Wallet-Sized Fold-Up Re-Usable Shopping Bag
I love the idea of a re-usable fabric shopping bag, but you need to remember to bring them with you whenever you go shopping. Inspired by a fold-up bag I received as a gift, I wanted to create one that would be simpler to make (the one I received requires a zipper sewn into a curved shape) and just as convenient to use. You can stash this wallet sized bag in your purse and have it ready whenever you go to the store.
To see the full tutorial click on … for more
Materials
- Main bag fabric – 33″ x 19″
- 2 strips for the handles – 20″ x 4″
- Contrasting fabric for the pocket – 10 1/2″ x 7″
- Fusible interfacing for the pocket – 10 1/2″ x 7″
- Double fold bias tape
- Small piece of sew-on velcro – about 1″ x 1″
The fabric for the main bag should be fairly lightweight so it will fold up easily, but sturdy enough to carry some heavy groceries. The pocket can be made from a heavier weight fabric, in which case you can skip the fusible interfacing.
I used fabric from an old curtain I found at Goodwill. Check your local thrift stores for fabric, curtains, sheets, or pillowcases.
First cut the fabric to the sizes as listed above.
Make the pocket:
- Press fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the pocket.
- Fold the pocket in half lengthwise, right sides together.
- Measure 3″ from the top along the outside edge and mark.
- Draw a curve between this mark and the top center fold.
- Cut along the line through both layers of fabric.
- Pin and stitch the bias tape to the outside edge of the pocket.
- Sew one side of the Velcro to the right side center of the short, straight edge, just under the bias tape. Then sew the other piece of Velcro to the wrong side center of the curved edge, 1/2″ from the bias tape.
To attach the pocket to the bag:
- With the curved edge toward the bottom, place the wrong side of the pocket onto the right side of the main bag. Place it so the right edge of the pocket is 5″ from the right edge of the main fabric and so the top edge of the pocket is 3 1/2″ from the top of the main fabric. Pin in place.
- Measure 3″ up from the bottom of the curved edge of the pocket. Mark this measurement with pins along the width of the pocket.
- Stitch the pocket onto the main fabric along the two side edges and 3″ up from the bottom curved edge of the pocket (marked by pins), leaving the curved part unattached from the bag.
To make the main bag:
- Fold the top edge of the bag over 1/4″ toward the wrong side and press.
- Fold another 1/4″ and press. Pin in place.
- Top stitch 1/8″ from the edge of the fold.
- Fold the bag in half with right sides together so the short edges meet. Pin along the side and bottom edges.
- Stitch with 1/2″ seam along the side and bottom edges. Trim the corners.
- Finish the seam allowances: Press the seams open. Press each seam allowance in half so the raw edge meets in the center along the sewn seam.
- Pin the two folded side seam allowances together and stitch near the folded edges.
- Repeat for the bottom seam allowances.
- Fold the bottom corner of the bag so that the bottom and side seams line up.
- Use your ruler to find where the corner measures 3 1/2″ across.
- Pin along the line and stitch in place.
- Repeat for the other corner. This time you don’t have a side seam to match up. Instead, press a crease along the bottom side of the bag and use the crease as a guide.
- Trim the excess fabric to 5/8″ from the stitching line and finish the seam allowances in the same way as the side and bottoms seam allowances.
To make the handles:
- Fold and press the 4″ x 20″ fabric in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.
- Open and press one long raw edge toward the center to meet the crease you just created.
- Repeat for the other raw edge.
- Press each of the short raw edges in 1/2″.
- Fold along the first center crease, pin in place, and topstitch all around the strap.
- Repeat for the other strap.
Then attach the handles:
- Overlap the first handle and the top of the bag by 1″ directly over the side edges of the pocket. Pin in place.
- Sew in a square pattern around the edges of the handle. Sew an “X” through the center of the square.
- Repeat for the second handle, using the front handle
Fold it up:
And there you go. Now you can put your re-usable shopping bag in your purse and have it ready whenever you need it!
About the maker: Karla is a Montessori teacher who lives in Sausalito, California with her husband. In her free time she enjoys shopping at thrift stores and transforming her finds into new creations. You can find photos of her work at flickr.
To submit a story or tutorial please read our submission guidelines. September is recycle/upcycle/re-use/refashion crafts month.
