How To Make Reusable Tote Bag In 2020

Are you looking for ways to help the environment and cut out using plastic bags? Sew your own Reusable Market Tote Bag with this easy tutorial!

Reusable Tote Bag Materials

1 fat quarter of Organic Sweet Pea Gauze per bag OR for a complete set of bags, you can cut one yard into four rectangles approximately 28” x 18” each
1 yd of twill tape, ribbon, or other coordinating tie material per bag – choose a material that measures 1″ wide or less
Sewing machine and/or serger
Ruler, scissors, thread, fabric marker, & pins
Small safety pin

 

Prepare Your Reusable Tote Bag Materials

Serge or zig-zag stitch the edges of your fat quarter to finish the edges.

A note on pre-washing: Organic Sweet Pea Gauze crinkles in the wash, and generally, washing your gauze after hemming is recommended to account for any shrinkage that occurs. Because exact sizing isn’t super important for this project and a little post-wash shrinkage is okay, I prefer to sew my bags flat and wash them afterward. Learn even more about how to care for your gauze here.

 

Create Your Reusable Tote Bag Casing

Place your fat quarter in front of you so that the wrong side is facing up, and the longest edges are facing you. On both of the shorter edges, measure and make a mark 3″ from the top edge.

Next, you’re going to hem the 3″ area you just marked on your short edges so you don’t have any exposed serger threads once your bag is finished. Fold ¼” of the 3″ marked side edge inward. Pin and sew in place. Repeat for the left edge.

From the top edge of your fat quarter, fold a ¼” inward. Pin and sew in place. Next, fold the top hemmed edge down so it’s in line with your 3″ marks. Pin and sew in place to create a 1½” casing for your drawstring.

Create Your Recycle Tote Bag

Fold your fat quarter in half widthwise, right sides facing. Pin in place, being careful to line up the edges of the casing.

Sew the bottom and side edges together with a ¼” seam, stopping at the edge of your casing. Turn rightside out, and voilá, you have a bag!

Insert your Drawstring

Attach a safety pin to one end of your drawstring material and feed it through your casing.

Knot or fold and stitch the ends of your ties – I prefer to knot them together so I can hang my bags up.

Done! Reusable Tote Bag

That’s it! My favorite thing about these bags – aside from being the easiest DIY ever – is that you can take them straight from the market (or farm, in my case) to your fridge or pantry. They’ll keep your food dry and safe, and they can be thrown in the wash once they’re empty. If gauze isn’t your thing or you’d like something sturdy for some heartier veggies, give Linen Cotton Canvas or Lightweight Cotton Twill a try.