How to Make Handles for a Cloth Grocery Bag

Cloth grocery bags are stylish and functional, but you can't carry anything in them without a pair of trusty handles. Learn how to make handles for your cloth bag to give it that perfect finish.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinyl
• Cloth grocery bag
• Scissors
• Strong needle and pins
• Heavy thread

1. Choose the material. YOu can use almost any material including seat belt webbing, heavy cloth denim strips or vinyl. For this example, you are going to use vinyl.

2. Cut the vinyl into two strips that at least 19-inches long and 3-inches wide, leaving 1/2 inch on all sides for seam allowances. Check the strap length of a bag you use often to see if 19 inches works for you. Adjust the length if it doesn't.

3. Fold the piece of vinyl in half lengthwise and turn back each of the edges 1/2 inch. Pin together with straight pins from top to bottom. Stitch all the way down the pinned area.

4. Repeat Step 4 for the second handle of the cloth grocery bag. Reinforce the ends with a second row of stitching below the first.

5. Sew the end of the handles to the top of the cloth bag. Begin on one side with one handle and repeat with the second handle on the other side of the bag.

Tips & Warnings

• Use thick pins, needles and thread when working with vinyl.
• If you have problems with needles or your presser foot while working with the vinyl, try a product called "Sewer's Aid" or a Teflon coated presser foot to help the process.

Resources

• You can buy Sewer's Aid at Sewing Supply Warehouse.