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Clothespin Bag Pattern

A clothespin bag can keep your clothespins tidy and readily available when hanging laundry on the line.

A clothespin bag hanging from laundry pole outside with text overlay.

Get your spring cleaning started off in style by making your laundry tasks easier and more lovely with this easy to follow clothespin bag pattern.

Simple sundresses and fresh sheets in a row feel like summer, but hanging linens outside to dry can feel like a chore. Choose colorful fabric, like these sunny lemons, for your peg bag to brighten up the task.

The bag is hung with a child sized hanger so that you can easily move it down the line. Its width is just right for holding about 100 clothespins.

This project is sewn with cotton fabric and straight lines, making is ideal for beginners. If you have inclement weather or prefer to dry your clothes in a dryer, try sewing up some reusable dryer sheets too.

Clothespin bag hanging outside on rusty post in sunshine

Supplies Needed

  • 3 Fabric Quarters
  • Child’s Hanger
  • Iron
  • Safety Pin
  • Sewing Clips
  • Measuring Tape
  • Rotary Cutter
  • Cutting Mat
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Sewing Machine
Green and yellow fabric, hanger, iron, sewing clips and rotary cutter

Cotton fabric is best for this project, and you don’t need a lot. Fabric quarters work well, especially if you like to mix and match patterns.

Any size hanger will work, but one meant for children makes the size of the bag more manageable. Just make sure you cut your fabric two inches wider than the width of the hanger.

How to Make a Clothespin Bag

Begin by pressing your fabric quarters with an iron.

Pieces of fabric cut to size sitting on a cutting mat with rotary cutter.

Then cut your fabric to the following dimensions using a rotary cutter and cutting mat:

  • Back: 13″ x 22″
  • Front Top: 13″ x 8″
  • Front Bottom: 13″ x 11″
  • Ruffle (Optional): 4.5″ x 22″
Tube of fabric folded in half lengthwise held by clips

If you are adding a ruffle, fold the cut ruffle piece of fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together. Clip to hold.

Sewing machine sewing tube of fabric

Sew the open edge with your sewing machine using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Tube of fabric with safety pin pinned to one end

Pin a safety pin to one end of the ruffle.

Tube of fabric being pushed through itself to turn right side out

Push the safety pin through the tube to turn it right side out.

Ironing fabric tube

Next press the ruffle with its seam running down the center.

Fabric tube pinned to bottom piece of fabric

Lay the ruffle on top of your bottom fabric piece. Clip the edges together, 3″ from the bottom edge, with all right sides facing up.

Then gather the fabric to form the ruffles. You can pin these in place now, or make them as you sew.

Sewing machine sewing ruffles

Sew down the center of the ruffle.

Ironing 1/4" seam allowance

Now fold the top edge of the bottom fabric over 1/4″ and press. Repeat.

Do this for the top fabric piece as well.

Sewing machine sewing double stitch

Sew the seams with a double stitch to secure. This seam will get a lot of use when moving clothespins in and out of the bag.

square of fabric with ruffle sewn on sitting next to iron on ironing board.

Press all seams.

Top and Bottom fabric pieces clipped to back with right sides together

Then lay the top and bottom pieces on the back fabric with short edges aligned. There will be space in the center where the backing is revealed. Clip in place.

Sewing clothespin bag on sewing machine

Sew around the perimeter leaving a 2″ opening at the top for the hanger.

Clothespin bag sewn together inside out

Turn the clothespin bag inside out.

Clothespin bag turned right side out

Sew around the opening for the hanger being sure to back stitch at the beginning and end to secure it.

Sewing machine sewing around opening for hanger

Press all seams.

Now top stitch all the way around the perimeter of the bag, as close to the edge as possible. Go around the opening for the hanger.

Sewing machine top stitching around clothespin bag

At this point, place your hanger through the opening to make sure it fits and will hang well. Make any adjustments necessary.

Hanger being inserted in clothespin bag

Next pull the top and bottom together so the backing folds onto itself.

Back fabric gathered between top and bottom pieces

Sew the fold, going over it several times for added strength.

Completed DIY clothespin bag with lemons fabric and gingham ruffle

Your clothespin bag is complete!

To use, hang it using the hook of the hanger, and fill the bottom pouch with clothespins. Toss it in the laundry too when needed.

Yield: 1 Clothespin Bag

Clothespin Bag

Completed DIY clothespin bag with lemons fabric and gingham ruffle

Follow this easy tutorial to make a beautiful and functional clothespin bag for your laundry chores.

Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • 3 Fabric Quarters
  • Child's Hanger
  • Coordinating Thread

Instructions

  1. Press fabric.
  2. Cut dimensions: Back (13" x 22"); Front Top (13" x 8"); Front Bottom (13" x 11"); Ruffle (4.5" x 22").
  3. Fold ruffle in half lengthwise with right sides together and clip.
  4. Sew with 1/2" seam allowance.
  5. Pin safety pin to one end and turn inside out.
  6. Press with seam running down center of ruffle.
  7. Clip ruffle to Front Bottom fabric with edges aligned, 3" from bottom edge, right sides up.
  8. Gather ruffles as you sew down the center of the ruffle fabric.
  9. Fold top edge of Front Bottom under 1/4" and press. Repeat.
  10. Repeat for bottom edge of Front Top fabric.
  11. Sew with double stitch.
  12. Press seams.
  13. Lay Front Top and Front Bottom on Back with right sides together, short edges aligned.
  14. Clip to hold.
  15. Sew around perimeter, leaving a 2" opening at center of top edge.
  16. Turn bag right side out.
  17. Sew around hanger opening.
  18. Press all seams.
  19. Top stitch around perimeter.
  20. Pull Front Bottom to meet Front Top, folding backing.
  21. Sew several times to hold.
  22. Insert hanger through hole and fill with clothespins.

Notes

Insert your hanger through the hole after step 19 to make sure the bag hangs well. Hangers can be shaped a bit different, so make any adjustments necessary for the bag to hang nicely.

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