Reusable grocery bag pattern
 

Hi everyone.I Don't post often so I hope I am doing this properly. But I am looking for a grocery bag pattern to make bags and give them to a food pantry for the people to use. I'm a beginner to intermediate sewer.
I'm thinking about a half yard and I would like to have the handles incorporated in the body of the bag to make it sturdy. I don't think I need it lined as the fabric I'm using is sturdy and I can then donate more bags. Any ideas????
Thank you.

someone just gave me a pile of heavy fabric so I am looking for a pattern too!!

I have a "fat sack" bag pattern that I got off free from the 'net. Try Goggling it, if you can't find one, PM me and I'll email the directions for it.

Here's one pattern. You really need the handle strips to go all the way, not attached to the top, for security.

https://terryatkinson.typepad.com/at.../fat-sack.html

We've made this one several times and we love it. Perfect size and easy to make. We look for bargain decorator weight or denim fabric at Joann and use that to make the bags. A 27 x 54" piece of fabric will make one bag.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wEnaFutDodg

There are manny examples and instructions on YouTube. Just google. Several designs to choose from.

Here is a bag that I make. I originally bought this pattern from another maker, but this is a free youtube video and it's the same bag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-otEQfPu6rA

thanks for the link. I like the elastic for holding it rolled up. I keep WM bags in my purse folded up and held with a hair elastic. Some day they will all wear out and I'll have to sew some of my own!

there are many free patterns at allfreesewing.com and allpeoplequilt.com (they have many bags, purses and other items). To make it easier to launder, you should not line it and either double stitch your seams or french seam them. To make them sturdy, make a continuous strap and loop it under the bottom, up the side, make the strap and then go down again to create the second strap. This allows for strength under the bag and not just pulling on the straps. If you are having trouble figuring out the 'boxing the corners', push a cereal box into the bottom of a pillow case and see how it forces the corner to fold. If you stitched that line, it would 'box the corner'. Most of the bags that I make, I cover a rectangle of plastic needlepoint canvas with fabric and use this as an insert into the bag to create a flat sturdy bottom. This can be removed for washing. (Extra tip, for a quick gift, make some plain tote bags but attach your extra orphan quilt blocks to the outside. Folks think it is wonderful and you have a way to get rid of your extras, your try-outs and just the ones you didn't like !)