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Washable Grocery Bags Sewing Tutorial – Shop with Style

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Washable grocery bags are stylish and ecologically sound. Now you can make your own with this awesome sewing tutorial!

Washable Grocery Bags - written, photo & video tutorial by Jessie At Home - SocialPin

Products used in this tutorial were supplied by Fabric Wholesale Direct and Cricut. All opinions are my own.

In just over a year, single use plastics will be banned in New Jersey. We’ve always worked to be ecologically sound, and have been using the store-bought reusable grocery bags for many years. However, they don’t last long, and they’re not washable. So, when Fabric Wholesale Direct contacted me about trying out their fabric, I knew exactly what to make!

Washable Grocery Bags - written, photo & video tutorial by Jessie At Home - Pin 2Pin

When I went to the FWD site, I was super impressed with the selection. Oh my goodness, the variety of fabrics. Even just looking at the cotton and poly broadcloth, the selection was huge. I had such a hard time choosing just three combinations. Plus, now I have like a million ideas of things to sew!

These washable grocery bags are made so that they fold down easily, just like the kind for sale in the grocery store. Unlike the kind in the grocery store, these bags will last a very long time.

I’ve also included instructions on how to add two different kinds of pockets to the bags. I don’t know about you, but I like not having to bring my purse in to the grocery store. Now I can toss my phone, debit card, and license in the zipper pocket and I’m good to go! You can even keep an extra mask in there in case you forget one.

Washable Grocery Bags - written, photo & video tutorial by Jessie At Home - Pin 3Pin

Supplies

Optional Pocket Supplies

  • 1/3 yd of Contrast Fabric
  • 8″ Zipper for zipper pocket only
  • Zipper Foot for zipper pocket only

Video: Getting Started, Bag Bottom Reinforcement & Strap

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Getting Started

Before starting, prewash and dry all your fabric and ribbon twice, in the same manner as you will wash and dry your finished bag. Be sure to fold over and stitch the ends of the ribbon so it doesn’t fray. If you are washing more than 3 yards of ribbon, you may want to put the ribbon in a mesh bag so it doesn’t tangle around anything.

Iron all your fabric and ribbon. Be aware that the ribbon often needs a lower temperature on the iron than the fabric.

Cut and mark all pieces of fabric. It’s not necessary to cut the ribbon yet. If you are confused on the marking, see the video.

All seams use a 1/2″ seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

Washable Grocery Bags - written, photo & video tutorial by Jessie At Home - Pin 1Pin

Washable Grocery Bag Bottom Reinforcement & Strap

Lay Contrast Bag Bottom right side down. Place Bottom Lining (Canvas) centered on top. Pin together.

Pin Inner to Bag Bottom FacingPin

Zig zag stitch around the edge of the Bottom Lining. Use a 1/8-1/4″ wide zig zag.

Zig Zag Around InnerPin

Place Straps wrong side down on ironing surface. Fold one long side in to center and press. It does not have to be the exact center, you can eyeball it.

Fold the other long end in so it touches the first. They need to just touch. If they are separated or overlapping the strap will be too wide or narrow. The finished width should be 1 3/4″.

Place Ribbon over the strap so it covers the folded in edges. Center the Ribbon and pin it down. Cut the Ribbon at the end of the Straps.

Fold and Layer StrapPin

Sew together 1/4″ in from each long edge of Ribbon. Press from Fabric side.

Sew again close to edge of Ribbon. Press from Fabric side.

Sew Ribbon to StrapPin

Look at Cut List to see shaded area where Straps attach. Pin Straps to Main fabric Bag Body as seen below, marking them 1 1/2″ below the top of the bag. Stitch from the bottom of the Bag Body up the edge of the Ribbon, across the mark just made, and back down the other edge of the Ribbon.

Repeat for second Strap.

Pin Straps on Main FabricPin

Video: Optional Pockets

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Zipper PocketPin

Shallow Pocket

Fold pocket in half right sides together along dotted line on Cut List. Sew around 3 cut edges leaving a 2″ opening.

Clip corners and turn bag right side out. Press, keeping the 1/2″ seam folded in at the opening.

Place pocket in desired position on Bag Body. Place the folded edge as the top. Stitch pocket onto the Bag Body close to edge along sides and bottom. Stitch a small triangle at tops of sides to reinforce the pocket.

Zipper Pocket

Fold 9″ sides of both Pocket pieces in towards wrong side of fabric 1/2″, press.

Unfold edges just pressed and fold both pieces in half right sides together along dotted lines in Cut List. Pin sides, leaving the 9″ edges open. Sew both sides of both pieces with 1/2″ seam allowance.

Flip Pocket pieces right side out. Fold top edges inside along pre-pressed folds, press.

Slip Pocket Top over one side of zipper, so folded edges are just above the edge of the zipper. Sew close to edge of fabric.

Repeat last step to sew Pocket Bottom to other side of zipper.

Place pocket in desired position on Bag Body. Stitch pocket onto the Bag Body close to edge along all four sides.

Video: Seaming and Finishing

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Seaming Washable Grocery Bag

Fold both Bag Body pieces right sides together and seam along short ends. Press seam open.

Press Side Seams OpenPin

Pin Contrast Bag Bottom to Main Bag Body, matching marks. Seam together. Clip corners of Bag Bottom only. For help with this step, see video.

Repeat last step with Main Bag Bottom and Contrast Bag Body.

Pin Lining Bottom to Main Bag SidesPin
Bottom AttachedPin

Turn Main Bag Body section right side out. Fold and press all four sides at seam of Body and Bottom. Be careful not to burn or melt the ribbon.

Fold and PressPin

On Contrast Bag Body section, fold and press seams of Body and Bottom join up against Body along stitching line.

Fold and Press Lining Seam AllowancePin

Place Main Bag Body section inside Contrast Bag Body section, right sides together. Put side seams on opposite sides. Pin tops together matching marks. Sew around top leaving a 4″ opening on one of the short sides.

Pin Main and Lining TogetherPin

Finishing Washable Grocery Bag

Flip bag right side out through opening. Push Contrast Body section inside Main Body section. Press top making sure seam isn’t pushed in. Top stitch 1/8″ down from top edge, sewing over straps and making an “x” over the the straps as seen below.

Top Stitch Around TopPin

Pin Main and Contrast fabrics together along lines on four corners between sides and front/back. Pin the “Y” shaped lines in the center of each side as well.

Pin Corner LinesPin

Top stitch along lines just pinned together. Take care not to catch any other parts under foot while sewing.

Stitch Through Bag Fold LinesPin

Fold and press Body on top of Bottom at seams. Top stitch 1/8″ from fold.

Fold and press Body along stitching lines on four corners between sides and front/back. Top stitch 1/8″ from fold.

Top Stitch All FoldsPin

Fold bag along top stitched lines so it lays flat as seen below. This is shown in the video if you need some help.

Flattened BagPin

Fold in half and stack your bags if you’ve made more than one.

All Folded UpPin

All done, time to go grocery shopping! Woo Hoo!!!

Polka DotsPin

I was super happy with the fabric from Fabric Wholesale Direct. It’s lovely and sturdy and there are so many beautiful options.

Happy crafting my friends!

If you are going to make this creation, then get some supplies from these affiliate links. You pay the same price, and I get a small referral fee.

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Jessie at Home SignaturePin

© Copyright 2021 Jessie Rayot / Jessie At Home All my videos, patterns, charts, photos and posts are my own work, so you may not copy them in any way. If you want to share this information with someone, then share the link to this post. If you want to share on your own blog / website, then you may use the first photo in this post and link back to this post. Also, you may not give away printed copies of this post.

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