How to Make an Insulated Carrier for a Reusable Plastic Entree-Sized Container

You can make an insulated entree bag for your next picnic.

Carry your lunch to work or to the park with a custom insulated carrier that will keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Special insulated fabric, which can be found at fabric stores, is the key to these carriers. Oilcloth can also be found in a wide variety of patterns at fabric stores and will create a washable and durable exterior for the reusable plastic entree-sized container carrier. The insulated carriers make thoughtful handmade gifts for adults and children.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic entree-sized container
• Ruler
• 1/2-yard insulated fabric
• 1/2-yard oilcloth
• Scissors
• Sewing machine with zigzag attachment
• 4 stick-on Velcro closure dots

Instructions

1. Measure the length and width of the entree-size container. Measure the depth of the container. Add one-half the depth to the width measurement, plus 1 inch. Add 2 inches to the length measurement.

2. Cut two pieces of insulated fabric and oilcloth to the above measurements.

3. Stack one piece of insulated fabric and oilcloth with the right sides of the fabric facing out. Sew a zigzag stitch around all of the edges, connecting the two fabrics. Repeat with the remaining fabric pieces.

4. Stack the connected pieces of fabric with the oil cloth fabric facing out. Zigzag stitch around three sides, leaving the long edge of one side open.

5. Inset the reusable plastic entree container into the insulated holder. Attach and evenly space the four stick-on Velcro pieces inside top edges of the container for closures.

References

• "Lunch Bags!"; C & T Publishing; 2010
• "Sewing for Dummies"; Jan Saunders Naresh; 2009