Sewing Project - ReUsable Bags - Pillowcases

I bought a couple more of those $1 pillowcases the other day at the thrift store.

I liked the pattern on this one with the warm green and the brown polka dots.

I found a roll of fabric tape at the ReUse Ctr last time I was there and it seems it was bias tape.  Well imagine my luck. It was brown which is what I needed for this bag. It does need to be ironed and folded but I guess that is the cost of getting it.  I understand there is a thing a ma jig that will fold it for you as you iron along.

This was a standard pillowcase with no header band. Polyester fabric.

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 19 inches W and the bag is 18 inches deep.

Brown bias tape, brown button and black elastic.

Nice to have a bit of variety in the colors and patterns.

This bag was made with a King size pillowcase of good quality micro fiber.  I did cut off a decent amount (about 8 inches) off the top to keep the fold bottom. Nice weight to the fabric in this bag. 

It was a nice purply blue so I paired it with a leaf green bias tape.

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 20 inches W and the bag is 18 inches deep.

I found a nice button to match the blue color. 

This fabric came from a pillow sham type piece. I like the pattern so I bought it.  It was polyester though so static was quite a problem.

I had to sew all the seams on this one and I got the sides seams wrong.  To make enclosed seams you have to make your first seam right sides out which is counter intuitive. Well, I was saved by the serger!  Yeh Yeh!  I just serged the seams on the inside of the bag just like they would have been inside a pillow case. 

The back is black and had been a fold closure so I had to sew those 2 piece together to get a full back for the bag. 

This bag is quite squat so it is wider than the others I made.  It ended up wider because of the serging of the seams instead of enclosing them. 

Measurements: 25 inches T overall, 23 inches W and 17.5 inches deep for the bag itself.

I paired it with black bias tape, black elastic and a purple button.  I needed a bit more bias tape because of the extra width but I had enough in the 3 yard package.

I love the zebra print on this bag. 

It takes a bit of extra attention when folding at it is that bit wider.

I am bored with  making these so I am taking a break and moving onto other sewing projects.

Lessons Learned:

- Microfiber is very nice for these bags but I have not found any that was patterned.  

- Bias Tape to buy new would make this project not cost effective for selling.

- Polyester fabric was mostly patterned but very easy to ravel. 

- Pillowcases are by far make these a breeze to make because the side and bottom are already done. If you can get them for a good price it is the way to go.

- If you don't have a collection of buttons choose clear button which will go with any color and pattern.

- I am really happy with how the grey thread seems to work well with the colors and patterns.

- The pattern from Fabric Patch worked really well. 

Sewing Project - Shorter Bags

I got a California King Pillowcase in my $1 bin sale at the thrift store the other day.  These are much longer than the standard pillowcase hence more fabric.

The length of the fabric when the band is removed and then folded in half was 40 inches rather than my regular 44 inches for my standard bag.  But I get 2 bags for the price of one.

I used a bias binding left over from a quilt I made a long time ago.  There was only enough for the neck of the bag. I had been thinking of rolled hems for these bags and had done some practicing with my rolled hem foot for the sewing machine. 

I decided to try it on this bag because I really did not have any other bias tape that would match.  It went pretty well.  I have the top and side seam that I have to put through the roller so that was challenging.  Just keeping the fabric pulled to the left all the time to have enough fabric to roll is also needs constant attention.  But going slow and being careful it works quite well.  I will get better at it as I go along. 

I chose a burgundyish button and a black elastic which I cut to 6" because this bag was going to be a smaller roll than my previous ones.

The button is a good color match.  Great to keep with the grey thread.

Total height of the bag is 20" the height of the bag itself is 13" and the width is 19.5 inches.

The side edges had to be straightened and trimmed so that did take a bit off the width. There a fold in the bottom for strength.  The seams are all enclosed so there are no raw edges on the inside of the bag.

I decided to redo the hems on the handles of this bag because too many places along the hem it had not rolled over properly.  

I am not sure if it is practice but I will try some more hems on scraps and see how it goes.

I was to visit my sister on Saturday and she gave me some bias tape that would so the 2 handles.

So now the bag will be acceptable for donation.

This is the second short bag made with the California King pillowcase.

I chose Hunter green bias tape this time.  I have some very old packages with prices like 95 cents but this one is quite new at $2.45.  Currently, they are $3.30 each which does one bag with a bit leftover.  That is quite a bit for each bag. I would like to find something more neutral and less costly.

It is easy to mark the center of the bag to align the elastic and the button.

Fold the bag in half and just press the center with the iron.  It can easily be ironed out when you are finished.

The button came from my sisters as well.  Again, going with neutral would help with things a bit.  She gave a couple of clear buttons that come off duvet covers. They will work with any color bag.

The narrow elastic is 6" long and I did remember to sew it in when I put the bias tape this time instead of doing it afterwards.  Good Job!

Sewing Project - Pillowcase Re-Usable Bag

The bias tape on the center is a nice lavenderish color and the twill tape I used was a good color match but narrower than the bias tape. The button was a great match as well.  I used grey thread on this bag.

I made another reusable bag.  This time with a different starting point.When I was at the thrift store the other day they had pillowcases in a bin for $1 each. Some I got for $.50 each. I chose a few microfiber ones and brought them home.  I liked this one because of the pattern in the fabric. 

