Make A Plastic Bag Storage Sack: Sewing for Dudes [and Ladies], No. 4.

By Chrisjob

Despite your attempts to utilize canvas grocery bags, somehow you always end up with plastic bags, and you need a place to store 'em for proper recycling. You could check out these directions for a hard-surface unit; or you can give your burgeoning sewing skills a workout with the instructions below. (Plus, the soft surfaces and light weight make it ideal for a substitute pillow, or hitting your friends upon their making ridiculous comments.)

Materials
Remnant or scraps of fabric measuring:
18” x 21” (alternatively, consider an old dishtowel, placemat, or pant leg.)
3” x 6” (for handle)
Needle and Thread
Sewing machine (optional)
Two pieces of elastic, approx. 6” in length (I used some recycled elastic from some old camping gear)
Matches or lighter
Two safety pins: one large and one small

Total Cost: Maybe $1.50. Total Time: 30 minutes

1. Sew the handle. Iron the smaller piece of fabric- 3”x6”- flat, and then fold in half lengthwise. Iron the crease flat, and then open again. Fold each side lengthwise towards the center crease, and iron flat, to make a handle 3/4” x 6”: (3/2 = 1 1/2 / 2 = 3/4).

2. Sew the body. Fold the large - 18” x 21” – piece in half lengthwise. Lay the handle inside the fabric with the scraggly edges in line with the edges of the body. Sew a seam 1/4” inch from the open edges to make a tube, attaching the handle to the inside.

3. Attach the Elastic. Fold the top edge down 1”, iron, and sew a seam, leaving both ends open. Cut the elastic to length, and use a lit match to seal the edges from fraying.

Attach the safety pins to both ends, and thread the smaller safety pin through the hem. Allow 1/2” of overlap between the two sides, and hand sew the two ends to make a loop.

4. Repeat step 3 for the opposite end.

5. Hang it. Flip the tube inside out, and hang in a convenient place. Fill the bag from the top, and pull from the bottom when needed.

Tagged:
sewing craft fabric recycle plasticbags sewing-for-dudes

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July 02, 2007

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elby2007

May 21, 2008

I am so excited to find this! Ever since I can remember my mom has had one of these in our house, and as a college student, I'd like to have the same thing in my dorm. My suitemates and I tried using a large mesh drawstring bag last year, but it was so huge and took up a lot of space...not to mention that it contained far more bags than we ever used! I've tried Googling several different things, but this is the first set of instructions I've found to make one of these, and what do you know, it's easy, too! This will definitely be one of my summer projects. Thanks so much!

DIY Maven

July 02, 2007

Yup, that's Mom's fabric version.

Caya123

July 02, 2007

That's a good job there. I like another method of storing the plastic bags, where you stuff them into empty paper-towel tubes. I stack those in an old coffee can under the sink for when I need them, and store the excess tubes in a bag in the basement. I have so many uses for those plastic bags, I feel no guilt about getting them from the grocery store when I go. Every now & then I do a nice project with them, and boom, my stash is gone.