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:32 am
Wow! This is cool! I’m gonna have to whip one up this weekend!
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:24 am
This is too cool! I think I have a project to do when I have scraps. Thank you for sharing.
September 2nd, 2007 at 4:17 am
hi!
this tutorial is great. thanks!
:)
manela
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 am
I’d love to make some reusable grocery bags, but I was wondering how many bags people usually carry around with them. I only go shopping about once a week, and I end up with 8-10 plastic bags full of stuff. Do I need 10 fabric bags each time I go shopping? That’s a bit more cumbersome than just one folded away in a purse. Has anyone else run into this connundrum?
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:35 am
I love this idea. Target has these now but it would be cuter to have homemade ones!
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:39 am
I would rather instructions for projects be linked to a tutorial, as opposed to causing me to scroll to get past something that does not interest me.
September 2nd, 2007 at 8:24 am
[...] whipup.net Eine faltbare Einkaufstasche mit integriertem Aufbewahrungsbeutel. (tags: Bags crafts DIY howto tutorials patterns sewing) [...]
September 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 pm
This is fantastic – thank you! I bought a commercially produced fold up bag a couple of months ago, but it is starting to deteriorate already (bad stitching!). I was considering pullling it apart and using it as pattern for a bag I could sew myself, but you have done all the work for me. Well done!
September 5th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Thank you Karla! Everyone will get one of these in their holiday stocking.
To Dulcet: I do my grocery shopping once a week as well. Remember, your cloth bags will hold more than the typical plastic bags. I have a fold-up bag that I carry with me at all times (it’s great – it’s made of parachute silk and I have been using it for 10 years and it still looks like new!), but that is not what I use for grocery shopping. I made what I call an uber-bag. It is a very, very heavy duty bag that can handle the heavy items like milk. The straps go all the way around the bottom for reinforcement and it is made out of very heavy canvas. On the outside I have four large pleated pockets that hold three additional canvas bags (regular ones not overly heavy duty) and six mesh bags for produce. All this handles my weekly shopping and I keep it by the front door. Don’t even try to carry around in your purse all the bags you’ll need for weekly grocery shopping. Good luck – it took me longer than I ever thought possible to get into the habit of bringing my own bags to the store, but I am so happy that the habit has been established!
September 5th, 2007 at 3:54 am
I love this idea!
And dulcet, you are right, this is a problem. However a fabric bag will hold more stuff, than a flimsy plastic bag, so you might need only 4 bags. I also love to use a wicker basket, where I put in all my vegetables. Then there are crocheted or knitted bag patterns out there, that will expand when filled, so you need even fewer bags.
http://www.crochetme.com/reduction-tote-bag http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTeverlasting.html
November 14th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
[...] Wallet-Sized Fold-Up Re-Usable Shopping Bag A tutorial for sewing a fold-up cloth shopping bag. (tags: sewing giftidea bag) [...]
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:05 am
love this tutorial! Thanks so much!
December 31st, 2007 at 11:03 am
Thanks so much for publishing this great tutorial. I discovered it on 12/24 and decided to make a few for last minute Christmas gifts. I’ve made 5 so far and everyone loves this!! It’s so clever and simple to make.
January 12th, 2008 at 5:38 am
[...] precious real estate in your purse, am I right? The solution? The folks by at WhipUp have a great pattern for a fabric tote bag that can be folded down to wallet -size. Now you have no [...]
April 19th, 2008 at 12:45 am
[...] Whipup.net – Keep a wallet-sized fold-up shopping bag with you at all times. Creative Kismet – Shows you how to turn your old pillowcases into a cute shopping bag. morsbags.com - Download easy to follow instruction on how to sew your own cloth bag. houghtonavenue.com – A knitted grocery bag for a cottony shopping experience. [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
[...] Whipup.net – Keep a wallet-sized fold-up shopping bag with you at all times. Creative Kismet – Shows you how to turn your old pillowcases into a cute shopping bag. morsbags.com – Download easy to follow instruction on how to sew your own cloth bag. houghtonavenue.com – A knitted grocery bag for a cottony shopping experience. [...]
May 1st, 2008 at 7:35 am
[...] not alone in my love for this type of bag. Karla posted a tutorial on whip up on how to create your [...]
