Hanging Hamper
Hanging Hamper I’m always looking for new notions, tools, and materials to enhance my sewing, making it fun and easy. Recently I purchased some vinyl screen to use for a project. This material comes in a variety of colors and looks like window screen. I wanted to make a hamper that would fit on a clothes hanger like a garment bag, to be used as a hamper for lingerie or a storage place for scarves and gloves in a hall closet. You may choose to embroidery a name or apply other trim or embellishment to make this a special gift. Supply List: ½ yd. vinyl screen matching thread optional: rick rack or trim
½ yd. fabric (44” wide) presser foot for vinyl or leather 1 garment hanger (plastic or wood)
To make the pattern: Lay your hanger on a piece of heavy paper and trace down from the neck of the hook, around the curved shoulders and then draw a straight line down to a length of 26.5” (from the base of the hanger hook). This is the front of the hamper. It will measure 18” x 26.5”. The back pattern for the top of the hamper measures 18” x 8.5”. The vinyl screen measurement is: 18” x 18”. The facing for the opening slot measures: 4” x 14”. All seams are ½ “. Cut the front and facing fabric. Serge or overcast the edges of both. Lay the facing right side down on the right side of front; 10” down from top of neck and centered between sides. Pin in place and using a marking pencil, draw a 2” x 12” rectangle in the center of the facing. Stitch around this shape on the line. Next, cut out this center, leaving ¼ “seam around the inside of the shape. Snip into each corner making it easier to turn the facing. Turn to the inside and press flat, then top stitch around the outside edge of the facing. (Optional: At this step, you may want to apply trim, embroidery, or embellishment to the front of the bag.) Cut the top fabric and the 18” square of vinyl screen for the bottom half. Serge or overcast the seams on the top back piece then stitch to vinyl screen with the fabric side down. Fold over and press ½” at the top of the neck on both front and back. Join back and front, right sides together, stitching ½” seam, again with the fabric side down. Turn inside out and lightly press seams with iron using a pressing cloth; being careful not to touch the vinyl screen with a hot iron. Insert the hanger and you have a nifty clothes hamper or bag for bathtub toys, storage for scarves and gloves, or to hang it next to your sewing machine for quilt scraps. Sally Niemann 2011 ©
½ yd. fabric (44” wide) presser foot for vinyl or leather 1 garment hanger (plastic or wood)
To make the pattern: Lay your hanger on a piece of heavy paper and trace down from the neck of the hook, around the curved shoulders and then draw a straight line down to a length of 26.5” (from the base of the hanger hook). This is the front of the hamper. It will measure 18” x 26.5”. The back pattern for the top of the hamper measures 18” x 8.5”. The vinyl screen measurement is: 18” x 18”. The facing for the opening slot measures: 4” x 14”. All seams are ½ “. Cut the front and facing fabric. Serge or overcast the edges of both. Lay the facing right side down on the right side of front; 10” down from top of neck and centered between sides. Pin in place and using a marking pencil, draw a 2” x 12” rectangle in the center of the facing. Stitch around this shape on the line. Next, cut out this center, leaving ¼ “seam around the inside of the shape. Snip into each corner making it easier to turn the facing. Turn to the inside and press flat, then top stitch around the outside edge of the facing. (Optional: At this step, you may want to apply trim, embroidery, or embellishment to the front of the bag.) Cut the top fabric and the 18” square of vinyl screen for the bottom half. Serge or overcast the seams on the top back piece then stitch to vinyl screen with the fabric side down. Fold over and press ½” at the top of the neck on both front and back. Join back and front, right sides together, stitching ½” seam, again with the fabric side down. Turn inside out and lightly press seams with iron using a pressing cloth; being careful not to touch the vinyl screen with a hot iron. Insert the hanger and you have a nifty clothes hamper or bag for bathtub toys, storage for scarves and gloves, or to hang it next to your sewing machine for quilt scraps. Sally Niemann 2011 ©
