Craft: Recycled Pet Food Bag Tote

Materials:

• one Dry Purina Cat Food bag (washed) or other bag made with DuraWeave.
• thread
• scissors
• large sewing needle/sewing machine*
• straight pins

*I used a size 16 needle on my sewing machine. Please use a large machine or hand sewing needle, as a small needle could break possibly ruining your sewing machine or causing injury.

Instructions

Lay your bag flatly on the floor. Cut out the following pieces, being sure to center your design for the front and back:

• Cut two-13 1/2 x 14 inch long pieces. This will be the front and back.

• Cut two- 3 1/2 x 14 inch long pieces. This will be the sides.

• Cut one 3 1/2 x 14 inch piece. This will be the bottom.

• Cut two 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide x 27 inches long (or desired width and height), this will be your straps.

First you sew the all the side pieces together. Lay right sides together (printed side) and sew a straight stitch down the bag. Do this for all four sides; until all of the sides of the bag are sewn together. When finished with these steps, you will have a bag body, minus the bottom, that is inside-out.

Next pin right sides together of your bottom piece to all four sides at the bottom of the bag. When completed you will have the entire body of the bag, inside-out.

Now, turn your back right-side out. Hem a seam along the top of the bag, turning the top under just an inch or so. Then you will need to push the outer edges together on each edge of the bag, pinning in place.

Stitch reinforcement stitches down each side of the bag and each edge of the bottom. This reinforces the bag and causes it to be able to stand up. Next take one strap piece, fold one edge of the piece over just about a third, stitch in place.

Then fold the other side over and let the edges meet in the middle and fold once more so that the one edge peeks out just a little to make a nice strap. Pin and stitch into place. Sew the other strap.

Then just sew your straps onto your bag, by placing them where you want your straps to be located. To make your straps very secure, you can sew them in a downward position, and then sew them in the upward position using a box shape and an X shape to make them extremely sturdy.

Note: This probably isn't necessary, unless you intend to carry very heavy items, and it is really difficult to sew through that many layers of the Duraweave. It would probably break any sewing machine needle.

When you are done, you have a nice bag for scrapbook paper, frozen goods at the grocery, art supplies, coloring books, etc.

Note: Please do not give this bag to small children or children under 3 (or allow them to play with this bag), as the handles are a hazard to small children

By Chris from KY

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