May 26th, 2008 at 4:23 am
[...] de fazer e nem segui molde nenhum, mas tinha guardado esse tutorial fazia tempo e dei uma boa lida antes de fazer. Agora ela fica dobradinha e escondidinha dentro da [...]
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 am
[...] variety of reusable shopping bags but inevitably they are rarely with me when I need them. I saw this tutorial and thought that if I kept a neatly folded bag in my handbag and messenger bag then I might be more [...]
December 24th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
found this pattern last year and then forgot about it but now I’m back-
I can make ten bag bodies from a twin flat sheet. I use pillowcases for the handles so everything matches and makes a pretty little presentation. Crafters in my world are getting these this year for project bags since they’re so light, roomy, and easy to store when not filled with a WIP
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Make a small loop, about 2″ long and 1/4″ wide and attach it to the corner of the pocket. Put a small caribeanner (spelling?–one of those clips used for mountain climbing, key rings, etc) through the loop. Now you can attach your wallet sized shopping bag to your purse.
At the lower and medium priced grocery stores, their plastic bags are so cheap that they have holes in the bottom by the time I get home.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
If your fabric isn’t as heavy as you’d like, line the bag. If you don’t like to things, put two pieces of fabric together and treat them as one piece.
Thanks for the great pattern and clear instructions.
March 29th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I just made two of these bags with a heavy cotton twill. They worked out great, the pattern is nice and clear. I have more fabric and next time I will make the pocket a little longer to compensate for the heavier fabric. I also used a button and buttonhole instead of velcro, which worked out well.
Thank-you for the great pattern.
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Wow- I love this. The pocket is genius!
June 27th, 2009 at 8:13 am
[...] Wallet-Sized Fold-Up Re-Usable Shopping Bag: This bag folds into a wallet size that fits perfectly in your purse so you’ll always have one at your fingertips when needed. The bag is more detailed than most, but how nice it is! [...]
July 21st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
[...] back before I even owe a sewing machine (the beginning of fabric hoarder?!yikes!). Ideas from here. Of course, I change it from using velcro to [...]
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
[...] Wallet-sized Fold Up Shopping Bag – this one’s a little more complex and you’ll need intermediate sewing skills but I love how it folds up so neatly [...]
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 am
I bought one of these at the local dollar store, and have loved it ever since. Thanks for putting up the pattern. I could have made my own but it is nice to see yours.
The outer pocket is perfect for coupons.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I love the idea of this bag, however, I think I am missing something in the tutorial.
Am I cutting 1 piece at 33″x19″? And if so, why does it say to pin along the bottom edges and sew? Wouldn’t I just fold it? Also, making the corners is confusing. Is it just me, or what?
September 13th, 2009 at 9:07 am
[...] steeds in de ban van de opvouwbare zakskes maakte in deze waarop ik terecht kwam via deze inspirerende [...]
October 14th, 2009 at 6:49 am
i love this tutoral!!
thanks so much! ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Wow, this is just what I was looking for. I need to make a gift basket for a social group and adding these is perfect. I have tons of fabric in the stash to work with. Thank you so much.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
Hello!
I really like your how to. I was wondering if I could translate it in French and add it to my list of how to as explained in my french post (http://www.petitcitron.com/index.php/form_howto.html)
Of course, your website would be quoted and there would be a link!
Thank you,
Perrine
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 am
please email me whipup[at]gmail.com
November 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
süper olmuş
February 8th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
[...] Bag. 6. Grocery Bag. 7. Grocery Bag Again. 8. And again. 9. Bird seed bag. 10. Coffe Stuff Bag. 11. Cool bag that folds into a wallet. 12. Another bag. 13. Crafty bag. 14. Shopping Bag. 15. Singlet Style. 16. Tote Bag. 17. Knitted [...]
February 15th, 2010 at 2:08 am
[...] pour les fruits et légumes et sac de courses repliable en [...]
February 21st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Very nice design, but one thing is puzzling: Why is the wallet part, and therefore the handles, attached off-center (5 inches from the right side leaves 7 inches on the left side)?
April 4th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I love it. I am embroidering my pockets with KISS, my brother’s favorite band. i am making him a half a dozen bags for his grocery shopping. i am going to surprise them by making them something he will actually like!
Thanks for the pattern.