How to Make Your Own Mini Clothes Hamper

Clothes or laundry hampers not only help people to store dirty clothing until washing, but also to pre-sort and organize clothing by color or fabric type---making it easier to quickly throw in a load of laundry as needed without additional sorting. Mini hampers typically hold socks, undergarments, or other special care small wash load clothing. Typically, a person makes a hamper when unable to find one small enough for these items or one that matches home decor. To make your own mini clothes hamper, you simply need to decide on a hamper style and purchase a few easy-to-find items.

Things You'll Need

• Wicker or wooden basket or box with lid
• Garbage can with lid (optional)
• Fabric
• Measuring tape
• Pre-made liner or hamper bag
• Quickset adhesive
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Decorative accessories
• Sewing kit (optional)
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Leather cord (optional)

Instructions

1. Decide on the hamper's exterior appearance by selecting a box or bin that matches your interior design. For example, a lid-style mini square or round wicker or wooden box/bin or garbage can. In addition, decide on a hamper liner type (removable or attached) and material (canvas, mesh or some other fabric). If you choose to make a hamper with an attached liner, also decide if you want to use a pre-made miniature laundry/other fabric bag or piece of fabric.

2. Purchase the hamper box/bin and liner material---pre-made miniature laundry/other fabric bag or fabric. If using a piece of fabric, measure the box or bin interior---adding at least two-inches to the measurements to guarantee that you have enough material---before purchase.

3. Remove the box/bin's lid and place your pre-made bag inside if making a hamper with a removable liner. If making an attached liner, go to Step 4. Wrap the opening of the bag around the hamper's top edge to hold the bag in place and replace the lid.

4. Measure ½-inch to 1-inch down from the top edge of the hamper's opening on each wall and mark with a pencil. Go to Step 5, if using a piece of fabric. Open your pre-made bag and insert it into the box/bin. Run a bead of Quickset adhesive horizontally around the interior or exterior walls at the measurement points. If attaching inside, pull the opening of the bag up to the measurement lines and press to the adhesive. If attaching outside, pull the bag opening over the hamper's top edge and press into place.

5. Insert your piece of fabric into the box/bin and shape it into a rough bag form. Run a bead of Quickset adhesive horizontally along one interior or exterior wall. If attaching inside, press the fabric on that side into place. If attaching outside, pull the material over the hamper's top edges before gluing and cut away any excess fabric that passes the measurement points. Affix glue to one wall and attach your fabric. Repeat with the other walls until finished.

6. Decorate the exterior of your hamper with accessories such as artificial flowers or seashells.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have sewing experience, consider making a removable liner by a flat-style bag-liner by hand or with a sewing machine. Cut two equally sized rectangular pieces from your fabric using your measurements as a guideline. Along a short side of each piece, sew a seam. Align these seams with the inner part of the seams facing and the un-sewn sides of your pieces evenly aligned. Sew the three non-sewn sides together. Turn the bag inside out to use.

• To make a decorative edge on a hamper with an attached liner, consider sewing the liner to the edge with leather cord instead of gluing it in place.

References

• Fran's Wicker and Rattan Furniture
• Lowes