Make a super-easy bag

This cute antidote for plastic bags has one handle, is fully lined, and can be reversible. 

Recycle scrap fabric

Our bag is recycled from a broken zipped cushion cover with a dotted pillowslip lining.

Sewing note:  Seam allowance is 1.5cm unless otherwise noted.

1. Cut out 3 rectangles

Make yours any size.  Ours requires two 80 cm x 40 cm pieces, one for the bag, one for lining.  The smaller handle piece measures 45 cm x 20 cm.

2. Fold and press handle

Fold handle in half lengthwise.  Iron a crease (the pictured red line.)  Turn both long edges in to meet the red line and press.

3. Stitch strap

Fold in half again (along red line.)  Press and stitch close to all four edges.

4. Attach handle

Lay bag fabric right side up.  Pin handle to middle of short sides of bag piece. (NB: Handle is much shorter than bag fabric.) Stitch to attach, backstitching at beginning and end of seams.

5. Attach lining

Lay lining on top ( right side of fabric facing down.)  Pin short sides and stitch along blue lines.

6. Open out bag and stitch one side

Iron seams open.  Rearrange fabric so seams are laying on top of each other.

Pin raw edges of long sides together.  Stitch one side only.

7. Leave a gap in the other side

Mark a 10 cm gap in the middle of the lining with water-erasable pen.  Stitch up to gap, then backstitch.  Start stitching again after the gap, through to end.  Don't forget to backstitch!

8. Turn right side out

Put your hand in the gap and pull everything right side out.

9. Close the gap

Iron the gap flat so that raw edges are inside.  Stitch closed.  (If you want your bag to be reversible, hand-stitching the gap closed looks nicer - visit this site for a really detailed step-by-step tutorial)

10. Topstitch

Push lining into the bag.  Topstitch around the opening.  Ta-da!  All done!