DIY Plastic Grocery Bag Holder
July 17, 2009 | By
In these greener times, most of us have adapted to using reusable cloth shopping bags. However, there are times where in a pinch, we stop at the local grocery store bagless, and need to use the plastic bag provided by the establishment. Fear not, you can redeem yourself. Reuse those plastic bags for trash, scooping dog poo, or packing a lunch. But keep ‘em neat and tidy with this bag holder.
The Hardware:
1 fat quarter of scrap fabric
30 inches of thin, durable elastic
Iron and ironing board
Steam A Seam iron on adhesive
Scissors
Thread and needle or sewing machine
Safety pin
Iron your fabric. Flip your fabric over with the printed side down facing your ironing board. Make a 0.5 inch fold on the top and bottom of your 18 inch sides. You should have the raw edge still exposed on the bottom of your now folded flaps. Cut two 18 inch long pieces of iron on adhesive about 0.33 inches in height and following the directions on the packaging, iron on the strips to your folded flaps. Once your flaps have cooled, fold them over to make an inch tall casing on both the top and bottom. Using the same method as before, attach another 18 inches of no sew adhesive to your one inch flap, at the bottom for the top flap, and the top of the bottom flap. Let cool before proceeding.
Once your seams have cooled, you will want to “thread” your elastic pieces through your casings, cut the 30 inch piece of elastic into two 15 inch pieces. The easiest method of threading is to pin a safety pin in the end of your elastic and feed it through, catching your pin at the other end. Repeat for each casing. Tie off each end, bringing the horizontal side together. You will want to leave about 2 inches of elastic exposed on each end. Your fabric should be a bit bunchy now. Use your hot iron and press out your fabric, folding it half, ultimately making a 9X22 inch rectangle. Almost done! Now, sew along the raw edge of your rectangle on the long side of about 22 inches, beginning your seams above the bottom casing and below the top casing. Make sure you front and back stitch and the beginning and the end of your seams if using a sewing machine and knot your thread well if sewing by hand to prevent any seam ripping. Now turn your fabric right side out, and adjust the pull of the elastic to bunch your fabric a bit. Stuff those plastic bags in your holder until full. Use the top loop of elastic to hang your bag holder from a hook, pantry door handle, or refrigerator door. Each time you need to retrieve a plastic bag, simply grab one from the bottom of the holder!
Photographs Courtesy of: SewHappyDesigns
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