Fun Laundry Bags for Camp
Whether you're sending an eight year old to sleep-away camp or your eighteen year old to an out of state university, these fun laundry bags are just the thing to keep them organized with a taste of home! You can sew them in any colors you - or your child - likes, and they can be decorated in any number of ways (see various ideas at bottom). And if you do your laundry at the Laundromat, or have to go down to the basement for a washer and dryer, then you can sew a couple for yourself, too! The materials listed are for two laundry bags of equal size, but you can obviously make as many as you like. And when the bags get dirty, you can throw them in the wash, too!
YOU WILL NEED:
1 1/4 yard each of two different colored fabrics (use a sturdy, woven fabric such as cotton twill) - we'll call them Fabric A and Fabric B.
Thread to match each color fabric - we'll call them Thread A and Thread B (you'll need at least two spools if not three, because of the zigzag stitching.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
First of all, pre-wash and dry the fabric before cutting or sewing to allow for any possible shrinkage.
Cut two 20" x 40" pieces from each fabric.
Cut two 1 1/2" x 40" pieces from each fabric.
Now you have to decide which sewing method you prefer: to thread two bobbins and keep switching as you sew each stage of the project, or to sew one bag completely and then start the other. (I've opted for the second method, so the instructions are written accordingly, but feel free to use the first option if it's easier for you.)
OK, here we go.
Take the two 1 1/2 inch pieces from fabric A.
Fold the short edges under 1/2 inch.
Thread the machine and bobbin with thread A, and place the folded edge under the presser foot.
Sew forward to the end of the fold, and then backstitch up toward the point where you began. Do this two or three times, repeating for other folded end of fabric A.
Fold each 1 1/2" strip in half widthwise, and insert enough straight pins to secure the fold.
Insert the strip into the machine so that the needle is positioned to enter the fabric as close to the open edges as possible.
Sew down the length of the strip.
Repeat for second 1 1/2" strip, and set aside.
Take the 20" x 40" pieces of fabric, and sew a zigzag stitch all around the edges, to prevent unraveling. (If you own an over-lock machine - or have access to one - then obviously skip this step.)
Lay the pieces one on top of the other, right sides together.
Mark 4" from the top on each side.
Beginning at the point you just marked, pin the sides and bottom of the bag together.
Sew the sides and bottom of the bag together, using a 1/2" seam allowance and making sure to leave those four inches at the top!
Remove the bag from the machine.
Fold the top edges of each side down to meet the 4" mark you made before (this will give you a 2" casing), and pin.
Sew each top edge separate so that the sides will be left open (for the drawstrings).
With a large safety pin or bodkin (those special, blunt needles used to pull cording or elastic through hems), pull the drawstrings through the casing, leaving extra on each side to pull the bag closed.
Make a small knot at the end of each drawstring.
You just finished your first bag! Now all you have to do is repeat the process for fabric B, and you're done!!
FOR DECORATION
1) If you have an embroidery stitch on your machine - and you know how to use it - you can embroider the words "Wash Me" on one bag, and "Wear Me" on the other. Use contrasting colors for this; if you bought blue and yellow fabric, then embroider the yellow bag with blue and the blue bag with yellow. Make sure to do the embroider at the very beginning, before you pin and sew!
2) You can use puffy paints or special fabric paints to write or make any design you wish on the bags.
3) If you're sewing the bags for a small child going to camp, consider using fabrics in light enough colors so that he/she can decorate the bags with Magic Markers.
4) Press in sequins or other decorative items. You can even sew on bright colored buttons!
Enjoy!