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Quick Fathers Day Gift

September 5, 2009 By Spoonful of Sugar - 64 Comments

Hope all the Aussie Dad’s have a great Fathers Day tomorrow! 

It can be difficult to think of quick gift ideas for men. This afternoon I have made my Dad a bin bag for his car using some Newsprint fabric.

It has the following features:

  • small and compact
  • can be tied on the back of the headrest
  • it stays open at the top so it is easy to throw rubbish in
  • its its sized so that you can recycle plastic produce bags as bin liners
  • it uses a recycled round margarine container to form its shape
  • can be easily laundered

Best of all, it can be made in well under an hour if you need a last minute gift idea!!

Materials:

  • one round margarine container with the bottom cut out – mine had a circumference of 14 inches
  • plastic bag
  • rubber band
  • external fabric – 14.5 inches x 15.5 inches
  • lining fabric: 14.5 inches x 5 inches
  • fabric ties – 2 inches x 28 inches

Method:

1. Position plastic bag in the margarine container, and secure bag opening with rubber band. (Refer to photo). This is the rubbish bag liner unit.

2. Fold the external fabric in half with the right sides together. Sew down the side and bottom to form a bag shape. Clip corners and turn out the right way. Press.

3. To make fabric ties, fold the long edges of the fabric in to the middle, and fold again to form a strip that is 0.5 inch wide.  Press. Stitch along edge. Cut in half to form two ties.

4. Sew lining strip in half with right sides together to form a tube shape. Sew a hem along the bottom edge. 

5.With right sides together, sandwich the ties between the lining and the external fabric and stitch around the top opening. Turn bin bag right side out and Press. Position the plastic bag liner unit in the fabric bin bag.

I decided to make a second one for our car using some cute Japanese Candy Bar fabric that we won last year from Sarah at Pink Petal Designs.  I think I will make some more for Christmas gifts. 

Sorry we have been a bit slow in answering emails and leaving comments this week. We are all a bit under the weather with the flu. Hopefully we will feel brighter next week! 

Posted by Lisa

Filed Under: Sewing

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Comments

  1. Tania - Jet Designs says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:22 am

    Excellent Idea Lisa – I think I might have a go at this – yes great for those people with everything. And seeing that my parents have joined the Grey Nomads traveling around now that they have retired I think this would make a great little extra gift for christmas.. We need to find a way to attach them to a table for those sewing scraps – big bulldog clip!

    Reply
  2. countrycosy says

    September 5, 2009 at 4:33 am

    What a great idea ! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Cathy says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:13 am

    Brilliant!! And not just for the guys either, but I love the one in newsprint for him! I hope you are all feeling better very soon xo

    Reply
  4. Purple Paisley Patch says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:17 am

    Great gift idea, thanks heaps! Wherever did you find that fabulous newsprint??? I hope you feel better soon.

    Reply
  5. Annie says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:20 am

    Brilliant idea

    Reply
  6. texmorg says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:22 am

    Great idea although it might take me a couple of hours. Every car should have at least one of these.
    Hope you are all feeling better soon.
    Linda

    Reply
  7. méri says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:29 am

    Great idea!

    For us here it’s strange to hear about spring and Father’s Day :))

    Hope the flu has gone and all of you are well
    xx

    Reply
  8. Renee says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:46 am

    such a great idea! And that newsprint fabric is fab – great job!

    Reply
  9. Cassie @ You Go Girl says

    September 5, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    Love it. Thanks for another great idea.

    Reply
  10. Catherine says

    September 5, 2009 at 3:21 am

    That is a fanatastic gift idea and it looks great. You are so clever. I hope you all feel better soon.:)

    Reply
  11. Just like Martha says

    September 5, 2009 at 3:25 am

    What a fab idea – will definitely be keeping this in mind for next year – every dad loves a clean car! Happy Fathers Day to your dad – hope you have a lovely Sunday xx

    Reply
  12. corry says

    September 5, 2009 at 4:03 am

    Great idea, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Tine says

    September 5, 2009 at 4:21 am

    That is a great idea!
    I’ll have to see if I can find something that would work instead of the margarine tub. This would be so great for my dad for Christmas!

