Reusable Shopping Bag

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Kraft paper or other large drawing paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tissue gold Lamé fabric 3/4 yard
• Matching thread
• Rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Draft pattern - If you have a plastic shopping bag, you can use it for design reference, especially for shaping the bottom sides.


2. Draw a rectangle that is 18"x 20". At the top, you will mark the areas that will need to be cut out to form the handles. For handles that are 2 1/2" wide, you will mark a 9 inch space at the center, and 1 1/2" spaces at each side. Check the pattern for reference.


3. To create the shape of the center space, draw a line about 3" down from the top points (those points you drew to indicate the 9 inch space at the center). Find the center of the 9 inch space, and make a mark that is 7 1/2" down from the top - this will be the lowest point the center space arches down. Then, either find a plate or other circular item to trace that is about 9" in diameter, or simply freehand an arch that curves from the bottom of the 3 inch handle line, to the center point, and then back up to the bottom of the opposite 3 inch handle line. Check the pattern for reference. it's simply the measurements of the shape in the middle.


4. Finish drafting the handles by drawing the other sides of the handles down 3 inches, then curving them outward toward the sides so the curve ends 6 inches down the side.
5. Cut out pattern. This will be the pattern for the main body of the bag (you will cut two pieces of fabric) and then you will fold the pattern to create a pattern for the handle lining (you will also cut two pieces).


6. Attach pattern to fabric with a couple of straight pins. Fold fabric before cutting so that you cut the front and back of the bag at the same time.


7. Then, place the top of the pattern onto the remaining fabric. You need the fabric to span the entire width of the pattern, but only need it to extend down 9 inches from the top. Pin the top of the pattern onto the fabric, and pin down until you almost reach 9 inches, then fold the pattern up and out of the way, creating a nice, straight line across the bottom.


8. Fold the fabric so that you cut the both sides of the handle lining at the same time. Begin to cut by cutting across the bottom edge, then fold the pattern back flat and out of the way to cut the top portion.


9. Finish the bottom of each lining piece by either a zigzag stitch all the way across the bottom edge, or by folding the bottom edge up 1/4", pressing, and folding again 1/4" and sewing across with a straight stitch.


10. Attach one of the linings to a bag body piece, either right sides together or right side to wrong side, depending on what you would like the lining to look like - the tissue lamé has a pattern on the interior and you may want that patterned interior to show on the handles - in which case, attach it right side to wrong side.


11. Sew the center section - down the handle side, around the center curve, and up the other handle side. Use scissors to make small clips about every 1/4" around the curve, and trim the entire seam allowance down to about 1/4".


12. Sew around the curves at both outer sides of the handle - sew just the curves and stop. If you continue to sew up the handle, you likely won't be able to flip the bag right side out without tearing the lamé. Like the center curve, use the scissors to clip about every 1/4" & align the curves at the outer sides. Trim the seam allowance down to 1/4". Flip the body of the bag right side out. With iron on lowest setting, press sewn curves down, and then tuck in the seam allowance for the remainder of the outer handles, press down with iron, then sew with sewing machine.


13. Repeat steps for the remaining bag body piece and handle lining piece.


14. Place bag body pieces with right sides together, and pin the handle tops together. Sew with 1/2" seam. Fold seam in 1/4", press, and sew again.


15. Pin and sew down both sides of the bag.


16. When you get to sewing the bottom of the bag, you will need to take the side seam in your hands, and find a point on either side of the bottom edge that is about 4 inches out from the side seam in either direction. At this point you will have flattened the material so that you're looking at the side seam in the center. (This is where it's very helpful to look at a plastic bag and how the sides and bottom are constructed. You will notice that plastic bags have little triangles that form at the bottom sides and are secured at the bottom. These give the bottom of the bag its shape and strength.


17. Once you find the points that are about 4 inches on either side of the side seam, you will press them in, baste, and then repeat on the other side. Turn bag right side out to make sure that it looks right, then flip it back, wrong sides out, and sew across the entire seam. Reinforce it by sewing it again.