Make a Simple Cloth Bag

Ever wanted to give somebody a present in an original way? Ever needed to create a quick hold-all or even just wanted an easy way of making a cute purse? If so, then a simple cloth bag will do the trick.

Steps

Making a T-shirt Bag

1. Choose a t-shirt you won't mind cutting up, and turn it inside out. To make your bag more interesting, consider using a shirt with an interesting print or graphic on the front. If the shirt is white, consider tie dyeing it first. This will make your bag more colorful and fun.
2. Cut the sleeves off. To make the cut more even, fold the shirt in half first. This way, you will be cutting both sleeves off at the same time. To make longer handles, consider cutting a little bit below the sleeves.
3. Cut the neckline off. Try to leave 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) of space between the neckline and the sleeves. This will make your handles more durable.
   • To make your neckline more even, trace the curve using a marker and a bowl or plate first. it with a bowl or plate.
4. Decide on the length of your bag, then draw a horizontal line across the shirt. Use a ruler or some other straight edge to make the line as even as possible. Remember that your shirt will stretch a little when you put things into your bag.
5. Draw a series of vertical lines, ¾ to 1 inch (1.91 to 2.54 centimeters) across the bottom of the shirt. The lines need to go from the hem of the shirt, all the way up to the horizontal line you drew. These vertical lines will be your cutting lines to make a fringe. You will be knotting the fringe together to make the bottom of the bag.
6. Cut the vertical lines to make the fringe. Be sure to cut through both layers of the shirt at the same time, so that your fringe is even. Do not cut past the horizontal line, however.
   • Be sure to cut the side seams going from the hem of your shirt up to the line you drew. This will create the first and last fringes.
7. Turn the shirt right side out, then tie the top fringes to the corresponding bottom fringes. Tie the first top fringe to the first bottom fringe. Tie the second top fringe to the second bottom fringe. Keep doing this until you have knots all along the bottom of the bag.
   • The knots and fringe will be part of your bag's final design. If you don't want the knots and fringe to be visible, then don't turn your shirt right side out. This will keep the knots and fringe on the inside.
8. Tie the adjacent fringes together to hide the gaps. Your bag will likely have tiny gaps between the knots. You will need to hide them, or your bag won't be able to hold small items. To do this, you will need to tie the first and second fringes together, the third and forth fringes together, and so forth, on both sides (front and back) of the bag.
   • If you are keeping the fringes on the inside of your bag, consider trimming them down, so that they don't get tangled.
9. Consider cutting the shoulders of the shirt and then sewing them together to make front any back handles. Turn your bag inside out. Cut the shoulders apart. Sew the front left shoulder to the front right shoulder. Sew the back left shoulder to the back right shoulder. Use ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowances. When you are done, turn the bag right side out.

Making a Drawstring Bag

1. Cut a 10 by 20 inch (25.4 by 50.8 centimeters) rectangle out of a piece of fabric. Choose a durable fabric, such as cotton, linen, canvas, or jersey. The fabric can be solid colored, or it can have a print on it.
2. Cut a 20 inch (50.8 centimeters) long piece of ½ (1.27 centimeters) wide ribbon and set it aside. Choose a color that goes well with your bag. This will make the draw string that will open and close your bag.
3. Fold one of the wider edges down by 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) and press it flat with an iron. This will make the top of your bag. Be sure that you are folding the edge towards the wrong side of the fabric.
4. Sew two straight lines across the fabric. The first line needs to be 2½ inches (6.35 centimeters) down from the fold. The second line needs to be 3½ inches (8.89 centimeters) from the fold. The 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) space between the two lines will make the channel for the ribbon to go through.
5. Fold your fabric in half, widthwise, with the right sides together. Secure the side and bottom edge with sewing pins. The fold will make the other side edge, and does not need to be pinned down.
6. Sew along the bottom and side of your bag using a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowance. When sewing the side, skip the 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) space between the two lines you made earlier, or you won't be able to insert the ribbon. When you are done, remove the sewing pins.
7. Turn the bag right side out. If you'd like, you can serge the side and bottom hems of your bag first so that they don't fray. If you don't have a serger, you can use the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine instead.
8. Clip a safety pin to the end of your ribbon, and use it to guide the ribbon through the 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) wide channel. Push the safety pin into one of the openings. Use the safety pin to guide the ribbon all the way around the bag until you reach the other opening. Be careful not to loose the end of the ribbon on the bag.
9. Close the bag. Scrunch the fabric on the ribbon until the bag closes. Tie the ends of the ribbon into a bow. If you'd like, you can place a pretty bead onto each end of the ribbon; tie each end into a knot to hold the bead on.

