Pack It Up
screenprinted canvas bag by Stevester childs backpack by All About You Design
Lunch Time Has Gone Green
Capri Sun lunch bag by REbaggingIT reusable sandwich bag by Bells & Unicorns
Take Note:
DIY Lunch Bag
I love the idea of custom EVERYTHING! So, when i stumbled across this how-to article I was just tickled pink. With Amy Karol's idea of scanning whatever you like onto fabric is absolutely brilliant. I was thinking kids artwork, scrapbook paper, photos, or anthing really. Thats the beauty! It's "anything goes"! So go for it!
Original article by Amy Karol as featured on Etsy.com
Finished Size
10 3/8" high x 6 1/4" wide x 3 1/2" deep (26 x 16 x 9cm), unfolded
Materials
Outer bag fabric: (3) 8 1/2" x 11" (21.5 x 28cm) photo fabric sheets for your printer or copier, or homemade sheets using Bubble Jet Set 2000, cut after printing into:
(2) 6 1/2" x 11" (16.5 x 28cm) front pieces
(2) 4 1/4" x 11" (11 x 28cm) side pieces
(2) 6 1/2" x 11" (16.5 x 28cm) front pieces
(2) 4 1/4" x 11" (11 x 28cm) side pieces
(2) 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" (16.5 x 11.5cm) bottom*
Binding:
(1) 2" x 20" (5 x 51cm) piece of fabric for homemade binding, or, if using premade binding, (1) package (3 yards [2.7m]) of 7/8"-(22mm-)wide single-fold bias tape
(1) 1" x 2" (2.5 x 5cm) piece of Velcro (optional)
Vintage magazines or other images to copy
Printer
Sewing machine
Seam Allowance
1/4" (6mm)
*One bottom lining piece is used for the bottom of the outer bag.
1. Prepare your artwork by scanning and printing it onto your fabric at home, or make color copies of it and print it onto color copier fabric sheets at the copy shop. You will need 3 printed sheets total.
2. Cut out the outer bag pieces from your printed fabric. Cut out the lining pieces and binding strip if you are making binding.
3. Make the outer bag: With right sides facing, sew the long sides together on the front and side pieces, creating a box without a top or bottom. With right sides together, pin a lining bottom piece onto the front and side pieces. Sew carefully, flaring out the sides and front, stopping and pivoting with your needle down at each corner.
4. Repeat step 3 with the lining fabric.
5. Turn the outer bag right side out. Place the lining bag inside the outer fabric bag, wrong sides together. This will now look exactly like it will when it is done, minus the binding. Baste around the top edge to keep the layers together.
6. Make binding by ironing your strip in half lengthwise. It will now be 1" x 20" (2.5 x 51cm). Align the raw edges of the binding and the top of the bag and lay out on the printed side of the bag, right sides together. Fold the short end of the tape over so there is no raw edge, and stitch using a 1/4" (6mm) seam allowance from the edge. Flip the folded edge to the inside on the bag, and hand-stitch it to the lining.
7. To create the closure, machine-stitch one Velcro piece centered just under the binding along the top edge of one front piece.
Fold the bag over twice toward the other front piece, and mark where the Velcro touches the other front piece. Stitch the opposite Velcro piece onto the other front piece where the two Velcro pieces would touch.
Tips, Hints, and Other Suggestions:
•You can make this with a vinyl lining. Plastic-coated fabric like oilcloth can be tricky to stitch with, so try a Teflon presser foot or use masking tape on the edges and sew through all layers to keep the oilcloth from sticking.
•Create a cute closure by stitching an elastic band into the binding on one side and adding a button on the outside front instead of the Velcro.
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Check out Amy Karol's book, Bend the Rules with Fabric, for more innovative ideas in paint, dye, and thread.
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Thanks for looking and I hope you have found these products and ideas helpful in getting you or your kids through the school year in style.