Make a Woven Magazine Bag

Here is an environmentally friendly way to make a one of a kind tote! Using unwanted magazines, you can weave together a simple but strong bag for toting around your personal effects.

Steps

  1. Collect old magazines you're willing to take pages out of. Choose your favorites, as you'll want a decent selection of images and colors.
  2. Rip out 11 pages you like for each side of the bag. Since the bag has five sides (bottom, right, left, front, and back) you'll need 55 pages in total.
  3. Fold all the magazine pieces long ways to form evenly sized strips.
  4. Tape five strips together horizontally, as shown here.
  5. Weave six strips vertically through the horizontal piece you made in the previous step. As you weave, switch from under, over, under, over, to over, under, over, under, for every strip of magazine.
  6. Check for evenness and make any adjustments needed. It should end up looking similar to the outcome shown in this image.
  7. Place a piece of cardboard the same size as the woven magazine side onto the "back" of the woven piece. You can use the back of and old spiral notebook, inserts from Make a Roman Calendar, or just cut a shape to size from a used cereal box.
  8. Carefully, so as not to create bubbles, bumps or unevenness, tape clear tape over the entire front of the woven piece. Then, tape the ends that overlap the cardboard to the back of the cardboard.
  9. Cut a magazine piece to the size of the cardboard piece. Tape it on the back to cover up the taped edges and the cardboard itself. It's recommended that you add clear tape to this side too, just to strengthen it and to prevent it from being torn when objects are slipped inside the bag.
  10. Decide on the bag's final shape. When you've finished one piece, as outlined in the preceding steps, you can decide if you want to make your bag square or rectangular.
    • If you want it square then make four more side pieces following the same steps.
    • If you want it Sew a Rectangular Gift Bag then make one more side following the same steps and three sides following the same steps but in steps instead of the five and six pieces outlined above, make five and nine or eight and nine pieces.
  11. When you have made all the sides, assemble your bag. Just use clear duct tape to tape the entire bag together.
    • If you intend carrying this rather than using it for storage purposes, consider adding handles. For handles, use anything scrap such as ribbon, plaited twine, a strap off a broken bag, etc. The handle can be attached by stapling, tying, punching in metallic rings and then attaching, etc. Choose the method that works best for your needs.
  12. Finished.



Things You'll Need

  • Magazines with at least 55 pages you like
  • Clear tape, strong tape and clear duct tape
  • Cardboard
  • Materials to help attach a handle (optional)
  • Scissors or similar item to help remove and neaten magazine pages and to cut tape
  • Flat work surface (make sure it's comfortable)

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