Lined Fabric Shopping Bag
FREE PATTERN FOR LINED FABRIC SHOPPING BAG
There was a time when we all used plastic shopping bags given out freely by the supermarkets and the streets would be littered with discarded bags waving forlornly from trees and pavements. Thankfully, that no longer happens and now we are all more likely to re use our shopping bags or make our own fabric shopping bags.
This lined fabric shopping bag is easy to make and really practical for your own use or for giving as a small gift to a friend.
You will need two 12" squares and two strips 2" by 17" in the main fabric and the same again in the lining fabric.
With right sides together, sew the 2 squares in the main fabric together on 3 sides. Turn inside out.
With right sides together, sew the 2 squares in the lining fabric on 2 sides only, creating a tube.
With right sides together, sew a strip of the main fabric to a strip of lining fabric down both long sides, creating 2 tubes.
Turn the tubes for the straps inside out. You'll need to stick your finger down the inside of the tube and pull the fabric up.
Press and stitch near to the edges down both long sides.
With right sides together, pin the straps to the bag with the outer edge of the strap about 3" from the outer edge of the bag. Do the same on both sides and check that you don't have a twist in the strap - or rather that the twist is the correct way. It's a good idea to have the strap sticking out slightly above the bag so that it is well secured when you sew it on.
With right sides together, pull the tube of the lining fabric down over the bag and straps. Line up all layers at the top of the bag and sew all layers together round the top of the bag.
I find it helps to move the wheel of my sewing machine by hand when approaching the extra thickness of the straps - it helps ease the machine on to the straps and gives a more even stitch.
Pull the lining up so that it sticks out above the bag. Turn in the edges at the bottom of the lining to hide the raw edges, pin and sew across the bottom. For extra strength you could sew this seam twice, but it depends what you think you may be carrying in the bag.
Push the lining back down into the bag, gently pressing the corners out. Run a line of stitching around the top of the bag about 1/4" from the top to hold everything in place.
Time to go shopping!
Quite often I make this bag bigger for grocery shopping. Use 18" squares for the bag and lining and strips about 28" long for the straps.
rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk