Reusable Grocery Shopping Bag

This will be our first project.  I think all the bugs have been worked out of the process but don't shoot me if there is an error somewhere.  It is nothing glaring or wrong.  The bag is really simple to make and will hold the other projects I will send along for you to try.

This uses up a yard of fabric and leaves you with some scraps for a scrappy quilt down the road.  You can make a ton of these reusable bags and use for grocery shopping, toting small items around and generally carrying stuff.  You can use this bag as a wrapping for other gifts, just adjust the size to the package you are wrapping.  Think outside the box when choosing fabrics to make yours unique and adorable.  Can you think of someone on your Christmas list who just needs 3 or 4 of these babies?

Reusable Grocery Bag (11” x 12” x 8”)


Supplies

1 yard fabric
Sewing machine and general sewing tools
Thread

Instructions (Use ½ “ seam unless noted)

1. Cut:

Bag Body – Cut two 18” x 20” rectangles

Bag Band – Cut two 2 ½ x 20” strips

Bag handles – Cut a 5” x WOF then cut exactly in half to make two 5’

                      strips Webbing may be substituted for fabric as handles

If you want a bottom insert – cut two 8 ½” x 11 ½” rectangles

2. Cut 4 inch squares from the bottom of the bag along the 20” side. The 18” sides will be the bag sides. If you do this wrong, don’t worry, the bag will be wider and shorter.

3. With right sides together stitch bag panels along the bottom of the bag. Press seam to one side and top stitch ¼ “ along the side of seam to strengthen bottom of bag.
4. Stitch the side seams using the same method.

5. Open the bag and match the bottom seam with a side seam. Sew along the edge to form the boxed bottom. Make sure you tack your stitches at both ends to secure your thread.

6. Make the handles by folding the strips in half lengthwise and pressing. Open out strip and fold up the bottom to meet the center pressed seam. Press. Do the same for the top section. Then fold the strip on the original pressed center seam. This creates your handle.

Top stitch on the open edge, the closed edge and down the center for stability.

7. Attach handles to bag. Turn bag to right side out. Measure 6 inches from the side seam along the top and mark. Do this for all 4 handle placements. Put handles on marks with ½ inch extending over top edge of bag. Be careful not to twist handles. Machine baste in place.

8. Stitch band pieces together along both short sides making a circle. Press seams open. Press under ½ inch along one side of band. Stitch to finish seam.
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9. Attach band to top of bag, right sides together matching seams. Stitch with a ½ “ seam allowance. Press seam toward facing. Turn bag right side out. Turn facing to inside and press to inside of bag on seam.

10. Top stitch along top edge of bag to define top seam. Top stitch bottom of facing to bag to keep facing in place.

11. To give definition to the bag creases, measure 4 inches on both sides of the side seam parallel to each side seam. Fold along this mark and sew very close to the edge from the bottom of the bag to the top of the bag. This creates creases and makes the bag form a square shopping bag.

12. Optional Insert: fold under ¼ inch on narrow end of each bottom insert. Fold over again and sew for finished seam. Put right sides together and sew around the three sides that are not already seamed to form a pocket. Turn to right side out. Use cardboard or mesh cut to the size of the bottom of the bag to create a stiff bag bottom.