How to Make a Washable Canvas Bag

Sew a canvas bag and make a chic shopping statement.

Plastic shopping bags pile up in the kitchen, are discarded in the trash and contribute to overflowing landfills. Many stores now sell canvas shopping bags as an alternative to plastic. If you want a bag a step above the ordinary, sew your own. Canvas, denim and outdoor fabrics are a few possible choices for your bag. If you know how to sew a straight seam with a sewing machine, you can make a washable canvas shopping bag in a few hours.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1/4 yards 44-inch wide canvas fabric
• Yard stick
• Marker
• Scissors
• Ironing board and iron
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• 18-gauge sewing machine needle
• All-purpose sewing thread
• 8 1/2-inch by 12-inch piece of heavy cardboard

Instructions

1. Use the ruler and marker to draw an 11 1/2-inch by 42-inch rectangle on the canvas fabric. Designate this as "A" with your marker in a corner of the piece. Mark a 9-inch by 42-inch rectangle from the coordinating fabric and mark it "B." Measure and mark two 2-inch by 44-inch strips and two 2 1/2-inch by 44-inch strips, which will become the handles. Cut out the all the pieces along the marked lines.

2. Lay the "B" rectangle so the short ends are the sides. Use the yard stick and marker to make a long horizontal line in the center of the fabric. Draw parallel vertical lines 5, 17, 25 and 37 inches from the left fabric edge.

   Place the "A" rectangle in a horizontal position as you did above. Don't draw a center line on it. Mark parallel vertical lines 6 1/2, 15 1/2, 26 1/2 and 35 1/2 inches from the left edge.

3. Use the iron and ironing board to press under 1/2 inch of fabric on both long edges of each of the handle strips.

   Put one wider canvas handle strip together with one narrower strip with their wrong sides facing. Center the narrow strip on the wider one. Pin the strips together. Repeat with the other strips.

4. Thread the sewing machine and install the 18-gauge needle. Use a slightly longer straight stitch than you use normally to stitch the strips together on both long edges. The seam lines should be 3/8 inch from the edges.

   Pin the finished handle straps on the vertical lines drawn on the "A" rectangle. The ends of the straps would be even with its raw bottom edge.

5. Stitch the straps to the bag following their seam lines. Sew up one side to within two inches of "A's" top, pivot, sew across the strap, pivot, and continue stitching down the other side. Repeat this with the other strap edges.

6. Baste on both sides of the center line on rectangle "B." Line up the long raw bottom edges of both "A" and "B." Pin them together with their right sides facing. Sew both long edges together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press the seams with the iron.

7. Line up the side edges of the sewn-together rectangles with their right sides facing. Stitch the side seams together using a one-inch seam allowance. Trim this to 1/4 inch on both sides.Turn the top raw edge under one half inch. Turn in over one half inch once more. Stitch the top hem close to the folded edge.

8. Turn the bag wrong side out and lay it flat so the unfinished bottom faces upward. Tuck in and pleat the corners slightly. Pin in place. Sew the side seams. Turn the bag right side out. Place the 8 1/2-inch by 12-inch of heavy cardboard in the bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the heavy cardboard with fabric before placing in the bottom of the bag, if desired.

• Use contrasting fabrics for the bottom and straps of the bag for a more whimsical look.

References

• Sew 4 Home; Make Your Own Grocery Bags