This DIY Fabric Scraps Storage Bin is easy to make and a handy way to corral fabric scraps. A drop cloth, tomato cage, and some 1/2″ plywood are all it takes to make this easy project!
I’m in the process of cleaning my craft room, and man, do I have a lot of fabric scraps. Every time I turn around, I find a small bit of fabric that’s not large enough to do a full project with, but could still be useful.
Since I needed an easy place to put these, I threw together a quick DIY fabric scraps storage bin to keep all of them in one nice, neat place.
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Materials
- Tomato Cage – I used a 14″ square cage that I found for less than $10 at Menards, but any cage that’s the same dimensions on the top and bottom will do. If you use a cylindrical cage, there are some minor changes to the process (cut your plywood in a circle instead of a square, etc) but nothing too complicated.
- Drop Cloth – Be sure to wash your dropcloth before sewing! I buy my drop cloths from Harbor Freight, but I’ve heard good things about these ones from Amazon if there’s not a Harbor Freight near you.
- 1/2″ or 3/4″ Plywood– I used a scrap piece I had around.
- Staple Gun and Staples – You’ll want longer staples for this project (I used 1/2″) because the stakes are what you’ll be stapling in place, and these are bulky.
- Spray Paint (Optional) – After I built the DIY Fabric Scraps Storage Bin, I decided it would look better black than green, so I took some black spray paint and painted it. This is clearly optional.
Part 1: Make Bin
Step 1: Assemble Tomato Cage
My tomato cage came flat, and required I unfold it and connect the loose sides. This was not difficult.
Step 2: Cut and Place Plywood Base
Since my tomato cage was 14″ square, I cut my 1/2″ piece of plywood to be a square with 14″ sides. Then I placed it at the bottom of the cage, about five inches from the end of the stakes.
Step 3: Fold and Secure Cage Stakes
This was the most difficult part of the project. I bent the stakes around the plywood piece and stapled them in place with the staple gun.
The main problem was that the stakes weren’t bent enough, and kept pulling out the staples. I think this would have been way easier and more exact if I had marked where each stake should be bent, and then removed the plywood and bent the stakes.
I didn’t think of this until afterward though, so I haven’t tried it. If you give it a shot, let me know how it goes.
Toward the end, I flipped the cage upside down so I could staple from the top down.
Step 4: Add Feet
I didn’t want the staples scratching my floors, plus my cage was a tad lopsided, so I added feet to the bottom with wood glue and brad nails to level everything out.
Step 5: Trim Cage
When I took the bin upstairs and put it in place, I decided it was a little taller than I’d like. So I took it back downstairs and cut it down using a jigsaw.
If you’re scared of cutting metal, know that there is really no reason to be. It goes slower than cutting wood, but there weren’t any sparks or anything.
Alternatively, you could buy a shorter cage. Mine was 47″ tall, but I think they sell 36″ tall tomato cages as well.
Part 2: Sew Liner
Step 1: Cut Fabric Sides
A fancy sewing person might opt to cut each side separately and sew them together to make a more rectangular shape. I am not that person. My sewing skills are mediocre at best, and I opt for the quick method rather than the right method 90% of the time.
The quick method in this project is to cut two pieces of fabric: one that is the four sides, one that is the base.
Since each side is 14″, and I wanted to leave a little extra fabric for seam allowances, I theoretically cut a piece that was 40″ tall x 58″ wide (14 x 4 + 2 inches for seam allowance.)
I say theoretically, because what I actually did was fold the fabric three times (for four sides,) making the first and last fold 15″ long, and the inside pieces 14″ long. Clearly, I didn’t feel like doing math that day.
Step 2: Pin and Sew Sides
I pinned the first side to the last side, right sides together, then sewed it in place.
Step 3: Add Base
Since the cage is 14″ square, I added a bit of fabric for seam allowance, and cut the base to be 15″ square. Then I pinned it to sides, and sewed it in place.
Step 4: Sew Hem
Finally, I folded the loose edges on the top of the liner, then pinned and sewed them in place.
Once the liner was done, I placed it in bin and folded up the edges a little for a bit of extra personality!
I also spray painted the bin black, since I wasn’t a big fan of the green.
I was a little worried mid-way through that the DIY fabric scrap storage bin was lopsided and strange, but after adding the liner and painting the bin, it looks great!
It’s super nice to have a place to put my fabric scraps, and this was an quick and easy project that was kind to the budget! If you like it too, be sure to save this post to Pinterest! And if you love space-saving organization projects, check out my Under the Bed Storage Drawers!
