How to Make Bags:

Recycled Fabric Bag Pattern and Free Sewing Instructions

How to make bags is fairly simple: recycled fabric bags are easy to make and require only basic sewing skills. Chances are you can make these reusable grocery bags easily from fabric remnants. I hope learning how to make bags will be fun for you.

The body of the bag will require a piece of fabric that measures 20” x 40”, or 2 pieces of 20” x 20”. For the purpose of these instructions, we are using a double layer of fabric, so we are going with the 20" x 20" measurements.

You can measure this out with a ruler and mark your cutting lines, or you can use newspaper or other large paper to create a 20" x 20" square pattern.

Same goes for the handles:
You'll need an additional section of fabric that is at least 3" x 20" for the handles. Like the main body of the bag, you can use a measuring tape or ruler to mark your area, or cut a paper template.
This pre-supposes that the fabric you are using is strong enough in a single layer. Denim, heavy cotton such as kettle cloth, terry and other heavier fabrics can be sewn in a single thickness, unlined. Other lighter-weight fabrics should be doubled. You can essentially sew two bags of light-weight fabric and then sew them together, turn and topstitch.

Start Sewing your Reusable Bag:

Sew French seams on the bags, then press, fold and stitch them down on the bag. They are super easy and they make the bag stronger.

If you are unfamiliar with French seams, they involve stitching the seam with fabric together right-sides-out, about ¼” to 3/8” from the edge, like this:

For the purpose of this set of instructions on how to make bags, I have added blue lines to the images in order to help you see where the stitching is. I realized after taking these photos that a contrasting thread would have been helpful!

So, you'll see here that you start with your fabric wrong sides together, and stitch the seam that way first.

Stitch about 3/8 of an inch from the edge.

---

The next step, after your first seam, is to turn the fabric and press that seam out - I like to fingerpress at this stage, usually because my iron has turned itself off by now!

Next, sew the second part of your French Seam with the fabric right sides together, and again make the seam allowance about 1/4 inch to 3/8th inch. If you can easily judge where the edge of the fabric is (which will sometimes happen with a heavy choice like denim), then you can just make a point to sew beside it.

As you can see, the interior of the finished bag is very clean and, well, finished!

Your next step is going to be the topstitching along the french seam. It doesn't matter for this bag which side you press your seam to, as long as it's consistent all the way around the bag!

The hardest part in learning how to make bags would appear to be the corners, but we actually skip topstitching them, as they will be dealt with below.

---

Handling the fabric while sewing this is bulky, so take it slowly. When you get to within 1 inch of the corner, stop - backstitch and finish the topstitching seam. Lift your presser foot and pull enough thread so you can reposition the bag an inch beyond the corner point, and resume sewing.

Repeat this at the following corner.

After you're done with the topstitching, it will be time to finish the bottom of the bag to give it a nice shape.

---

The next step will be to stitch the bottom corners of the bag to create the contoured bottom:
Measure 2 inches from the corner of the bag, and pin it:

After it's pinned, stitch through twice to secure well.

This will result in a nicely shaped bottom of your bag.

Now let's finish off the top.

---

For a single layered bag, turn the top edge over at ½”, press, then turn again at 1” and press again. Topstitch around the lower edge of the fold to secure.

Take your 20” x 3” piece of fabric, and use your iron to press ¼” to ½” along each long edge, then fold in half along the long edge and press again.

Stitch the Handles:
Top stitch along the 2 folded edges to finish the handle, and then cut into 2 10-inch lengths.

You can start with a longer piece of fabric (24” to 30”) if you have it and wish to, and have longer handles.

10 inches is about the minimum for finishing them off and having easy use.

Please Note -
If you have strong ribbon, braid or other contrasting fabrics, you can always substitute them.

You'll notice that a number of my original bags pictured (made by my mother almost 20 years ago) have contrasting handles. Use whatever you like and have availalbe!

If using the fabric handles referenced in the instructions above, press the short edges ¼” fold from the edge.

---

Align the bottoms of the handles one inch down along the side of the bag, as shown in the picture.

The handles will lie roughly 3 ½ inches away from the side seams of the bag.

Place the folded side of the handle against the bag, and topstitch in the X’d-box reinforced style as shown.

Please note that I have used blue lines to indicate the stitching pattern to reinforce the handle attachment.

Fortunately, I can sew straighter than I can draw lines on my computer with my mouse.

---

This has produced for you a beautiful, home-made recycled, reusable bag, suited for many years of shopping. Enjoy!

Now that you know how to make bags, why not try it with used recycled clothing? Instructions on how to make bags from shirts and recycled used jeans are complete with photos!

---