I need basic sewing guidance

[ohgillian]

Hi! I don't really go here. I have basic sewing skills and a great machine, and I would love a little help figuring out how to do what i want to do.

I have two laundry hampers like this:



The bag in H's hamper is always falling down into the hamper when he tosses his clothes in. I think this is partly b/c his clothes are bigger and heavier than my clothes. (I don't have this problem in my hamper.)

I'd like to make a replacement bag that would be way taller, so that it would fold down over the outside of the hamper much farther than in the picture. Like, maybe even halfway down. We keep the hampers in our closets. I don't care how it looks. I'm just tired of having to take out half of the dirty laundry to find the bag.

What kind of fabric should I buy for this? It seems to be made of just a lightweight cotton now. I'm nervous to get something very heavy because I don't know how to choose the right needle for my machine to sew on heavy fabric, even though I know the machine can do canvas, etc.

Is this project as easy as I think it will be? It seems like I'll just need to sew on the bottom, sew up the side seam, and then if I feel like it add a channel for a tie?

[mala]

Any woven cotton will work, really. A muslin will probably be a good durable but cheap choice. Yes, it really can just be that easy. I'd take the lazy way and sew it like a giant tote bag and fold down the top for elastic or a tie. Just make sure the "bag" is big enough to fill out the hamper.

[shortcake2675]

Prewash the fabric so you can wash the bag. Muslin will shrink some. Look up some methods to finish the exposed seams or line the bag.

[dragon's breath]

Honestly, since the inside would not be seen, I'd probably just cut the bottom off the current bag, sew the new fabric to the bottom (sew the side seam, sew the two pieces together, then sew a bottom seam, boxed or just straight). That way the top of the bag still has the original fabric and tie, and you won't need as much new fabric.  I agree with a regular muslin or similar cotton fabric.  You probably only need width of fabric for the added height, then just measure the width of the bag, multiply by two, and add an extra couple inches for seam allowance and straightening fabric, if needed.

[ohgillian]

Apr 9, 2019 19:30:15 GMT -5 dragon's breath said:

Honestly, since the inside would not be seen, I'd probably just cut the bottom off the current bag, sew the new fabric to the bottom (sew the side seam, sew the two pieces together, then sew a bottom seam, boxed or just straight). That way the top of the bag still has the original fabric and tie, and you won't need as much new fabric.  I agree with a regular muslin or similar cotton fabric.  You probably only need width of fabric for the added height, then just measure the width of the bag, multiply by two, and add an extra couple inches for seam allowance and straightening fabric, if needed.

This is brilliant!

[TBM]

Alternately, you could cut the current bag in half, use both parts and attach a new section in the middle.