How-To Sew A Cloth Shopping Bag
How to Make a Cloth Shopping Bag TOP
Go Green with cloth shopping bags. No more plastic bags to throw in the garbage. These are very easy to sew.
SUPPLIES: This will make 2 cloth shopping bags approximately 16 1/2 " wide and 18 1/2" deep and a 3" bottom
1 1/4 yard 45 inch cotton fabric - available in our Quilting Fabrics Catagories
Rotary Cutter, Board, Ruler (Optional)
Scissors to cut fabric
Ruler to measure fabric
Pencil
Pins
Sewing Thread to match fabric
Iron
STEP 1: CUTTING THE FABRIC
Trim the selvedge from each side of the fabric.
Keeping the fabric folded as it came off the bolt, cut a 4 1/2 " strip along the side where the selvedge was so you will have 2 -4 1/2" strips x 44 inches.
Keep the fabric folded as it came from the bolt and press along the folded edge matching the cut edge. Cut along the pressed fold so you have 2 pieces approximately 18" wide x 44" long. This is the main part of the 2 bags.
STEP 2: PRESSING THE FABRIC
Go to the ironing board. Your iron should be set for the type of fabric you are using, in this case probably cotton. If it is a steam iron add water
as directed by your instruction book.
Pressing the long 4 1/2" strips. These are your straps for 2 bags.
Fold in half along the long edge so you have about a 2 1/4" piece. Press along the folded edge. Next open the folded strip and fold one raw edge
to the center fold and press that edge, then so the other raw edge the same way. Fold along your first edge again and press to give a good crease.
Pressing the rectangular pieces
On the 18 inch edges fold over to the wrong side 4 inches and press. Open the fabric and fold the cut edge to the fold and press that edge.
STEP 3: SEWING THE FABRIC
At the Sewing Machine use a thread color to match or constrast the fabric you selected. Select a needle for woven fabrics in a medium size and the
stitch length for seams around a 10 - 12 and for hemming around 8 - 10.
A. Use a french seam to sew the sides of the bag. Open the pressed edge at the top of the bag and put wrong sides together. Pin, matching
the top edge and at the bottom on the fold, pin a couple of places along the edge. Stitch about 1/4 inch seam from the fold to the top.
Press the seam flat, then run the tip of the iron along the seam to open it. Turn the bag wrong side out and press along the seam to make it flat.
Use a pin to gently pull out the corner. Pin along this edge and stitch again with a generous 1/4 inch seam. You want to enclose the raw edge
with this seam, so the width of your seam needs to accomplish this. Press the seams flat and then to one side.
B. Turn the bag wrong side out. To square the bottom of the bag, center one of the side seams against the bottom of the bag so you have a point
where the seam is. Measure down from the point 1 1/2 inch and draw a straight line from one fold to the other. Stitch along this line and stitch again
about 1/4 inch away towards the point of the seam. Do the same to the other side seam/bottom edge.
C. Stitching the top edge. Fold over the top where you pressed before. Stich along the folded edge at the bottom of the pressed hem and also
stitch along the top edge.
D. Stitching the straps. Stitch along each long edge of the folded and pressed straps. Fold in half and cut along that edge so you have a total
of 4 straps (enough for 2 bags). Press the cut edge up 1 inch for a finished edge when stitched to the bag.
E. Adding the straps. Measure in from the side seams 3 1/2 inches and place one of the strap pieces on the outside edge at that mark. Pin in place
and place the other edge of that same strap along the other mark 3 1/2 inches in. Pin in place. Stitch along the 3 edges about 1 inch up and then
across the top finally stitching diagonally one way and then another so you form an "X". This will secure the strap on the bag. Do the other strap
the same way.
FINISHING:
Give your bag a final pressing and wrap it up for someone who appreciates a practical and "green" gift, or use the bag itself as a gift bag and fill with goodies.