How to Sew a Durable Cotton Laundry Bag

If you have to haul your laundry any distance to the washing machine, you know you need a durable laundry bag in which to carry it. You can easily sew a durable cotton laundry bag even if you have minimal sewing skills.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 yard of fabric
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Steam iron
• Ironing board
• Ruler
• 2 yards of cotton cord
• Safety pin

1. Choose a sturdy cotton fabric for your laundry bag. You can choose something like denim, but there are other cotton fabrics, such as canvas, that can work well for this project. Cut the fabric into two equal pieces. Each piece should be approximately 24 by 26 inches.

2. Pin the two pieces of fabric with their right sides together. Leave one narrow side unpinned for the mouth of the laundry bag.

3. Start sewing a ½-inch seam on one side. Backstitch a couple stitches to start, and then sew two inches and backstitch again. Leave a 1-inch gap.

4. Resume sewing by backstitching. Sew all the way to the first corner, pivot, sew the bottom of the laundry bag, pivot and sew to within three inches of the top of the bag. Backstitch again. Leave another 1-inch gap. Finish the seam with backstitching on both ends of the seam.

5. Press the seams open. Turn the laundry bag right side out.

6. Edge stitch the opening of the bag with a zigzag stitch. Or turn it under ¼ inch and stitch it. Turn under a 1-inch hem. Stitch close to the edge of the hem all the way around the laundry bag.

7. Cut the cording into two equal pieces. Tie a knot in one end of one piece. Put the safety pin into the knot. Use the safety pin to guide the cording into the opening in the seam. Bring the pin and cording out the other side of the bag. Repeat for the other piece of cording on the other side of the bag. Tie large knots in the cording so that it doesn't pull through.