Bag Lady

Today I spent some time making bags. These a grocery bags so that we are not using those plastic bags all the time. They were pretty easy to make and I'm going to do my best to show you how to do it. I am not a seamstress at all this is probably the first time in at least 3 years that my sewing machine has been out so this really is something almost anyone can do. Start with some heavy fabric, I found this in my bin of fabric I think it was used to make a window valance at my mom's house.

Cut two squares around 18"x 18"

And two rectangles about 4"x 10-18" depending on how long you want your handles.

Fold the rectangles in half and sew along one edge.

Set that aside and move to your large squares. On each square press a .5" seem on one edge that will be the top on the bag.

Fold again about 1" and press again.

Set those aside, and grab your handles. You need to make it so the right side of the fabric is out.

This was probably the hardest part on the project, I used a knitting needle and a pair of tweezers to pull the tube right side out. It wasn't to bad just took some timeTubes

Press the tubes into flat strips.

I'm missing a picture in here, but you need to grab your large squares and sew the smaller fold. you can see it in the picture below. Measure the same distance from the edge on each side to position your handle.

Fold over where you pressed before and pin the handle on to place. Do this on both squares.

Sew.

Flip your handles back and turn to nice side of fabric.

Sew a square with an X in it over the place where the handle attaches to the bag panel.

Then sandwich the panels together nice sides in an sew the sides and bottom. I went over the bottom edge twice just to reinforce it a little bit.

Flip right side out and you have your bag. Clear as mud right? I made three because that is how many I could make with the fabric I had but I plan to make 3-6 more in the very near future when I get more fabric.