How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

heather handmade sewing

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Learn how to make a DIY fabric tray with fabric scraps for simple organizing. It’s a great beginner sewing project that makes an easy gift!

One of my side passions is organizing. I don’t claim to be all that good at it, but I like to have as many boxes, baskets, and bins as possible. It can get expensive quickly so making some from fabric helps offset the cost.

I made some DIY fabric trays with fabric and interfacing, and I love the result. They hold a lot of little stuff and I got to choose some really fun fabrics. I made one that is permanently sewn, and one that snaps so it can be unsnapped and stored flat.

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

I made one with quilting cotton that has lots of family and together phrases. I like to store my small stuff in it. Then I made one with Harry Potter fabric for my sons room. He often collects rocks and small toys that need a space.

How much fabric do I need?

If you are making a small tray you can use one fat quarter. If you are making a slightly larger tray you can use 1/3 of a yard. You’ll need the same amount of interfacing.

What fabric should I use to make a DIY fabric tray?

Quilting cotton and canvas work best for a fabric tray. You’ll need some medium weight to heavy weight interfacing to make your tray stiff enough to hold it’s shape.

How big can the fabric tray be?

The tray can’t be too large or the fabric will stop holding it’s shape at the sides. I recommend using fabric rectangles that are 18 inch by 12 inch or smaller.

sew corners

Do you love to sew? Try one of these sewing projects:

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

supplies

  • Fat quarter or 1/3 yard of fabric – quilting cotton or canvas
  • Fat quarter or 1/3 yard or medium weight or heavy weight interfacing
  • Optional: plastic snaps and snap pliers
  • Sewing tools
  • Sewing machine
fabric and interfacing

Cut out two matching rectangles as small as 6 inch by 6 inch to as large as 18 inch by 12 inch. You can use a rectangle or square shape. Cut two of the same pieces from interfacing.

cut fabric into rectangles

Fuse the interfacing pieces to the back of the fabric pieces.

fuse interfacing to fabric

Place the fabric pieces right sides together and pin.

pin right sides together

Sew around the edges with a 3/8 inch seam allowance pivoting at the corners. Leave a 4 inch hole open backstitching when you start and when you stop.

sew around but leave a hole

Trim all the corners to reduce bulk.

trim corners

Turn it right side out and then poke out the corners with a point turner.

turn right side out and poke out corners

Press the fabric flat rolling out the seams. Make sure that when you press that the seam allowances of the hole are folded inside and pressed carefully.

press flat and edgestitch

DIY Fabric Tray with Snap Corners

Fold the fabric at the corner lining up the two straight edges. Measure one inch in from the corner. Add plastic snaps to the 1 inch line near the top of the fabric.

One side of snap will be on one side of the corner and the other side of the snap will be on the other side of the corner.

add snaps to corners

Snap all the snaps to create the sides of the trays or unsap all the snaps to store in flat.

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

DIY Fabric Tray with Sewn Corners

Fold the fabric at the corner lining up the two straight edges. Measure one inch in from the corner. Draw a line perpendicular to the straight edge.

Pin the corner at the line you drew, and sew through the line with a straight sitch. Backstitch when you start and when you stop.

sew corners

The tray is finished. Sometimes I like to fold the sides in and press it flat to help the sides stand up better. I can only do this with the permanently sewn tray because it never has to lay flat.

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!

How to Make a DIY Fabric Tray
heather sewing

I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather

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This is just what I was looking for but didn’t know it. This will be perfect for using the fabric weavings my grandkids and I made.
Thanks for a great tutorial.

OMG!!!! THESE ARE AMAZING!!! I HAVE TONS OF SCRAPS; I’ll stitch them together and make these!!!