Creating my way to Success

Shopping bags from bedding - an upcycle tutorial

Four years ago now, I made my first set of shopping bags from an old sheet that we never used. I used them every week for my food shopping:

I made myself a second set too - so that one stays in the car, in case I forget to put the other set back after emptying my shopping out each week!

Four years on, these bags are still going strong.

I decided to make them after my supermarket 'green' bags began to tear and rip. One even biodegraded in our tropical heat and I found it in tatters one day on the floor! Some of the ladies who worked in the supermarket told me that often the bags begin to smell after a while too.

These bags from sheets have lasted and lasted so well. I've never had to repair any stitching or tears, can put meat products direct into them knowing that if the packet leaks, the bags just get thrown in the wash and they're clean and fresh smelling once again!

So have I convinced you yet? Do you want to make your own set of environment friendly - and pretty shopping bags?

I made myself a new set, just so that I could make up a tutorial! I'm sure I'll find a friend who would like a set that will gain them as a gift, as there are only so many shopping bags a girl needs!!

So, here's how to make your own sturdy shopping bags from old bedding.

I bought an old doona (duvet) cover from a charity shop for a few dollars to use for this.

First lay it out and cut off the seams.

Then for each bag you need to cut:

1 piece 90 x 43cm (35.5 x 17")

2 straps 62 x 10cm (24.5 x 4")

Main Bag Part

Fold the main bag part lengthways in half, WRONG sides together.

The next part makes the bottom of the bag sit better when packed full of groceries.

Lift up the bottom fold of the bag with your fingers inside the fold.

The fold is shown in the pictures, as it is too confusing to try and explain in words!

Pin both sides and stitch.

Now trim the seams very close to your stitching:

Then turn the bag right sides in again making sure your seams are flat.

Stitch along those seams again - a little wider than your regular seam to make sure you completely enclose the seam you trimmed. This completely covers the raw edges and is called a 'French Seam'. It's a neat way to finish seams if you don't have an overlocker (serger)

Turn your bag right sides out and that's the main part done!

The straps

Take one strap piece and fold the long outer edges into the centre. Then fold the whole thing in half again to completely enclose the raw edges. If you find it easier you can iron each step here to hold the fabric in place before stitching.

Then top-stitch along both sides of your strap. Repeat for the other strap.

Attach the straps to the bag

Open up the top of your bag and place one strap approximately in place like this:

Fold the top of your bag inwards about 1cm (0.5") and place the edge of the strap on top edge to edge.

Then fold the top of the bag over once more together with the strap, then lift the strap upwards and pin into place. This way the raw edge is once again completely hidden.

Repeat with the other side of the strap:

Turn the bag over and attach the other strap to the other side of the bag in the same way - matching the placement up with the first strap:

Stitch all the way around both the top and bottom of this seam.

Also stitch an extra box and cross at each handle for extra strength.

That's it! One shopping bag finished!

Ready to fill up with your groceries!

I made 8 bags from one side of the doona (duvet) cover - which was King Size. That is generally enough for my weekly shop.

One of the best things I like about these bags is the long straps so when I'm carrying the heavy bags in from the car I can carry them over my shoulder:

I put all my shopping bags in a small tote (one I made from a pretty net curtain) and try to keep it in the car ready for my weekly shop!

Of course I had to test out this new set of bags for my weekly shop a few days ago!

I always get nice comments on my pretty shopping bags.

I hope you make yourself a set too - I'd love to see pictures from anyone who does!!

Why not make a stylish new handbag to carry all your new shopping bags in to make sure you never forget them again! My new e-book contains the main tutorial and pattern for the handbag (made from old jeans) with a special section just for your shopping bags, plus some extras too! Go here to read more.

If you liked this tutorial, I have over 100 free sewing tutorials for all sorts of different things at all different levels of ability from beginners to experienced sewers:

100+ Free Sewing Tutorials

Happy Upcycling, Sewing and of course Shopping!

Eco Friendly Produce Bags - an upcycle tutorial

I've been using a set of bags like these for the past couple of years every week at the local market when we buy our fruit and vegetables. Over time, as our kids have grown and our eating habits have changed, the amount of fruit and vegetables we buy has increased, and at the same time some of my lovely little bags have disappeared. So it was time to make some more bags and I thought I'd post a little tutorial to show how easily you can make your own produce bags and never have to use plastic bags at the market - or supermarket again!

All you need is:

an old net curtain and some cord.

Here's how to make a simple drawstring produce bag.

