How to Make a Bra-Laundering Bag From an Old Pillowcase

Unfortunately, many store-bought bags for laundering bras and other delicates are not of good quality. The seams unravel, the fabric pills and gets destroyed quickly in the washing machine and the zip falls off or stops working.

Why pay $15 for a bra bag when you can make your own, save money and have a longer-lasting product? I'll show you how to make a bra bag from an old pillowcase—durable, tough and able to handle washing for years on end!

This is a very simple and easy craft tutorial for beginners or people new to using a sewing machine. Experienced crafters can do this project in about 10 minutes.

Materials Needed

• Pillowcase
• Matching cotton thread
• Cord/ribbon/string/plaited wool
• Sewing machine
• Safety pin
• Scissors
• Iron

Why Use a Bra Bag?

Bras can cost a lot of money. So do delicate fabrics—anything with lace, pretty nightdresses, light blouses, fancy underwear, and so on.

Bra bags (otherwise known as delicates wash bags or linen bags) can prolong the life of your delicate clothing for many years—I’ve found that using one can make your bras last twice as long! If you want durability out of your clothes, this is a great way to make them last—and since it uses upcycled pillowcases, it’s great for the environment too!

When you wash with a bra bag, what you do is put the bras together in the bag, seal it and place them in the washing machine to wash them. Bra bags avoid all the tangling up and automatic removal of underwires. Your washing machine will have fewer problems if underwires can't escape into the drum.

They're great for lacy and delicate clothes too; they reduce pilling and allow you to wash them in a more gentle fashion, so that clothing doesn’t get destroyed unnecessarily. Don't put bras in the same bag as delicate fabrics, wash the two types separately, or even make two bags!

Step 1: Choose (and Iron) Your Pillowcase

You’re going to be using this bag for years to come, so pick a nice pillowcase with a pretty printed pattern that makes you think “bra bag” with an uplifting feeling. You can always visit a local op shop and buy a cheap pillowcase if you don’t have one around the house.

If it is very wrinkled or crumpled, iron it, so that you can work with it—one of the pleasures of sewing is working with a freshly ironed product so that it keeps your motivation up.

Step 2: Choose a Thread Colour

Add a coloured cotton thread that matches your pillowcase to your sewing machine by filling the bobbin and threading the spool. In this case I used pink, but I could have used white or turquoise, or any other complementary colour.

Step 3: Assess for Additional Stitching

Turn your pillowcase inside out and look at the stitching on the edges. Sometimes, if there's only a single running stitch or if the hemming is falling apart, you'll need to restitch it to have a strong hem. If so, sew a running stitch inner and a zigzag or overlock stitch on the outer bit. This will significantly strengthen the bag.

Step 4: Pin the Drawstring Hem

While your pillowcase is inside out, make sure the top is folded as it normally is for a pillowcase. Then using a set of pins, turn over a hem around the top of the pillowcase about two inches down and pin it into place.

Step 5: Pin the Opening

Next, allow a space (away from the side) where the drawstring will go in. Pin it vertically so you can see where to start and stop sewing.

Step 6: Sew the Drawstring Hem

The opening will be located between the first and second vertical pins. Remove pins as you sew—do not sew over pins or this will break the sewing machine needle.

Start at the second vertical pin. Set your sewing machine to a medium size running stitch and position the fabric so you are sewing about 2cm in from the edge of the hem. Sew forward and reverse a few times on the spot, before completing one cycle of the entire hem around the top of the pillowcase.

When you get to the first vertical pin, sew back and forward a few times on that spot, leaving an opening between where the first and second vertical pins were. Cut the loose tail threads.

Repeat the running stitch for another cycle, this time much closer edge of the hem. Don't forget to run the sewing machine forward and reverse a few times on the spots near the opening as you did for the first round.

Step 7: Iron the Drawstring Hem (Optional)

Since the iron might be set up from Step 1, feel free to iron the new hem at the top of the pillowcase if you want to (turn it the right way out first). I find it is helpful to have it ironed for when you want to add the string.

Step 8: Thread the Drawstring

Attach your piece of cord or string to a safety pin. Then put the safety pin into the opening in your drawstring hem and using your fingers, work the pin around the pillowcase until you come back to the beginning again. Pull the safety pin out and unpin it from the cord.

Note: Don't forget to hang onto the end of the cord as you work your way through the drawstring hem!

Step 9: Tie a Knot

When you've got both ends of the cord, tie a knot to hold them permanently together. If you like, you can stop unravelling of the ends of the cord by either sewing them with a small running stitch or applying clear nail varnish to the ends.

Congratulations

You should now have a finished bra bag, ready for the washing machine. Simply tie a bow with the cord when you want to seal the bag. Why not make a few bags for around the house?

You can also use them for washing lingerie, teddy bears, fancy underwear, nightdresses, boxer shorts, and many other things that require protection.

© 2015 Suzanne Day

Comments

TANJIM ARAFAT SAJIB from Bangladesh on March 07, 2016:

I really didn’t have an idea that old pillowcase can be that much worthy!!! What a creative idea of using the old pillowcase!! A linen bag is always handy and we need it on different important occasions. There are many times when we think ah! If there had been a linen bag around. With this hub you can give a try to remove that disappointment of yours. The steps are briefly discussed and you need not to purchase many things to get yourself involved into the procedure. Also the author has mentioned some fine uses of this bra bag. This will motivate you more to go all the way.

