Are you like me? Are you embarrassed by how many plastic shopping bags accumulate at your house, despite your best efforts? Do you have a hundred reusable shopping bags but never remember to bring them to the store with you? How about if you could fit a full sized grocery bag right in your pocket? Just half a yard of fabric, some bias tape & narrow elastic and you’ll have a handy, fold-able shopping bag that you can pop in your pocket, purse, or car so it’s there when you need it!
For printable PDF version, click here
MATERIALS
1/2 yard cotton fabric, 44" width
1-1/2 yards wide, double-fold bias tape
7" narrow elastic, 1/4" width is good
People who buy fabric by the meter: you can follow the same instructions, but your 1/2 meter of fabric will get you a bag about 5cm higher ;-)
METHOD
Step 1 - Cut Handles
Keeping the fabric folded as it was cut from the bolt, selvages together, cut 2” off selvage edges. They will be 2” x 18”.
For printable PDF version, click here
MATERIALS
1/2 yard cotton fabric, 44" width
1-1/2 yards wide, double-fold bias tape
7" narrow elastic, 1/4" width is good
People who buy fabric by the meter: you can follow the same instructions, but your 1/2 meter of fabric will get you a bag about 5cm higher ;-)
METHOD
Step 1 - Cut Handles
Keeping the fabric folded as it was cut from the bolt, selvages together, cut 2” off selvage edges. They will be 2” x 18”.
cut 2" from selvage sides for handles
Step 2 - Cut & Square Up
Take remaining fabric, cut at fold and square up, making two pieces 18” x about 20” (this will depend on the original width of the fabric).
Take remaining fabric, cut at fold and square up, making two pieces 18” x about 20” (this will depend on the original width of the fabric).
square up!
Step 3 - Press & Sew Handles
Press NON-selvage edge towards center, just a bit more than a third of the width. Press selvage edge over top of raw edge, stitch handles close to edge of selvage.
Press NON-selvage edge towards center, just a bit more than a third of the width. Press selvage edge over top of raw edge, stitch handles close to edge of selvage.
 fold once... |  ...fold again & stitch |
Step 4 - Tack on Handles & Elastic
Measuring in about 6” from edges on long side of one bag piece, place elastic (once) and both ends of one handle, baste in place a scant ¼” from the edge. Add only handles to second bag piece.
Measuring in about 6” from edges on long side of one bag piece, place elastic (once) and both ends of one handle, baste in place a scant ¼” from the edge. Add only handles to second bag piece.
 place elastic |  place handles |  handles 6" from outer edges |
Step 5 - Cut Bias Binding
Cut two pieces of bias binding the to match width of the top of the bag, where the handles are tacked on.
Cut two pieces of bias binding the to match width of the top of the bag, where the handles are tacked on.
2 pieces of bias binding, same width as bag pieces
Step 6 - Add Bias Binding to Top
Making sure you start with the narrower fold, open bias tape, align edge with top edge of one bag piece, stitch along the fold. Repeat with other bag piece.
Making sure you start with the narrower fold, open bias tape, align edge with top edge of one bag piece, stitch along the fold. Repeat with other bag piece.
 narrower side up!  align with top edge... |  ...stitch in place |
Step 7 - Press & Top Stitch Bias Binding
First press bias binding straight up, making sure the bag top is getting pressed downward. Then fold binding to the inside of the bag and press again. From inside, top-stitch along the lower edge of the bias binding, then stitch again along the top edge, as close to the edge as you can.
First press bias binding straight up, making sure the bag top is getting pressed downward. Then fold binding to the inside of the bag and press again. From inside, top-stitch along the lower edge of the bias binding, then stitch again along the top edge, as close to the edge as you can.
 press binding up, bag seam allowance down  fold binding to back & press |  stitch binding at both edges |
Step 8 - Seam Sides
Place bag pieces right sides together and line up top edges. Sew side seams and finish, either with a serger or a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine.
Place bag pieces right sides together and line up top edges. Sew side seams and finish, either with a serger or a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine.
finish & seam side seams
Step 9 - Fold Bottom
With bag right-side out, place bag on ironing surface. Pull seam away from you, leaving a 2” section. Press to make a 2” fold from seam all along the side of the bag. Leaving the seam where it is, pull the top side of the bag towards you until it also has a 2” fold. Press.
With bag right-side out, place bag on ironing surface. Pull seam away from you, leaving a 2” section. Press to make a 2” fold from seam all along the side of the bag. Leaving the seam where it is, pull the top side of the bag towards you until it also has a 2” fold. Press.
 pull seam away from you 2" & press |  pull top fabric towards you 2" & press |
Confused? It should look like a capital “M”, with the center point pointing into the bag. Like this:
how it should look from the bottom (small sample piece, your bag will have more fabric!)
Clip/pin the folds in place top & bottom.
 pin bottom folds |  clip or pin top folds |
Step 10 - Finish Bottom
With bag still right-side out, sew bottom edge a scant ¼” from edge. No need to serge or finish seam. Cut one piece of bias binding the width of the bag bottom, PLUS 1”.
With bag still right-side out, sew bottom edge a scant ¼” from edge. No need to serge or finish seam. Cut one piece of bias binding the width of the bag bottom, PLUS 1”.
 stitch bottom edge |  cut bias binding, add an extra inch (1/2" each side) |
Stitch bias binding to bottom edge, leaving ½” extra at each end.
sew on bias binding
Fold bias binding over the bottom edge, tucking the extra in for a closed end.
 fold binding over bottom edge |  tuck in the end |
Top-stitch with a zig-zag stitch.
zig zag!
Step 11 - Finish Top
Sew about 1” along all four top folds, as close to the edge as possible. This makes the bag easier to fold.
Sew about 1” along all four top folds, as close to the edge as possible. This makes the bag easier to fold.
 stitch folds @ top of bag |  this helps keep the folds! |
And finally, how to fold your bag:
 lay flat  fold handles onto bag  fold once more, keeping elastic on the outside  roll all the way |  fold sides toward center partway  fold sides toward center again  start rolling  pull elastic around bundle |
Thanks for checking this out! If you make one, I'd love to see it!
For PDF version: Half-Yard Shopping Bag
For PDF version: Half-Yard Shopping Bag
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