Car Trash Bag Pattern

Learn how to sew a simple and stylish car trash bag that keeps your vehicle tidy and clutter-free. This easy tutorial is perfect for beginners and a great way to use up fabric from your stash!

If you’ve ever looked around your car and thought, “Where did all this random stuff come from?”—you’re not alone. Between road trip snacks, receipts, tissues, and wrappers, the clutter piles up fast.

That’s where this DIY car trash bag sewing tutorial comes in handy.

It’s a quick, beginner-friendly project that helps keep your car clean and organized—and it’s washable too!

Whether you’re sewing one for your own vehicle or as a gift for someone who lives in their car (hello busy moms, carpool warriors, or Uber drivers), this little project is both practical and thoughtful.

If your car is anything like mine….full of kids, snacks, kids, trash, kids, water bottles, then this is for you! I have a loaded extra large vehicle that not only houses the kids on running here and there but it collects a lot of little trash pieces and bits.

This trash bag features a squared bottom…so it will fit a lot of trash! Also has a loop that can hook around something and hang.

Want the ad free pdf file?! Scroll to the bottom of the post for more details!

Materials Needed:

pinking shears

oil cloth or vinyl fabric—

outside- 1)  22″ X 12″

lining-  1)  23″ X 12″

strap-  2)  1″ X 10″

rick rack

What Makes This Car Trash Bag Special

• Washable & reusable (goodbye plastic grocery sacks)
• Customizable with your favorite fabrics
• Fits most cars—hang it on the gear shift, center console, or door handle
• Great scrap-buster project
• Beginner-friendly, even if you’re new to sewing

Car Trash Bag Tutorial~

1)  Sew the ends of the outside oilcloth so it is a tube

2)  Fold the tube in half, lining the seam up in the center

3)  Box the corners of the bag– measure 2″ from the corner point to the inside of the bag.

4)  Repeat these steps with the lining

5)  Cut the lining with pinking shears across the top

6)  Stuff the lining inside the outside piece- match up the side seams and pin if needed- wrong sides facing.

7)  Fold the lining over to the front of the bag and sew in place

8)  Lay the straps wrong sides facing

9)  Sew the sides and then trim with pinking shears

10)  Pin the strap in place and sew to secure

11)  Sew the ric rac to the outside of the bag, folding the edges under to hide raw edge

12)  Hang in your car and use. The strap can loop over a seat belt fastener

The beauty of the bag is the fabric it’s sewn in. It is an oilcloth– or you can use laminated fabric. It will hold up to a lot of abuse and can be wiped down when things get a little sticky.

Optional Add-ons

• Velcro or Snap Closure: Add a closure across the top if you want to contain messes more securely.
• Plastic lining: For extra wipeability, add a layer of laminated cotton or clear vinyl as a lining.
• Pocket: Add a small front pocket for holding tissues or wipes.

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Cleaning and Care

• Machine washable if using cotton fabric.
• Lay flat to dry or tumble on low.
• Don’t use heat if you’ve added vinyl or plastic layers.

Besides the trash, I’m thinking this would make a great car travel sewing project bag.

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Sewing your own car trash bag is a quick win project—use up some stash fabric, sew something practical, and enjoy a cleaner car while you’re at it.

You can even make a few at once and keep one in each vehicle or gift them to family and friends. If you’re feeling extra organized, sew a matching tissue holder or car pouch too!

More Quick Sewing Projects:

Tissue cover with a trim– this will not take longer than 1 hour to sew.

Bowl cover with elastic – easy to sew and make for the bowls you have on hand. Keep the bugs off!

Make a microwave bowl – keeps your hands from getting burned by the heat of the bowl.

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