1. Fold over the edge of the curtain to the width you'd like your bag.

Mine are around 28 cm (11")

2.Cut where you have folded to, and also to the length of the bags you want.

Again, mine are around 33 cm (13").

You can use the top of the curtain - or also the hem at the base as the casing for your drawstring.

3.So now just pin 2 edges of your bag - the side opposite the fold, and what will be the base:

4. Stitch where you have pinned - but remember to leave the casing open at the top.

Don't stitch across that or you'll have nowhere to push your drawstring through!

5. Now turn your bag right sides out, and cut some cord double the width of your bag:

6. Using a large safety pin, thread your cord all the way through the casing at the top of your bag.

7. Tie the two ends of the cord together..

And there you have one finished drawstring produce bag!

Now if your net curtain is large and you cut pieces that don't have a ready made casing in the form of the top or hem of the curtain, all you have to do to make your own is fold over the top edge of your piece of curtain like this:

Pin then stitch before folding your fabric and finishing your bag.

Note: I've been using bags like this for 2 years now and the seams have never frayed. I did not overlock (serge) or finish off the seams in any way - the net curtain fabric just doesn't seem to fray at all!

My single (short) net curtain that cost me a couple of dollars from the charity shop, made me 14 bags! So I shouldn't run out again any time soon.

Strong, durable and eco-friendly! What could be better!

Do you use plastic bags for your fruit and vegetables?

Why not make some of these and keep them in your car for next time you shop!

For more of my upcycling tutorials, take a look here.

Or I even have a whole e-book of sewing tutorials to make eco-friendly shopping bags - including a stylish handbag to carry them all in so you never forget them when you're shopping!

Happy upcycling!

T-shirt sleeves to pouches - an upcycle tutorial

I'm currently working on upcycling the old-style uniforms from my daughter's swim club.

First I made a few tote bags using the main backs of the t-shirts which had our club name on. You can see some pictures of those here.

Now I've made some small zipped pouches with the sleeves, lined with waterproof rip-stop nylon so they are ideal for carrying swim caps and goggles for our star swimmers. You could line these pouches with any kind of material you choose and use them as anything from a pencil case to a money pouch!

Here's how to make a small zipped pouch from a t-shirt sleeve:

First cut the sleeve from your t-shirt and trim off the seams and hem.

Then cut 2 rectangles from the fabric you have. I cut mine as large as I could from each size, so the pouches were varied sizes depending on the shirt size!

You also need to cut 2 more rectangles of fabric the same size for the lining. I used my scrap fabric stash for this - but you could always use the other sleeve from the t-shirt!. Then you need a zip which is approximately the size of the longer side of your fabric rectangle and a few scraps of each fabric you're using:

Adjust the zip length

First you need to make the zip the same length as the long side of your fabric rectangle. To do this you need to use fabric scraps that are a little wider than the zip.

Place the scraps on either end of the zip with the right sides of the fabric facing in towards the zip. The outer fabric facing the outside of the zip, the inner fabric facing the inside of the zip.

Pin these in place where you want the finished ends of the zip to be:

Before you stitch, pull back the fabric scraps to check you've got them pinned the right way - the fabric should form the new zip ends like this:

Stitch the scraps into place at either end of the zip. Be careful if you're stitching over the teeth of the zip. Go slowly and lift the foot a little if you need to to avoid snapping your needle!

Trim the fabric scraps so that they are in line with the zip edges:

Then you can pull the fabric back on both sides of the zip and it's ready to attach to the main pouch parts!

Attach the zip to the main pouch parts

Lay down one of your outer fabric rectangles with the right side of the fabric facing upwards. Lay your zip on top of this with the right side facing downwards. Then place one of the inner fabric pieces, face down on top of the zip:

Pin then stitch in place using the zipper foot attachment on your machine.

Then flip both fabrics back and top stitch close to the zip. This should prevent the fabric from catching in the zip when you open and close it.

Now repeat all of this with the other 2 fabric rectangles. So again place the outer fabric face up; then next the zip face down (so now both pieces of outer fabric should be right-sides together); then finally your last inner fabric piece face down on top:

Pin, then stitch, and once again flip the fabrics back and top-stitch close to the zip on the top of the fabric:

Here's what it looks like on the underneath:

Joining the outer and inner pieces together

First MAKE SURE YOUR ZIP IS OPEN!!

Then put both outer fabric pieces on one side of the zip, and both inner pieces on the other side - with right sides of the fabric together in both cases!