DIY Upcycle Pillowcase to Peg Bag

Last updated on 29 April 2020

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I don’t know about you, but pegs have always been the bane of my existence. Hanging out your washing is a pain in the you-know-what on the best of days, but when your pegs can’t sort themselves out, then it’s a nightmare.

My main issues with pegs are these: 1) if they’re in a bucket/tub then chances are you’ll knock it over and there they all go; 2) I tend to do things like pile socks all together so I can quick-smart put them on the line, but I never ever grab enough pegs to smoothly do so; 3) there’s only so many pegs you can fit in your hand; 4) even if you’ve managed to grab a good pile, you’ve grabbed them in such a way that once you’ve used the first one, the rest of them leave the nest.

Growing up, my Oma always had a peg bag that you tied around your middle. This was the most genius thing ever. Sure, style wise, it wasn’t that cool, but my friends, when you’ve had it up to here *reaches as high as I can to indicate just how much I’ve had it up to*, then style is irrelevant. I actually made a peg bag for my mum when I was about 14. Little did I realise at the time that I, not she, would be the one using it the most. Unfortunately, that one was well loved used over the years, and we didn’t replace it. Until now.

On one of these angry-at-the-pegs-again mornings, I threw everything at the line, stormed inside and made another bag. And it’s not perfect, and I sort of made it up as I went along, but I am going to share it with you, Peg-Haters, so you too, can have a sane moment at the washing line. Not only that, but it’s made out of a pillow case. Boom.

What you’ll need

1 x pillow case (I found mine at the opshop/thrift store/charity shop. But if you have one around the house that you don’t use, use that)

Fabric scissors

Pins

A sewing machine (unless you rock-the-socks at hand sewing. Props to you)

Rope (or more fabric, or ribbon)

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What to do

First you want to fold you pillow case in half, length wise. Hold it up against your body, edge ways (as in the hole where you put the pillow is at your waist, rather than at your side), and make sure you’re happy with the length/size/width on you.

If you’re happy with that great. If you’re not, you can chop the fabric to how you’d like it. Unfold it and place it flat. At the open end of the pillow case, fold the corners in, leaving about 2 inches between the folds. These are going to make your pocket holes. Chop the triangle off, leaving about an inch from the fold. You’re going to make a double hem along these edges.

Once you’ve chopped off the corners, make a hem fold along the edge, and then again. This will keep it neat and tidy, but also stronger. Pin along it. You can also fold down the top bit that you left before, either cutting to make it hem size, or keep it the same and just sew it at the bottom when we come to that. Either way, you’re essentially getting rid/sewing up the pillow case opening where the pillow would go.

Taking a thread that’s of similar colour, thread your machine and set to a medium stitch size. There are a few different layers happening here, so be wary of that when you sew. I may or may not (spoiler alert: I did) break a needle.

Sew along your hem. It may look funny at the moment, but it won’t in a moment. Promise.

Once you’ve sewn the hem, fold the entire pillow case in half, right side to right side. Sew up the two sides, which won’t be the full length of the bag, as the pockets have been chopped at the corners. Make sense?

Now you need to decide if you want to have a fabric band, a ribbon one, or go with what I did this time round, and have a rope tie. If you go for a rope or a ribbon tie, the easiest thing to do is fold the top (where the waist will be) to create a tunnel, which you will then thread the rope or ribbon down. Much like if you were making a skirt and you were threading elastic through the waist band.

If you go for the fabric option, take a long piece of fabric (either from another pillow case or a sheet, or brand spanking new fabric) at a decent width. Fold it in half and sew along the edge and one end. Turn right side out and finish the other end. You may need to iron it flat at this point. Then sewing it along the waist band, making sure that the middle of the tie is at the middle of the bag before you start. You want two ties coming from each side. Like apron strings.

Either option is up to you, obviously, but no matter what you do, you need to remember to bring the fabric between the pockets into the sewing process. I hope this picture makes sense:

Because I did a rope option, I made a tunnel, making sure that I sewed in the middle section too.

Turn the whole thing right way in/out. If you’ve used fabric ties, you’re done! If you’ve used ribbon or rope then all you have to do is thread it through the waist of the bag.

I find that the tie is often the first bit to go when it comes to peg bags, hence why I went for the rope option. If it gets too old/mattered, I can easily replace the rope without it affecting the whole bag.

Now you just need to put pegs in it! Have fun/a slightly better time as you hang out the washing next! You’re welcome.

Let me know if you make one! I’d love to see it! Or if not, what do you use to store your pegs? #TheseAreTheImportantQuestions

BONUS: How to Style a Peg Bag

You can’t.

Instead, you try your hardest to take a decent picture with your remote and tripod, and fail epically. You’re welcome.