Remake, Reuse and Recycle
Making a reusable shopping bag from scrap fabric is a great eco-friendly way to reduce waste. This simple project allows you to repurpose old clothes or fabric scraps into something practical and pretty. Not only will you create a functional bag, but you'll also help reduce plastic waste too by creating a stylish, reusable accessory perfect for carrying groceries or daily essentials.
You will need:
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65cm of 114cm wide fabric but make sure it is a light-weight one as it needs to scrunch up to fit inside the pocket. A light weight cotton is perfect.
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A piece of fabric about 25cm square for the contrast corner pocket.
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Half a metre of ribbon
Download the pattern and print it out at home
To Make the Croft Bag
Cut out 2 main bag pieces and 2 contrast corner pocket pieces, but make sure the pocket pieces are a PAIR.
Corner Pocket
Start with the contrast corner section and fold the fabric along the two short fold lines so the wrong sides are touching.
Now fold under the longest side of the Contrast Pocket.
Draw in the stitching line on the right side of the pocket. A quick and easy way of doing this is to fold over the pattern piece along the stitching line and use this as a guide as you place the pattern piece over the fabric.
Lay the contrast pocket over a corner of one of the bag pieces. Pin in place and sew along the stitching line on the pocket and through the bag.
You should have a pair of matching corners.
Sewing the Bag
If I were using a French seam on a garment I would sew this slightly differently around the corners. However, as this is a bag and it needs to be a bit stronger on the corners this method will suffice.
Place the bag with the wrong sides together and pin around the main bag, leaving the handles free and unpinned.
Sew with a 6mm seam allowance along the three sides of the bag.
If the seams are a little bulky you can trim the seam allowance down to 4mm.
Trim the excess fabric across the corners.
Turn the bag out so the seams are on the inside. Roll the seams to the edge and press flat.
Pin to enclose the first seam and sew a second seam 8mm wide, enclosing the first one.
Turn the bag around the right way again. Roll the seam so it sits on the edge and press the seam flat as before.
Making up the Handles
Match up the handles of the bag with the wrong sides together. Sew a 6mm seam allowance.
Press the seam to one side. Fold the bag with the right sides together to enclose the first seam. Sew another seam 8mm wide. Press the seam to one side.
To neaten the handles of the bag sew a narrow hem as close as you can to the edge. If you have a rolled hem foot on your machine you can use this here. Otherwise, fold over just under a centimetre and then slide your nail under the fold to tuck in half of the hem allowance. Don’t pin first! This allows the fabric to find its own way to sit and a very narrow hem can be created.
You could always use bias binding to neaten the edges too. Try following the Visible Binding tutorial.
Then press everything as flat as you can.
Thread the piece of ribbon through the casing and tie a knot.
You can use your bag whenever you need to and then fold it all up again into it’s own little pocket.
We love to see what you make from our patterns and tutorials. So enjoy making your Croft Bag and remember to tag us on Social Media. Just use @theclothcutter.
Happy Sewing!