Susie Lehto from Minnesota on September 16, 2015:

Suzanne, this is a very well done tutorial. I really should make a laundry bag for dedicates. You might have inspired me to break out the sewing machine.

Suzanne Day (author) from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on August 24, 2015:

Not sure what you mean by black spots?

Elena from London, UK on August 17, 2015:

Very creative and lovely. Thanks for the step by step illustration with photos.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on August 16, 2015:

No wonder my bras kept getting loose and out of shape but what about the black spots on the inside bras?

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on May 06, 2015:

The instructions are so clear. Which I need. I read the one about zippered bag and do not think I am ready for that yet. I am just learning to use my machine and to sew.

Thanks for sharing Angels are on the way to you Voted up++++

RTalloni on February 16, 2015:

Nicely done and an easy to follow tutorial. I'm using these bags for wool socks and more. They are so handy for keeping socks together in the wash and for protecting items in the washer, especially with the rough treatment the HE machines give them.

Claudia Porter on February 16, 2015:

What a great project and simple too. This is great for all of those delicate things that always get tangled with other things in the wash! Nice hub Suzanne.

Mara Alexander from Los Angeles, California on February 12, 2015:

This is great a great idea . I've never used one before, but I will now

Joanne Lombardo from Prescott AZ on February 08, 2015:

This is a good sample of a well done well written nice pictures easy-to-follow instructions I love it I love working with pillowcases and miss just gave me a new idea for the stack of them I have sitting in front of me now delightful read thank you.

Suzanne Day (author) from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on February 07, 2015:

Hi @DreamerMeg, if you do it by hand, the idea is to make sure it is very durable, so using tough stitches with a good thread is key to making them last a long time. You could always fold raw edges under and hem those by hand so they don't fray instead of "overlocking".

Suzanne Day (author) from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on February 07, 2015:

If you do that, underwires can escape and cause problems to the washing machine by getting into the drum. Then you need a washing repairman to come out and fix it. Also, bras last for many more years if they don't get tangled up with the rest of the washing. I have used a bra bag for 15 years now and it means you buy less bras and save money, because you make the ones you have last longer.

Bra bags are really good with lacy items too and those expensive sheer blouses. Without using a bra bag, the lace eventually pills and shreds and the sheer blouses get holes in them.

DreamerMeg from Northern Ireland on February 07, 2015:

Never even thought of having one of these, although I use a net bag for washing dusters but that bag came with them. Must have a think about this. I would have to do it by hand, as I don't have a sewing machine.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on February 07, 2015:

Wow! Why did I not come up to this idea of bra bag. I bought a bra bag made of nets cloth in a shop and it is almost ruin. Thanks for sharing this DIY craft. Voted up and useful.

Jacobb9205 on February 07, 2015:

Wow great way to save money! Very useful for women!

peachy from Home Sweet Home on February 07, 2015:

why do you need to put bra in a bag? Here we just dump in bra and underwear into the washing machine with our clothes.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on February 07, 2015:

Great Hub, with great photos, too! I have a mesh bag I use for bras, but the hooks get caught in the bag. This bag would be so much better.

Voted UP, and shared. Also Pinned to my crafts board.

gurbani on February 06, 2015:

It's a easy and useful information for keeping bra's and lingerie safe. And also help to save money

Joy56 on February 06, 2015:

Never seen or heard of a bra bag.... Love your hub, jealous of your score... Hugs from Ireland

Suzanne Day (author) from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on February 06, 2015:

@Billybuc, yes it looks like the men are gravitating to the word "bra" on this one! Mental note to self - will have to write more about bras...

@MizBejabbers - these bags can be good for socks, especially if you find they get all twisted up with other clothes in the wash.

Thanks @Sallybea!

Thanks @randomcreative, the whole purpose of making these linen bags is so we don't have to keep buying them. I get a bit tired of constantly forking out money for products with no quality.....kid's school shoes, these bags, bedsheets etc. Capitalism wants to deliver something to us at the right price, the quality just gets worse and worse as people race to the bottom on price. It's time we all saved our hard earned money for the finer things in life ;)

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 06, 2015:

What a great DIY project! It's so rewarding to make something functional and long lasting for yourself. Thanks for the detailed tutorial.

Sally Gulbrandsen from Norfolk on February 06, 2015:

Nice useful and easy project and I am so admiring of those sewing techniques, especially like the plaited drawstring.

Doris James MizBejabbers from Beautiful South on February 06, 2015:

Good idea. I've never put my bras in a bag, but I make sure that they are fastened so the hooks won't catch on anything. I think it would make a nice bag to keep heavier socks together, too. Sometimes I put the socks into a pillowcase and tie the top in a knot. This is a better idea.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on February 06, 2015:

A bra bag???? I have never heard of them. How strange that the first two to comment are men. LOL Well, good job of explaining the steps. I love John's comment, by the way...he likes bras and lingerie. :)

Suzanne Day (author) from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on February 05, 2015:

Haha @Jodah, of course, a homemade bra bag like this one will definitely keep your lady's lingerie in top notch condition!

John Hansen from Australia (Gondwana Land) on February 05, 2015:

Surprise Suzanne, that a guy is the first to comment on this hub...most Northern Hemisphere people must be asleep. I hadn't read a new hub by you in awhile so thought I'd give it a read. Anyway this is very simple to make a what a good idea..beside I like bras and lingerie so anything that keeps them nice is a great idea :) As you say it can be used for boxer shorts and the like as well.