While browsing Pinterest for bag-making tutorials and ideas, I came across this link about making your own grocery bags using outdoor-weight fabric.  The first thing that caught my attention was the idea that the reusable bags purchased at stores (or received for free) that are plasticky might not be the best for groceries because they’re not washable.  Also, some of the reusable bags I had were started to come apart at the side corner seams which were sewn together using some binding outside of the seams.  And with Seattle’s recent plastic bag ban, I figured it was time to find a better option.

I also liked the idea of having a set of coordinating grocery bags instead of the various bags in various sizes I’d accumulated.  And going into Fred Meyer with Target and Trader Joe bags just felt weird.

Using the above-mentioned link as a guide, I purchased two types of material: outdoor canvas for the bottom part of the pags, and outdoor-weight (but not canvas) material for the top.  The two definitely feel different.  The top fabric feels more like the type of fabric you’d find covering patio furniture cushions while the bottom fabric is very heavy.  They matched beautifully, though, so I went for it.

The fabric I purchased was on mega-clearance at Joann’s.  Typically, outdoor fabric (at Joann’s) runs about $20/yard.  With the mega-clearance (50% off their red-tag fabric), I picked up the canvas for $4/yard, and the upper fabric for $3/yard. Be warned: some outdoor fabric is professional dry-clean recommended only. Avoid those! (Or test some of it through your washer before using it for this project.)

Material Needed (makes 5 total bags)


– 2 yards each, bottom and upper fabric (for just one, probably 1/2 yard of each would be plenty)
– coordinating canvas strapping
– coordinating thread

Tools Needed

– fabric marking tool
– pins
– heavy sewing needle (110 was what I used)
– scissors
– cutting mat
– ruler

Cutting


For each bag, you’ll need to cut:
From upper fabric: 8 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ (2)
From bottom fabric: 10 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ (2)
From strapping: 21″ length (2)

Sewing


NOTE:  Stay-stitch ALL seams.

NOTE 2:  Pre-wash all fabric!  SUPER important, so that you don’t end up with weird shrinking issues when you wash these the first time!

Sew one top to one bottom, using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  Press the seam towards the bottom, and finish the seam using a zigzag stitch close to the cut edge of the fabric.  This will attach the seam to the bottom part of the bag, and it will help reinforce the seam, minimizing tears from stress put on the seam.

Press a top double-fold hem by folding first 1/4″ and pressing, then folding again about 1 1/2″ and pressing.  Stitch close to the bottom of the hem.  Then, edge-stitch close to the top of the hem.

Now, with right sides together, sew along the sides and bottom, using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  For the first four bags, I left this seam unfinished.  For the last bag, I used a zigzag stitch close to the cut edge to finish the seam.  Your choice.  I looked at other canvas bags I own and the inside seams weren’t finished, and the bags have held up fine so far, even after carrying my heavy sewing machine around!

NOTE:  For the sides and bottom, do NOT press and zigzag stitch to the fabric.  Just stitch along the cut edge.  I hope the pictures help explain this.

Now, stick your hand in the bag, and press the seams out at the bottom corners, folding the corner into a triangle.  I measured to the point that the folded portion measured 4″ wide, marked it, and sewed there.  This will make the boxy bottom for your bag.

(TIP:  Be sure when doing this on both sides, that the seams fold the same way.  It’s easy to forget this and end up with a seam that folds one direction on one side, and the opposite direction on the other side.)

Now, for the straps.  I measured 6 1/2″ from each side edge (cut edge, not from the seam), marked it, and placed the inside of the straps against this point.  Line up the bottom edge with the bottom edge of the hem.  Pin the straps into place.

Sew the straps into place, using an X reinforcing stitch.  I sewed back and forth across the top, turned the fabric to stitch down the outer edge, then up at a diagonal, down the other outer edge, back and forth across the bottom, then up a diagonal to finish the X.  (I hope that helps if you’re like me and want to do it without having to start and stop for every portion of the stitching.)  You should have a box with an X through it.  It’s really tough to see on here, since I used black thread on black strapping.

You can opt to trim the triangles made at the bottom, or to fold them into the bag.  I opted to fold mine in to give a little extra reinforcement on those corners.

Here’s the cool thing:  you’re done!  I kept putting these off, thinking it would take forever, then, when I got down to stitching, it went quickly!  I now have a set of 5 matching grocery bags that I love! They’re heavy-duty and look great!