    Reply
    • Cheryl says

      July 27, 2023 at 2:18 am

      I’m going to try sturdy plastic planters

      Reply
  14. Tracy says

    September 5, 2009 at 4:47 am

    That is sooo clever, Lisa! Sheerly brilliant idea…wow…My Dad would love something like this. Happy Dad’s Day to all there! Hope you feel better very soon–be taking good care.:o) ((HUGS))

    Reply
  15. CuteStuffInside says

    September 5, 2009 at 4:57 am

    What a wonderful idea!

    S.W.A.K.

    Reply
  16. Stephanie says

    September 5, 2009 at 5:03 am

    Terrific project and fabric. Feel better soon.

    Reply
  17. Rumi says

    September 5, 2009 at 5:10 am

    I am SO making one of these! Very clever idea.
    Feel better soon!

    Reply
  18. Heleen says

    September 5, 2009 at 5:52 am

    What a great idea! I have to remember it until we have fathersday in June. hope you feel better!

    Reply
  19. Christy says

    September 5, 2009 at 6:34 am

    perfect fabrics and tutorial! thank you for the awesome craft idea.

    Reply
  20. Terriaw says

    September 5, 2009 at 6:54 am

    Such a great idea! That newsprint is very cool, and perfect for this project.

    Reply
  21. Annette says

    September 5, 2009 at 7:03 am

    What a great idea! thanks for sharing it. Get feeling better soon.

    Reply
  22. Janis says

    September 5, 2009 at 7:25 am

    This is beyond marvelous!!! Thanks for sharing your CLEVER idea! It’s been too long, I’m off to read previous posts I’ve missed.

    Hope you are better soon!

    Reply
  23. Anne Heidi says

    September 5, 2009 at 7:25 am

    What a super idea!

    Reply
  24. Anina says

    September 5, 2009 at 8:45 am

    I think I need one of these for my car. Thanks for the tute!

    Reply
  25. Carrie says

    September 5, 2009 at 10:39 am

    Great project! I need to whip one of these up…the floor boards of my car are so full of kid snacks you could get trapped in the car for a week and be just fine.
    Hope you are feeling better soon!

    Reply
  26. Thimbleanna says

    September 5, 2009 at 10:49 am

    Oooh, such a cute and useful idea! Hope you’re all feeling better soon!

    Reply
  27. Tammy James says

    September 5, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    what a great idea I love the recycled container opening feature! Great work.

    Reply
  28. penny says

    September 5, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    What a wonderful, creative idea.

    Reply
  29. goldenbird says

    September 5, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Wow, that bag is great. Love the newsprint fabric, love the bag. What a nice gift!

    Reply
  30. lzilulu says

    September 5, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    For sooo many reasons, this is such a GREAT idea…thank you for sharing…off to the shed (my sewing room) NOW!!….oops better find an empty container first 😉
    lzilulu
    lzilulu.typepad.com

    Reply
  31. Kim says

    September 5, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    Very, Very, CLEVER!! I love it!

    Reply
  32. Journeying Five says

    September 5, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    what a great idea and so nice to be washable!

    Reply
  33. A World in a PAN says

    September 6, 2009 at 12:06 am

    Oh, my hsiband would lOVE htis. He always complains when anayone leaves papers behind in “his” car!

    Reply
  34. sewkalico says

    September 6, 2009 at 2:11 am

    This is very nice indeed!

    Reply
  35. Simone de Klerk says

    September 6, 2009 at 2:12 am

    What a lovely present! And what a great inventive idea. Thank you, Lisa for sharing the pattern with us!
    Hope the flu is out of your home now!

    Reply
  36. Sandrine says

    September 6, 2009 at 6:00 am

    Great present thanks for sharing the how to part ;)Hope you get better soon! x

    Reply
  37. casserole says

    September 6, 2009 at 7:10 am

    Awesome!! I posted a link to your project on Craft Gossip Sewing:

    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-hanging-trash-bin-bag-for-the-car/2009/09/06/

    –Anne

    Reply
  38. Handmade says

    September 7, 2009 at 12:28 am

    Well, that is just the bestest idea! Love it!

    Reply
  39. Dogwood says

    September 6, 2009 at 10:16 am

    So clever! I am going to be a copy cat and make some for my family and friends. I love them. Thanks. Enjoy your weekend.

    Reply
  40. Lynn Osborne says

    September 6, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    This looks like a great project! One question, what keeps the margarine container from slipping down and not staying up at the top edge?

