I love a good bag, don’t you? And really, can you ever have too many???

There’s always something that needs to be thrown in a bag to be organized or brought along with us. We have bags for books on Sunday morning, bags for snacks, bags for library books (heavy and perfect for toting an armful!). I love making totes and purses for my daughter and myself. It’s a little addicting, being able to make a new bag just how you want it. 

Which is why bags make great gifts too! Always practical. Cute. Useful. Give some to everyone on your list! 

These bags are really quick to sew together. It’s an easy project for beginning sewers and experts alike. Plus, and you can keep this part a secret, you can make a bunch of reusable shopping tote for not a lot of money! 

How to Make DIY Reusable Shopping Totes

Materials Needed:

Shopping/Utility Fabric

Belting

Coordinating Thread

Steps:

1.Cut two pieces of fabric the desired size. I cut my pieces 15″x 20″ so that I could make 2 bags from 1/2yd of fabric.

2. Make the bag using a French seam: Place the two pieces of fabric wrong sides together so that the right sides are facing out. Sew around the sides and bottom with a 1/4″ seam. Turn the bag wrong-side out and press the seams flat with your fingers. Sew around the sides and bottom again, this time with a 1/2″ seam. The raw edges are now enclosed in the seam.

3. Box the bottom: Fold one side edge so that the side seam and bottom seam are lined up. Sew a line diagonally 2″ from the corner. Repeat on the second side. Turn the bag right-side out. Push the seams out and press with your fingers.

4. Finish the top edge: Fold the top edge of the bag down 1/4″ and press with your fingers. Fold down again 3/8″ and press the edge again with your fingers. Pin in place.

5. Attach the strap: Cut a piece of belting the desired length for a single strap. I cut mine about 28″. Tuck one end of the strap under the folded edge of the top edge along one side seam. Fold the strap up and over the folded edge (see picture below). Repeat with the second end of the strap. Sew around the top of the bag, backstitching over each strap when you get to it.

And you’re done! Make a few more to use for errand running or for a fun, practical gift!

 

 

Want more handmade gift ideas? Check out these fun projects!

 

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