18. Waterproof Oilcloth Craft & Toy Bin
What This Idea Means
Durable and easy to clean, the Waterproof Oilcloth Craft & Toy Bin uses laminated cotton or oilcloth exterior fabric. Liquid spills, paint drips, or dirty toys can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, making it practical for kid playrooms, kitchens, or plant pot covers.
What You Need
- 1/2 yard printed oilcloth or laminated cotton fabric
- 1/2 yard heavy canvas or nylon lining fabric
- Teflon sewing machine foot or walking foot (essential for stitching oilcloth)
- Masking tape or sewing clips (do not use pins as they leave permanent holes in oilcloth)
- Fine sewing needle (size 70/10)
How to Make It
- Cut exterior oilcloth and lining panels (18×14 inches for sides, 10×10 inches for base).
- Clip oilcloth pieces together using sewing clips (avoid pins).
- Attach Teflon foot to sewing machine to prevent oilcloth from sticking to machine feed dogs.
- Stitch oilcloth side seams using a medium-long stitch length (3.0mm) to avoid perforating fabric.
- Attach bottom oilcloth base panel to form sturdy waterproof outer shell.
- Assemble canvas or nylon lining shell separately.
- Join lining and oilcloth shell along top rim right sides facing, leave turning gap, flip right side out carefully, and topstitch rim smoothly.
Tips and Variations
- Tip: Place a piece of tissue paper between oilcloth and standard machine presser foot if you do not own a Teflon foot.
- Variation: Use as waterproof indoor plant pot hideout cover by sizing diameter to match standard terra cotta pots.