    Reply
  41. A Spoonful Of Sugar says

    September 6, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Lyn – in answer to your question – the margarine container is a fairly firm fit which prevents it from slipping down. You could sew the side seam on a slight angle so that the top was slightly larger in circumference than the base, thereby preventing the margarine container from slipping down.

    Reply
  42. Leanne says

    September 6, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Not sure about fathers but if you could see my car I definitely need one of those.

    Reply
  43. Christine says

    September 6, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    I love this. Using a margarine container as a form is brilliant. I don’t have one… but I’m sure I have something else round and plastic.

    Reply
  44. Carrie P. says

    September 6, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Another great idea!!

    Reply
  45. eye_on_sparrow says

    September 6, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    This is a cute idea I may have to try it. I would love to know where you found that newsprint fabric? My daughter is a journalism major in college and I have been looking for newsprint fabric to make her a skirt.

    Reply
  46. Handmade in Israel says

    September 7, 2009 at 1:05 am

    This is great! I love the newsprint fabric.
    I gave you a little mention in my latest blog posting:
    http://lisa-handmadeinisrael.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html#4529346957997807784
    Hope you like it!

    Reply
  47. Suzie says

    September 7, 2009 at 7:44 am

    It is a great idea, Lisa! Beautiful fabric! Hope you are getting well soon, having the flu really puts one down.

    Reply
  48. Dancin' Puffin says

    September 8, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    Hope you all feel better soon x

    Reply
  49. Alison Boon says

    September 8, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    I’ve decided to make one to put under the sewing machine to catch all the threads. Awesome as always Lisa.

    Reply
  50. jacquie says

    September 8, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    another inspired idea. i haven’t quite been able to figure it out yet, but i will. i think these would make great gifts for anyone with a car!

    Reply
  51. Camille says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Good idea to put a container in it.
    I ve made a lot of “dustbin car” but with hard fabric on the top …
    I find it long to make ….

    Camille (France)

    Reply
  52. Cascade Lily says

    September 10, 2009 at 5:19 am

    Hope you are all feeling better. We’ve been sick too.

    You could use these as thread catchers for a sewing machine too – maybe not so long, but the same idea for sure!

    Reply
  53. Pamela says

    September 12, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    This is a really good idea. My husband is such a neat freak he would love something for Father’s Day to help us all tidy up!

    Reply
  54. Jenny says

    September 12, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    Wow! What a fabulous and useful idea

    Reply
  55. Shontelle says

    September 23, 2009 at 5:33 am

    What an awesome idea! I love the newspaper print fabric.

    Reply
  56. ♥ Ania z Zielonego Wzgórza ♥ says

    January 31, 2010 at 4:17 am

    Great idea!
    I`ve made it too: http://mojezielonewzgorze.blogspot.com/2010/01/podreczny-pomocnik-smietniczka.html

    Thanks for sharing :)))

    Reply
  57. gift to the Philippines says

    May 23, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    Nice idea’ I am sure my dad gonna love that, I will try to make something like that. Looking forward for your next post.

    -pia-

    Reply
  58. Mary says

    July 5, 2011 at 6:49 am

    Great design and tutorial! Just featured this on my blog at http://www.craftbuds.com/free-pattern-features-for-the-car/

    Reply
  59. Canadian Kristin says

    July 5, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This is exactly what I need for my always-messy minivan! I found you via craftbuds. Thanks for this quick and easy and well explained tutorial!

    Reply
  60. Debby McCaffrey says

    October 6, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Everyone laughs at me because I actually have a small bin in my car – even my grandchildren ask why I have a bin in the car! But my car doesn’t have junk floating all over the floor! This would be much better. Will attempt to make it.

    Reply
  61. Debby McCaffrey says

    October 6, 2012 at 4:58 am

    Love this idea. My family laugh at me because I have a small bin in my car – my grandchildren ask why I have a bin in the car. However at least my car is free of rubbish on the floor. But this would be better – will attempt to make it.

    Reply
  62. Elena Toledo says

    June 10, 2013 at 9:31 am

    I love the idea! but can we have some more pictures on how you cut out the fabrics and make it? Thank you! ♥

    Reply
  63. saritha says

    November 8, 2016 at 3:10 am

    It would have been easier to understand if there were pictures of each step!

    Reply

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