Katie, my perfect daughter, has learned all about going green and helping our environment.  She really enjoys recycling and re purposing different items for crafts, but what she really loves is carrying our own bags into the grocery store.  Last Thursday we went to Whole Foods and we were two bags short, so had to get paper sacks…she quickly told me that we needed more bags.  I went online to see if there were any bags that I liked (and didn’t already have) and realized how expensive they can be (the one I really like was $15).  This was  the point I decided that I would just make my own, when I mentioned it to Kandra she suggested the tutorial with it. 

And here it is…make sure to read through the entire tutorial before starting the project, it will make more sense that way!

I bought a yard of canvas fabric for $5 at our local craft store, be sure to wash it first - canvas seemed to shrink up a lot!

You will want to cut a rectangle out that is 22″ tall by 40″ wide, then fold in half and sew (should be 22″ by 20″) at 5/8 in seam, wrong sides together.

Press down seam, turn inside out and create a French hem that is ¼”, this will be one of your four corners.

Make sure the French hem is 3 1/2″ from the side and pin the bottom in place.  Sew along the bottom with 5/8″ double seam and trim.

Next you need to shape and sew the gusset.  This is fairly easy but can look intimidating.  Lay the bag flat with the bottom seam going vertically in the middle, on the top.  Each edge of the bottom seam will be your points in the gusset and you will need to create the top of the gusset with a 7 1/2″ top seam. 

I drew a line with a fabric marker for this part, once the  bag is completed you won’t be able to see that line anyhow.  Notice the French hem makes a good guide for creating the gusset. 

Once that is done you will need to press and shape the bottom of the bag, using the edges of the gusset as a guide – the French seam should already be on a corner.  Pin where you have created the shape making sure it is 8″ wide 10″ inches long on bottom and then sew with 1/8″ seam.

Keeping the bag inside out, shape the sides of the bag using the corners of the bottom as guides – you should have three sides to shape and sew since the French hem is used on one side.  Pin all three sides then sew all with an 1/8″ seam.

Fold gusset up on the side toward top of bag and trace the triangle shape onto the sides. 

This feels a little weird, but where you traced the triangle, press and create a seam - then from the point of that seam to the top of the bag, press and pin, creating another seam (this helps with the structure of the bag and storage).  Pin entire side where you pressed and sew with an 1/8″ seam.

Turn right side out and press all seams flat – once you have pressed your bag, it should be able to lie flat (like a paper grocery sack would)

Keeping right side out, tuck in top seam 1/2″ inch, press and tack in place then tuck again to 1″.  Top stitch the bag at both 1/8″ from lower edge and again at 3/8″ from lower edge.

Now that the bag is finished we need to create straps.  Cut fabric strips at 24″ long 2 1/2 ” wide

Fold strips in half length wise (wrong sides out) and press.   Sew at edge with double stitch then turn right side out.  Fold bottom of straps up 1″ and sew a box around the four sides you folded up.

Once all of your pieces are ready you can paint or decorate your bag.  Once your bag is decorated (and dry if you used paint) simply attach the straps to the front and back of the bag 1/4″ from each side.  Sew the straps on by going back over the stitches you made when you folded an inch up on the straps and stitched in a box formation.  This will give the added durability your bag needs.

All done and now have your very own, one of a kind grocery bag!  I hope you love yours as much as I love mine!

- Renee