On-the-Road Series:
DIY Toy Bags for the Car
With the advent of summer typically comes vacations, beach trips, and extra time spent in the car. As fun and safe as it is(n’t) to constantly have to turn around and hand your child a new toy or book to look at during the ride, providing children with a way to choose their own toys as often as they like is a good idea.
This bag is the perfect size to hold a few favorite books and several small toys to keep a child occupied while riding in the car. The mesh front makes it easier for kids to see the contents and find exactly what they want to play with.
Making this bag is a very simple sewing project. Essentially, all you have to do is cut out four squares and sew them together with bias tape. The most difficult part is just sandwiching the layers between the bias tape.
The directions for making the toy bag are below. And for a chance to win this Dr. Seuss toy bag, just leave a comment below telling me your travel plans for the summer and what items would fill your child’s toy bag. I will announce the winner on Saturday.
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Materials Needed
- 2 12″x12″ pieces of mesh fabric
- 2 12″x12″ pieces of coordinating fabric (you can use two lightweight cotton pieces, or use a heavier weight for the back piece)
- 2 yards coordinating double-fold bias tape
Directions
1. Cut out your fabric pieces, 12 inches by 12 inches. You need two mesh pieces and two cotton pieces.
front, back, and two mesh pieces
2. Lay your pieces together as follows: Cotton pieces wrong sides together, then the mesh on top of whichever piece you want to show on the front of your bag. Pin the pieces together.
all four pieces pinned together
3. Sew a basting stitch around the sides and bottom of the bag with 1/2 inch seam allowance. (To sew a basting stitch, increase your stitch length to the longest setting. You are just wanting to hold the pieces together until you sew the bias tape around all the edges).
Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch.
4. Cut a piece of bias tape to 25 inches. Take the two ends, unfold them, and sew them right sides together with a 1/2 inch seam. Press the seam open and then fold the bias tape back along creases. You should now have a loop of bias tape 24 inches long.
5. Take your loop of bias tape and fit it around the top of the bag. Sandwich the fabric in between the bias tape as you fit it around the entire opening. Take care to get the top edges of the bag all the way in to the back of the fold in the bias tape. The two mesh pieces make the front of the bag, and the two cotton pieces make the back. Pin in place.
The two mesh front pieces are sandwiched in the fold of the bias tape.
6. Sew around entire top of the bag, about a 1/4 inch from the bottom edge of the bias tape. I used a zigzag stitch, but a straight stitch or a different decorative stitch would be fine.
7. Cut another piece of bias tape 70 inches long. Take the two ends, unfold them, and sew them right sides together with a 1/2 inch seam. Press the seam open and then fold the bias tape back along creases.
8. Starting in the middle at the bottom of the bag, sandwich all four layers in the fold of the bias tape. Take care to get the edge of the bag all the way in to the back of the fold in the bias tape. Pin in place. Continue around the bottom and both sides of the bag. You will have a lot of extra bias tape at the top of the bag. This will be the handle you use to hang the bag.
The bottom edge of the bag sandwiched in the fold of the bias tape.
9. Sew around the sides and bottom of the bag about a 1/4 inch from the unfolded edge of the bias tape. Continue to sew around the extra bias tape for the handle staying a 1/4 inch from the unfolded edge.
10. Press with an iron around all the edges and you are finished!
Don’t forget to comment to enter the giveaway! And I’d love to know if you make this bag. Please let me know how it turned out and if you have any questions!
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Emma McGann says
Thanks for sharing these great ideas. I would like to give a gift to my kids. Hope she will love it a lot.
Jame Jirayu says
love this type of reusable bag. They’re durable, easy to clean, and way brandable. I would love to see more than just grocery stores using bags like this. Clothing stores, convenience stores, toy stores…
Sharon says
Well, a DIY Toy Bags for the Car
What a fantastic idea. Really helps me to make a choice now.
Cheers Sharon…
Michelle Duncan says
Very nice! I won’t make any promises about making my own …..but I’d love win one for the kids!
kaylyn van camp says
Love these bags!! Would love to win one. 🙂
kaylyn van camp says
Love these bags!! Would love to win one. 🙂
Kelly says
Cute! We are finally facing our long-awaited trip to Portland, OR, to visit friends and family– 12 hours with a 11-month-old. Yikes. I already can’t wait for it (the drive) to be over. We’ll pack books and her go-to stuffed animals, and we’ll definitely need some new toys to try to keep her occupied– she can only sleep so much!
Kelly says
Cute! We are finally facing our long-awaited trip to Portland, OR, to visit friends and family– 12 hours with a 11-month-old. Yikes. I already can’t wait for it (the drive) to be over. We’ll pack books and her go-to stuffed animals, and we’ll definitely need some new toys to try to keep her occupied– she can only sleep so much!
Diana Meredith says
We aren’t really going anywhere this summer with a baby due in July, but I’m sure we’ll be visiting family this fall. Audrey’s toy bag would have books, stickers, and maybe a small doll.
Diana Meredith says
We aren’t really going anywhere this summer with a baby due in July, but I’m sure we’ll be visiting family this fall. Audrey’s toy bag would have books, stickers, and maybe a small doll.
Melanie says
Such a cute idea! We will be traveling to Oklahoma this summer. Yikes! Luke’s toy bag will be filled with plastic squishy books and mostly various chew toys, some rattles and rings.
Melanie says
Such a cute idea! We will be traveling to Oklahoma this summer. Yikes! Luke’s toy bag will be filled with plastic squishy books and mostly various chew toys, some rattles and rings.