The advantage is that the side seams and the folded bottom are already done for you. The side seams were nicely serged so totally ready to go. I just checked to make sure they were still intact. I cut the band at the top of pillowcase off. I placed the cutting pattern near the top edge where I had cut opposite the folded bottom edge.  I did add an inch because now I will have to stitch the seam at the top of my handles.  Again, I created finished seams. I chose a camouflage twill tape for the center of the bag and chocolate brown twill tape around the sides of the handles.  

This makes a bigger bag because the width of the pillowcase is wider than the ones I made earlier. The overall height of the bag from top of handles to bottom is 23.5".  The width is 20.5 inches and the measurement from the bottom of the handles to the bottom of bag is 16 inches.

I added a beige button with some narrow black elastic to keep it rolled up. 

As you can see it folded up it is still quite big but it will hold more stuff.

It takes all kinds to make the world go round so I am happy with the result because it is less work and time. 

The microfiber fabric in this pillowcase is pure luxurious feeling. Because I am using opened packages of bias tape sometimes I miscalculate if I have enough.  On this one I thought I did not have enough wide stuff so I put narrow twill tape on the outside of the handles and later realized I would have had enough.  Not undoing the seams.

I used a white elastic from a face mask but I am not sure how long it will last.  The elastic is quite soft and may need to be shorten over time. Glad I did not buy any of this elastic.

I offset the button and elastic because the bag was wider than the previous ones.  It needs more folds to get it narrow enough to be held in place by the elastic. It means though that it will hold more stuff.

The seams again on this one are at the top of the handles and are completely finished with no raw edges showing.

The fold on the bottom means you will not have seams wearing out on the bottom.Really like this one. 

Measurements: Total height is 24" T x bag is 16" T x 21" W

This microfiber fabric is thinner than the previous one.  A bit of a darker grey. This was by Utopia Bedding.  It was nice to keep the thread the same for this bag.

I chose this jade green color of bias tape but it was very narrow.  I had to iron it in half before I sewed it in.   I had to be very careful that I caught both sides the margin for error was very small. 

I will be glad to use up the stash of bias tape but the irregularity of the stuff I have creates challenges.  

Having tape in the neutral color would be helpful but it likely would make for a more boring bag. Would that be a bad thing?  It is really a utilitarian object.  Pretty is nice.

I think this button was a decent match to the bias tape and the black narrow elastic was better than white.

Again this one is quite big and needs extra folds to get it into a decent size for the elastic.

Measurement from top of handles to bottom is 24 inches, the bag itself is 15.5" tall and the bag is 20 inches wide.

With the less sewing because of the sides and bottoms already done these went pretty fast to make.  To donate, less time is better.

Sewing Project - ReUsable Shopping Bag - Single Layer

Here's the second bag I created with one of the pieces I cut earlier from the beautiful navy microfiber fabric.

Fabric is cut 18 inches wide and 44 inches tall. The seams are encased to ensure no open fabric edges. 

I generally followed this video tutorial by Fabric Patch. Easiest Shopping Bag.

I will shorten the handles on the next bag which will give me more depth in the bag.  I should be able to make 2 bags with one package of bias tape. Works for me!

I was super happy to use some of my hoarded bias tape on the handles. Yellow on the outside and narrow navy in the middle.  

I had to scour my elastic collection to find some narrow elastic which worked for this project.  I will have to keep an eye out for more.

The bag measures from top of handles to the bottom edge - 21 inches.  The bag part measures 12 inches high by 16 inches wide. I used 7 inches of narrow elastic.

To store the bag you fold it in thirds making sure your button is under the folds.  Roll the handles down to the button and roll up the bag to the button and just wrap the elastic around the roll.  Excellent!

I will work on a few more of these bags. 

Turns out I need a full package of bias tape to make one bag.  That's okay I have plenty of them and they need to be gone.

Navy and orange I guess that's Oiler's colors.  I am really happy with these bags.  Not really small enough for purse I think but easy to manage. The colors defines the edges, are bright to help find them in the depths of the car trunk. 

I reduced the length of the handles by 2 inches which I don't think will make any difference to the handling and will make the bag part bigger.  It should hold more stuff.

I centered the pattern on my fabric which has been folded in half top to bottom and side to side.

I will have a few of these curvy leftovers as the left and right sides of the handles end up as scraps.

I made this one with aqua colored bias tape. I ran out of the black narrow elastic and thought I would use some gold elastic cord leftover from Christmas.  Bad Idea!

It is very hard and I broke my sewing machine needle trying to sew it in place.  I ended up hand sewing it on and well as the button.

With the process all worked it I figure I can make a bag in about 40 minutes. I think that is pretty good.

I still have enough fabric to make 4 more bags then I will have to keep an eye for another wonderful microfiber sheet so I can make a few more.

The double sheet I had would make 10 single layered bags.

I think that is very good value for fabric.  I will likely donate these to the group that my sister is volunteering for if they are going to be giving away bags.

It would hold a decent amount.

Update:

I removed the gold elastic and replaced it with a white one.  It was stitched with the machine which is stronger. Then I sewed the button back on.

Happier with that result.