusible felt (stabilizer).

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

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 felt – 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 3/8 sewing allowance (= 1cm) along the top line:

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

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:

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. Coming soon!

7) Sew around using a straight stitch and a 3/8 (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.

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:

BOXING THE CORNERS

10) Make 4 BOXED CORNERS:

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 blue dot and blue arrow in the photo). Draw a horizontal line there (see 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.

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

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.

13) Handstitch or machine-stitch the opening closed.

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.

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 For Later:

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free pattern for a fabric hanging basket

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Or check out one of my latest patterns, the Sophia Fold-Over Clutch And Crossbody Bag pattern in my pattern shop, HERE:

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Comments

Sum of their Stories says

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!

- Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage says
  
  January 18, 2018 at 7:17 am
  
  Happy to hear the tutorial is easy to use. Thanks!
  
Melinda Glover says

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!

- Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage says
  
  January 18, 2018 at 7:18 am
  
  Melinda,
  yes, pockets too, that's a great idea, thanks!
  
robert & madeline Newton says

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 …

- Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage says
  
  January 18, 2018 at 7:16 am
  
  Thank you!