Make Your Own Produce Bags
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Not only are these easy to make they are a wonderful gift for your green minded friends. The key to the reusable produce/dry goods bag is to purchase muslin that has a higher thread count.
One: Cut a long rectangular piece of the fabric. 14 inches by 28 inches. Cut a small piece of thin elastic, 3 to 4 inches long. (this is to hold the bag top closed when in use.
Two: Fold your fabric in half, short ends together. For the french seam method, put wrong sides together first (with most muslins, you won’t be able to tell which is which, but if you use light cotton instead, this will be important. Bend the elastic piece into a “U” and pin the it 3 inches from the top of the bag on the right side of the fabric.
Three: Stitch a 1/4 inch seam along both sides of the bag.
Four: Turn your bag, now the wrong sides will be out and the right sides will be together. The elastic piece will be on the inside. Sew again with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. This process hides your raw edges and makes for a very strong side wall on your bags.
If you have a Serger, this will take moments because you will only need to sew the seam once, with right sides together.
Five: Turn right sides out, hem the top edge. Done. Use the elastic piece as your tie to keep your items from falling out into the cart.
I use these for everything:
Nuts, fruits and veggies, beans, pasta, oats, sky’s the limit!!
Fold Line
initial Stitch Lines
Secondary Stitch Lines
All Rights Reserved. BWB. 2008