Tutorial: Cardboard Box Turned Fabric Covered Bin

I don’t know about you, but I can always use more storage around my house. I had been saving empty baby wipe boxes just for this project. They’re the perfect size and super sturdy. For the fabric I used a tablecloth I found on clearance. Anytime I find quality tablecloths or bedsheets for less than I can buy a couple yards of fabric I snatch them up. Even better, it was already hemmed for me. Score!

To begin, you’ll want to grab some scissors and cut off the top flaps of the box. Set the two longer flaps aside. You’re going to use them here in a bit.

First you’re going to prep for the outer fabric. Measure around the sides of your box. My box measured 34” around. Since I’m going to use a 1/2” seam allowance on the side seam I’ll add an extra 1” to the width of fabric I need to cut.

Now measure from the top of your box to the middle of the bottom. My box measured 14 1/2”. I want to use a 1/4″ seam allowance on the bottom seams so I’ll add an extra 1/4” to the height of the fabric I need to cut. This is the same measurement you’re going to add to for the lining, but more about that later.

Cut your fabric using the measurements you just took. Once your fabric is cut, pin your side seam with the fabric right sides together. Sew it into a tube using a 1/2” seam allowance.

Pull your tube of fabric (wrong sides still facing out) over the box. I prefer the one side seam to lay on the corner of the box so it isn’t too noticeable.

Make sure that you’ve got the fabric laying where you want it, then pin it all the way across like you see in the picture.

Carefully take the box out of the fabric, then sew the seam using a 1/4” seam allowance.

Place the fabric back over the box and lay it on the side. Place pins where the fabric creates a triangle like you see in the picture. Flip the box and repeat on the other side.

You can take a ruler and draw a line where the pins are if you want. I prefer to just eyeball it and make sure to remove the pins as I go. Sew each side.

Cut the extra fabric off the corners.

You should end up with a flat bottom like this.

Turn it inside out and you’re all done sewing the outer fabric.

The steps to sewing the lining are pretty much the same. You’ll need to cut your fabric slightly taller though since you want it to overlap to the outside. This measurement depends on how much fabric you want overlapping and how you decide to hem it. I added about 2 1/2” to my height measurement, and then still added 1/2” for the seam allowance. My fabric was already hemmed when I cut it since I used the edge of a tablecloth. If you need to hem the fabric you’ll also need to consider that. Once your fabric is cut, repeat the steps above just like you did for the outer fabric.

Now that you’ve got both your outer fabric and lining fabric sewn lets get the box ready to go. Since the fabric was a light color I could see through it more than I liked. Thankfully it was an easy fix. I just grabbed the white side of some wrapping paper I had laying around, cut it down, and glued it to the sides of the box.

Now grab your glue gun and the two long cardboard flap pieces from earlier. Glue them into the bottom of the box to add a little more stability.

Pull your outer fabric onto the box and hot glue it all around the edges of the box.

Place the lining fabric into the box, with the extra hanging over the edge. You can use hot glue to attach it again if you’d like. Mine stays without the glue so I’m happy leaving it just like this.

There you have it! It doesn’t take much to turn a boring cardboard box into a fabric covered bin!