homemaking with E: repurposing an old trash can as a hamper

Awhile ago we replaced our kitchen trash can because the step thingy wouldn't open the lid anymore, but I felt bad about just throwing the old trash can away. It's springtime so that means lots of rain and that means our dog gets muddy paws, so we use a nice cheap ($1.50 for two!) towel to wipe them off before she really comes inside. We also switched to using flour sack towels in the kitchen recently and those add bulk to the regular laundry, so my husband had the brilliant idea to use the old trash can as a hamper for that sort of thing.

You will need 1 1/4 yard of fabric and 20 inches of ribbon/string. (I actually used 1 yd of plain white flannel and 1/4 yd of decorative cotton)

The first thing you need to do is figure out your measurements. My trash can was 24" tall on the inside with a diameter of 11". Also the back piece that the string will be tied around is 5" wide.

(well the real first thing I did was air out the trash can, spray it down with the hose, let it air out some more, spray it with some lysol, and then let it air out even more)

You'll need a circle that is one inch wider than the diameter (12" for me). And either one or two rectangular pieces, depending on whether or not it's all the same fabric. The white rectangle is 21" (20" + 1" seam allowance) x 35.5" (34.5" (π x diameter) + 1" seam allowance) and the green rectangle is 9" x 35.5". If you're using the same fabric, it should be the circumference +1" x the height + 4-5". I would've done 35.5" x 28".

Cut small incisions every few inches along one of the 35.5" sides of the rectangle and pin it to the circle, making sure there's about a 1/2" overlap of the 21" sides.

If you're not using the same fabric, pin the green fabric to the other 35.5" end of the white fabric. Then cut out a small rectangle on each end so you can fold it over the top and tie it around the back. Since my trash can was 5" long back there, I cut it 3.5" inside and that extra 4-5" down. Also add a small cut at the diagonal so you can hem it back.

Then sew it all together. I chose to first attach the green and white fabric and then do the hems for the cut outs on either end of the green fabric. After that I sewed down the long vertical seam along the back. Then I finally sewed it all to the circular bottom. Before you sew along the top seam, make sure you cut two 10" lengths of the ribbon/string you'll be using to tie the liner in place. Pin one in place, fold the fabric over, and sew across the ribbon. It'll only take a few stitches and then carefully turn the fabric and sew the top hem.

Pin one in place, fold the fabric over, and sew across the ribbon. It'll only take a few stitches and then carefully turn the fabric 90* clockwise and sew the top hem.