How to Turn Bed Sheets into Shopping Totes
May 4th, 2016
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Reusable shopping bags are all the rage, but the ones you find at the store are oh so boring. The thrifts (or your grandma's linen closet) are full of fun vintage pattern sheets. Why not use them to make your own unique bags?
Erika Kern
Since these bags are fully lined, they're superstrong and reversible! Hmm, how am I feeling today? Chewbacca or Darth Vader?
Erika Kern
What a blast from the past! I found these two top sheets at one of my local Goodwill stores for $2.50 each.
Erika Kern
Reusable shopping bags are all the rage, but the ones you find at the store are oh so boring. The thrifts (or your grandma's linen closet) are full of fun vintage pattern sheets. Why not use them to make your own unique bags?
Photo: Erika Kern
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Slide the right-side-out exterior into the wrong-side-out interior. Pin along the top, making sure to match your seams and straps.
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Sew around the top of the bag using a 5/8-inch seam allowance, leaving a hole to turn your bag right side out.
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Turn the bag right side out.
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Press the top of the bag flat, pin the hole shut, and topstitch along the top using a 3/8-inch seam allowance.
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Now you're ready to be both fabulous AND green! Way to go!
posted in:
tote bag, sheets, shopping bag, star wars, May the Force be with You, May the 4th be with you
Comments (39)
Posted: 1:28 pm on May 9th
Posted: 10:18 am on May 7th
Thanks,
Posted: 5:21 pm on August 22nd
In fact I've found there is a group how make bags and give them to shopper for free to encourage people not to use plastic bags any more.
Posted: 6:37 am on July 27th
Now you can make one of youre own and use plastic table fabric.
I hope that you will understand this. The fabric is heavier so you can transport heavy bottles etc.
Posted: 2:24 am on May 8th
Posted: 6:44 pm on May 4th
I've made a bowling style shirt out of the classic 'Blue' and a pinafore dress out of a Return of the Jedi Ewoks one. Most sheets I've seen hold up because it's a poly/cotton, even if threadbare but I would use a sturdy lining fabric to take most of the weight of whatever you are going to carry in the bag - like a twill or broadcloth (and it saves more of the sheet for more bags!)
While I do agree if the sheets in question are 'Mint' or 'Rare' you may want to see if there's someone out there that would like to buy them from you (and use to $ to buy more fabric) BUT I also have a perverse sense of humor to see a fellow fan go "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO xxxx???" :)
Posted: 6:42 pm on May 4th
Posted: 6:31 pm on May 13th
Posted: 9:42 pm on May 9th
I guess I sound like I've never sewn before. That's the thing I have! I made my wedding dress! But for some reason your simple, and I'm sure quite good, instructions just aren't kicking in.
Thanks for helping out the confused ones! :^D
Posted: 11:59 am on May 9th
Posted: 11:51 am on May 9th
I've also made the same type of cotton bag to store in my pantry my large board for kneading bread and rolling out pastry and cookie dough.
Posted: 10:49 am on May 9th
Posted: 10:47 pm on September 2nd
Posted: 1:24 pm on August 13th
Posted: 10:52 am on June 20th
Posted: 10:45 am on June 20th
Posted: 10:28 pm on April 16th
I would like to offer this great tip that I got for making patterns - use interfacing. It's cheap, and is easier to use than the paper, roll it up with a sheet of paper to avoid creases and use it forever. (though I used to write all my sewing notes on the paper, can't do that with the interfacing!)
Posted: 7:07 pm on February 26th
Posted: 12:19 pm on February 2nd
Posted: 3:09 pm on February 1st
i always feel like a soccer mom (no offense to soccer moms) when i whip out my boring sack. this is too cute.
thanks for the inspiration.
Posted: 9:35 pm on January 25th
Great idea. Thanks.
Shannon
www.myheart4him.wordpress.com
Posted: 10:18 am on January 24th
Posted: 2:37 am on January 24th
Posted: 8:02 pm on January 23rd
I also hesitate about cutting up vintage treasures (like Vera textiles or barkcloth or Star Wars sheets) and the stained --> new life rule works for me, too. I keep some things precious and mint but when something cool has already seen some good living, it's fun to rework it, that's for sure.
Posted: 5:06 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 4:58 pm on January 23rd
Tina: I love reconstructed vintage! But I also completely get the "too precious" argument too. I've often bought things to reconstruct that end up left as is because I just can't cut into them. I find that if they're damaged in some way it makes it easier. I found this super cute 50's blouse the other day at the Salvation Army, the sleeves are all torn up but the front has the most amazing pleating! Now I just need to figure out what to make with it.
Posted: 12:52 pm on January 23rd
Susan's joke about the dog coats made me crack up.
Posted: 11:04 am on January 23rd
Posted: 5:44 pm on January 22nd
Posted: 5:18 pm on January 22nd
Posted: 1:03 pm on January 22nd
Posted: 12:51 pm on January 22nd
I do agree with susanbrownknitting about the corners; I understand how to do them but an inexperienced sewer may have some trouble. It still takes me a minute or two to "get" things when I make a project for the first time. Maybe one more pic and a few lines would clear it up.
I really love this. Thanks for the cool idea.
Posted: 11:56 pm on January 21st
Just one thought. I came across my teenage daughter looking at this and getting confused about the corners. She wanted to know how you could stitch air together. She understood when I explained you needed to join the seams and you were getting rid of bulk etc. However, I wonder if other inexperienced sewers might need a sentence or two more. Think it over.
Meanwhile, I am about to cut into some 1920s William Morris Liberty Linen to make dog coats - just joking!
Thanks for a really great posting Erika!
Posted: 11:20 pm on January 21st
This is just a question and in no way meant as an attack. It's just, I did pay good money (not a lot of money, but it was still as good as anything) and I used them in the best way I saw fit. I've seen clothes and bags and quilts made from these sheets all the time. I think it's a great thing to reuses something and make it one's own.
I guess I'd understand your point if I'd open a sealed up deadstock item but these were somewhat stained sheets from the thrift that were very well loved.
Posted: 6:11 pm on January 21st
Posted: 6:05 pm on January 21st
Posted: 5:18 pm on January 21st
Posted: 3:54 pm on January 21st
Posted: 3:34 pm on January 21st