Upcycled Eco Bag ∙ How To by Flail of the flair on Cut Out + Keep

Time:3h00

So-so

Flail of the flair

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

2009

From plastic to bag

Recently I joined Swap bot and a eco bag was my first SWAP.

why buy a eco bag when you can make one?!?

It was helluva lota work but I'm super happy with it.

Now to put it in the mail to someone.. will it be you????

1

First I found all the local bags I could, and few from the mall, cut off the bottoms and ironed them seperately with the parchment paper on low.
2

As they heated up they shrinked a little which I felt made them a little more durable and flat... which would be easier to deal with.
3

Then I cut them up into 3 inch strips.
4

used a cotton twill rectangle as a base and started just sewing them on either just by zig-zagging or put a strip "right side" down. sew 1/4 inch length of the strip.. then flip it over so there's no seam. I used my hands to press seams or if the bag was acting unruly I would use the parchment paper and iron again.
5

For a pattern I measured a eco bag I had and just kinda made it up as I went along. I did line it and used a different fabric for the sides of the bag.

You'll need basicall two squares and two skinny rectanges which turn into the side. I folded fabric over and double stitched it to creat handles.
6

The bag was wasn't "sitting right so I topped stitched the sides on the outside of the bag.. so it maintains it's shape. That REALLY helped.