Making a Tote Bag with Handles

1. Cut a piece of fabric twice the height you want your bag to be. You will be folding the fabric in half to make your final bag. Be sure to add 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) to the height and width for seam allowances. Try to use a sturdy fabric, such as canvas, cotton, or linen.
2. Fold the both narrow edge down by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) to make the hems. When folding the hems, make sure that you are folding towards the wrong side of the fabric. Secure the folds with sewing pins, and press them flat with an iron.
3. Sew the hems using thread in a matching color. If you don't know how to sew, you can use iron-on hem tape or even fabric glue.
4. Fold the fabric in half, with the right sides facing in. Secure the side edges with sewing pins. Leave the top, hemmed edges alone.
5. Sew the side hems using a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowance. If you don't know how to sew, you can use iron-on hem tape, fabric glue, or even staples. For a nicer finish, consider serging the side seams. If you don't have a serger, use the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine instead.
6. Turn the bag inside out. If you used fabric glue, be sure to let it dry first. At this point, you have the body of your bag done.
7. Cut a long strip of fabric for the handle or shoulder strap. Cut a long strip of fabric to the length you want, but twice the width; be sure to include a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowance. How long you cut the strip is up to you. You can cut one long strip to make a shoulder strap, or two short strips to make handles.
   • The strap or handle does not have to match your bag. You can use a contrasting color to make your bag look more interesting.
8. Fold the strip in half, with the right sides facing in. Secure the long edge with sewing pins. Don't iron it, as you will be turning it inside out.
9. Sew the long edge using a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowance. If you;d like, you can serge the side using a serger or the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. Do not sew the narrow ends yet.
10. Turn the strip inside out. Clip a safety pin to one of the narrow ends. Tuck the safety pin into the strip, then guide it through to the other side. Once you have the strip turned inside out, take the safety pin off.
11. Tuck the raw edges on your strip in by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) and sew it shut. Secure the fold with some sewing pins, and press it flat with an iron. Sew the narrow edges shut, then remove the pins. If you don't know how to sew, you can simply glue the edges shut using fabric glue.
12. Attach the handles. If you made a shoulder strap, attach each end to the top of each side seam. If you made handles, attach each one to the front and back of the back. You can glue them on using fabric glue, or hand-stitch them on.
    • Consider adding a pretty button, flower, or other embellishment to the bottom of each strap or handle to hide the joint.
13. Consider adding a Velcro closure. Cut a 1 by 1 inch (2.54 by 2.54 centimeters) piece of Velcro. Find the center of the front and back hem. Glue each piece of Velcro to the inside of your bag, right against the top edge of the hem. Wait until the glue dries, then press the Velcro together to close the bag.
14. Consider adding a pretty design to the bag. You can embroider designs, sew on beads, or even paint a picture using fabric paint. If you are painting something on, be sure to stick a piece of cardboard inside the bag. This will keep the paint from transferring to the back of the bag.

Tips

• Stapled bags are best used as decoration or to present a small gift.
• Sometimes when you inside-out a stapled bag, the top two staples on the seams fall out,this is easy to fix. Just fold over the edges that are seamless and staple them at the sides to create a 'hem' this also hides the handle fastening.
• When making a t-shirt bag, you can sew across the bottom instead of making a knotted fringe. Simply along the line, then cut the bottom of the shirt off, leaving a ½ inch (1.27 centimeter) wide hem. When you are done, turn the shirt right side out.
• Make a bunch of bags and give them away as gifts.
• Decorate your bags after you made them with glitter glue, buttons, ribbons, and fabric paint. When using fabric paint, be sure to stick of piece of cardboard inside the bag to keep the paint from transferring to the other side.

Things You'll Need

Making a T-shirt Bag

• T-shirt
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pen
• Sewing machine or needle and thread (optional)

Making a Drawstring Bag

• Fabric
• ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) wide ribbon
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Sewing machine
• Safety pin

Making a Tote Bag with Handles

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing pins
• Safety pin
• Iron
• Sewing machine or needles and thread
• Velcro (optional)

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Use Aluminum Foil
• Tie a Bow
• Put Tissue Paper in a Gift Bag
• Make a Gift Bag
• Make a Bra Purse
• Wrap a Present
• Make a Placemat Purse
• Make a Gift Pouch from a Greeting Card
• Make a Bow Out of a Ribbon
• Curl Ribbon

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