Create Lined Storage Bins Using a K-Cup Box

I love my single-serve coffee machine.  Yes, it is more expensive than traditional drip coffee makers; however, I justify the cost of the required K-Cups by purchasing in bulk at a warehouse club.  I also love organization, and use lots of baskets in my pursuit of a clutter-free, stylish home.  Like my K-Cups, storage baskets and bins can be expensive, so I often re-purpose baskets found around the house or spruce up containers that I find in thrift shops, garage sales, etc.

I began making basket liners when I took up sewing last summer.  I learned to make my very first basket liner via a video tutorial explaining how to make basket liners without a pattern.  Running low on orphaned baskets,  I attempted making an all-fabric storage bin, based on a tutorial for creating oil cloth storage bins.  I also tried a project that created collapsible storage baskets.  Then I came across a blog that explained how to make storage bins using diaper boxes.  I no longer buy diapers.  But I do buy K-Cups!  I decided to apply the blogger's diaper box methodology to my K-Cup boxes.

It worked beautifully.  I love my K-Cup box storage bins, and have created several of them over the past six months.  Once I got the hang of it, I began to also re-purpose shoe boxes and snack boxes.  I make my fabric liners using yardage from the fabric store, remnants, recycled bedding, clothing, etc.  Heck, I may never pay retail for fabric storage containers again.

Lined storage bins I've created

If you want to create your own storage bin, keep reading to learn how:

How to Create a Storage Bin using a K-Cup box

Materials:

• One K-Cup box
• Fabric to cover the box
• Fabric to make the liner
• Spray Adhesive and Tacky Glue
• Tape measure, quilting ruler, scissors, pencil or pen
• Sewing machine
• Thread, pins, seam ripper, etc.
• Ironing board and iron

General How-to:
Part One: Cover the box with fabric:

• Cut the top flaps off the box:

• Measure the box:  Use a tape measure to measure down one side, across the narrow bottom, and up the other side.  Write this down.  Now, rotate the box and measure down a side, across the wide bottom and up the other side.
• Cut your fabric to the dimensions you just measured.
  Note:  My K-Cup box measured 24.5" by 26.5".

Cut fabric to dimensions of the box.

• Iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles. 

Ironing ensures a smooth finish.

• Place the box in the center of your fabric.  Using a tape measure and pencil, mark a diagonal line that runs 2-inches out from each box corner.  
• Use a ruler to mark a perpendicular line from the bottom of each diagonal line to the edge of your fabric.
  Note:  This creates a box in each corner of the fabric.

Mark and cut the fabric and remove bulk.

• Cut along each line (straight and angled).  Remove the fabric from each corner.  

• Use spray adhesive to adhere the fabric to the bottom and long sides of the box.
  Note:  Smooth any bubbles as you go.  Once done, flaps will hang off each long side of the fabric.
• Position the box so that a short side is facing up.  Apply a line of tacky glue to a short side of the box and fold a fabric flap over to adhere, smoothing as you go.  Repeat with each flap on each short side.
• Working with the short side of the fabric, apply a line of glue to the fabric and fold the short-side flap over to crate a flap that is exactly the same size as the short side of the box.
• Glue the short side of fabric to the box and smooth any bubbles.
  Result:  The box is now covered in fabric and ready for a liner.

Fold and glue the flaps, smoothing as you go, to create crisp edges on box.

K-Cup box covered in fabric and ready for liner.

Part 2:  Create a Liner for the Box

The first time I completed this project, I used a tutorial recommended by the blogger. It worked well enough, but I now create my basket liners based on a combination of a few different tutorials.  Here is how I do it:

• Use a tape measure to measure the bottom, one long side and one short side of the box.  Write down these measurements, denoting the length and width, on a sheet of paper.
  Note:  The measurement for the width of each side should match up with the measurements of the box bottom.  The length of each side should be the same.
  Example: My K-Cup measurements are: Short-10" x 7.5" ; Long- 12" x 7.5" ; Bottom-10" x 12"
• Determine how far down you want the liner to hang over the sdie of the finished bin and add this amount to length.Note:  I usually add 2".
• Add an additional 1" to each of your measurements to account for a 1/2 inch seam allowance on each side.
  Example:  My final measurements are:  Short-11" x 10.5" ; Long-13" x 10.5" ; Bottom-11" x 13"
• Use ruler and scissors (or rotary cutter) to cut your fabric.  You will need enough fabric for two short-sides, two long sides and one bottom.

Cut fabric for liner sides and bottom.

• Match the edges of one short-side piece and one long-side piece.  Measure 1/2 inch from the bottom and pin. 

The 1/2" will be used to attach the bottom piece of fabric.

• Sew the sides together with a 1/2 inch seam.  Stop 1/2" from the bottom, at the pin.  Repeat this with all sides.
  Result:  You have a tube of fabric, with the bottom 1/2" left unsewn.
• At the ironing board, leave the tube wrong-side out and iron the seam allowances smooth.

Sew the seam allowances flat before creating hems.

• With the tube still wrong-side out, fold the edge of the completely sewn side over 1/4" or so and iron.  Fold over an additional 1/2" and pin.
  Note:  This will become the hem, so keep the edge as consistent as possible.

Use a six-inch sewing gauge to measure consistent hems.

• Sew the hem along the edge, removing pins as you go. 

• Match one side of the bottom piece to one side of the fabric tube, aligning the corners. Pin in place.  Repeat with each of the four sides.
  Note:  You may need to fold the unsewn flap of the adjoining piece over as you near each corner.

• Sew the bottom to the tube with a 1/2" seam allowance.
  Note:  Be sure to keep your edges are matched up as you go around corners.
  

Straighten the fabric as you turn corners

• Snip the corners to remove some of the bulk and turn the liner right-side out.
  Note:  This project does not necessarily demand snipped corners - I'm in the habit of always do so.  

• Your basket liner is complete!  Trim any stray threads and place it in your storage box.  Fill it up with stuff and enjoy!

Fabric-covered box and fabric liner

Completed Storage Bin

This is an easy project and can be completed in just a couple of hours, and for very little cost.  If you choose to embellish the basket more, with ribbons or other decoration, your options are endless.  And, if you get tired of the fabric liner, it is very easily switched. 

Here are storage bins I've made over the past several months:

I'm using black/white storage bins to contain craft room clutter.

Old shoe box and remnant fabric

K-Cup box, re-purposed window panel  and quilt remnants.

Re-purposed a snack box and scrap fabric from a pillow project. 

Remnant fabric and old shoe boxes

A fat quarter, scraps of fabric and a snack box