Car Tote/Garbage bags

We're going on vacation!  That's right, we're taking a family vacation....the whole family....EIGHTEEN PEOPLE!  Umm...what?! Does Yikes even cover it?  And we're driving.........umm....say whaaa?    That's right.  We're getting in a caravan of vehicles and hittin' the road.  From the tundra of North Dakota/Minnesota to the lovely gulf coast beaches of Fort Myers, Florida. 

 

Such a venture really attracts my need to organize and plan!

 

Knowing we have about a 30 hour drive (one way!) - 30 hours of being entertained - 30 hours of trash to be contained - I set out to find something to hold stuff....toys, books, crayons, games, trash...whatever.  I was looking for anything that could help keep the cars at least somewhat organized. That quest led me to these little guys: 

 

My car tote/trash bag
 

I found the original pattern at http://tinkerfrog.blogspot.com/2011/01/ba-dunk-ba-dunk-or-where-to-put-your.html

For the most part the instructions were easy to follow....not completely, but mostly.  Here's my instructions:

Materials:

2 - 12" x 12" squares of laminated fabric (the kind of fabric you would use for a raincoat)
2 - 12" x 12" squares of cotton fabric
2 - 18" x 2" strips of cotton fabric

1. For the straps:

I believe the easiest way to create the straps is to pin the edges of the cotton fabric strips together with the right sides together.  You will also want to turn up the edge of one end of each strap to give it a finished look when it's completed.  Sew the edges and turn the strap right side out. 



This is what I mean by turn up the edge of one of the edges of the strap for a finished edge. 


 

Another way to create the straps is to press each one in half and turn the raw edges to the center.  Pin along the edges, making sure to include one end, and sew it. 

Like this:



Strap pressed in center with raw edges turned in, pinned and ready to be sewn.

Either way works.  It just depends on what you prefer and are comfortable with.

2. Pin the two pieces of laminated fabric, right sides together on three sides.  Do the same with the cotton fabric and sew the pinned sides. 

3. This is where I thought it got tricky. You need to create a gusset on each corner you just created. Whoa! A what?! Don't worry. You can do it! Here's how: nest the side seam with the bottom seam.  Nesting seams means to match the seams together. 

Here's what it looks like to nest seams:



Nesting seams - push pin through one seam and into another, then back to get the seams to match up and be nicely nested.

Nesting seams is really pretty easy.  However, I found this very difficult because you aren't able to see both seams at the same time because one is at the bottom of the bag. 

When you feel you have the seams nested as best you can, measure down 2" from the corner:

Find the area where the width measures 4" wide:

After I measured 2" down and 4" across, I drew a line and pinned it down:

 

 

This is the line you will sew to create the gusset.

 

 

 

Viola! Gusset made! Now you have a bag that will stand by itself. 

 

 

 

We're almost done....

 

 

4. Pin the straps to the outter fabric of the bag by measuring 2 1/2" toward the center from each seam and pin raw edges of straps in place. Baste 1/8" from fabric edge. 

 

 

 

Straps pinned on. I pinned them at the top as well as a little ways down so that they would 1) stay out of the way and not get sewn into the seam at the top and 2) so they didn't move around and get sewn on crooked. 

 

4. Turn outer fabric right side out and keep inner fabric wrong side out.  Put outer fabric inside inner fabric and pin together (RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER!) around the top, leaving a 4" gap and making sure to nest the side seams.  This gap is where you will pull the fabric through to turn the whole thing right side out.  Confused yet?  Don't worry - this part sounds A LOT worse than it really is!  For the visual learners, here are some pictures to help you. 

 

a. Outer fabric is right side out and is inside the iner fabric, which is right side in - making the right sides together.

 

b. Pin along the top edge.

 

Bag pinned at top.

c. Side seams nested.

Nested seams

 

 

I always make sure the seam allowances from the side seams will lay flat by pinning them down before sewing.

Side seam allowances pinned down to make sure they lay flat.

d. Leaving a 4" gap to pull the fabric through. 

Bag pinned at top with 4" gap for turning.

 

5. Sew around the pinned portion of the top of the bag. 

 

6. Pull bag through the gap.

 

7. Pin all the way around the top portion of the bag. 

 

8. Top stitch around the top of the bag. This should be pretty close to the edge.  You want to make sure it's not too far down or you'll miss closing the gap you left to turn the bag. 

 

And that's it!  You're done!!! YAY!

 

Now tie it to your car's head rest and enjoy! 

 

 

 

While I plan to use these in the back seat areas for our big road trip, I have already tied one to the head rest of the passenger side seat of my car facing the front so I can use it as a trash bag. 

 

The laminated fabric is good if you plan to use this as a trash bag for things that can get wet or sticky like pop cans, juice boxes, etc.  I also made a couple with all fabric lining, which worked just fine too. It's up to you - what ever works. 

I'll be sure to let you know how it works!