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Kraft paper.Paper grocery bag construction starts with paper selection. The size of the bag and the amount of weight it is intended to hold determine the thickness of the paper. Two- and three-ply paper is common for heavy-duty bags. Custom bags can be created to hold from a half a pound to 40 pounds. To create a bag 10 inches by 3 inches by 5 inches capable of holding 12 pounds, start with 40 pound brown paper. Kraft paper, the same type used to wrap shipping packages, is used to make grocery bags. Labels or logos are either painted or stamped on the paper once it is rolled out. The paper is cut to the necessary dimensions (31 inches by 22 inches). Some grocery bags also have a thumb notch cut into one side to allow for easy opening. -
Paper tube.Create four sides. Beginning at each of the 22-inch edges, fold in 11 ½ inches. Fold again 5 ½ inches from the edge. It should now look like a bag with no bottom at this point. The wider sides should overlap half an inch. Apply glue on the overlap and press together. The glue must set before folding the bottom of the bag. -
Folding the bottom.The bottom of the bag is constructed much like wrapping a gift. The short sides are folded in 3 inches and the wider sides folded down 3 inches so that they create angles. The flaps of the short sides and the angles of the wider sides are glued to one other with a bead of glue close to the edges. At this point, the short sides of the bag are folded in so the bag folds down. This allows the bottom to press together so the glue can dry. Bags are usually packed and shipped folded in this manner.
