Lunch Sack Tutorial

 

Handmade Lunch Sacks

Happy Thursday!  Back-to-School week is almost finished.  I hope that you have enjoyed making some cool new accessories for your children’s new school year.  Today we are going to make some cheery new handmade lunch sacks to carry the reusable snack bags we made yesterday. 

We’re going to make some lined lunch sacks that are easy to clean.  I use mine for trips to the park and our visits to Disneyland.  They are small, compact, and easily storable.  So let’s get started!

Materials Needed:

½ yard Printed Oilcloth

½ yard Utility Fabric

¼ yard Sticky Backed Velcro

Matching Thread

We will begin by cutting our fabric.  Cut two rectangular pieces from both your Oilcloth and Utility Fabric measuring 17” x 13”.

Next we are going to trim the corners of our fabric pieces.  Cut a 2 ½” square out of each bottom corner of your rectangular pieces.

Place your oilcloth pieces right sides together and match up the raw edges. Pin them in place.

Machine stitch down each side of your oilcloth and across the bottom, using a ½” seam.  Backstitch at both ends.  The square cutouts at your corners should be left open.

Time to close your corners.  Fold in bottom of bag bringing bottom seam and side seam together.  Match up the raw edges and pin bag bottom in place.

Machine stitch across each side using a ½” seam.  Then set it aside.

Now we’re going make your lining.  Place your utility fabric pieces right sides together and match up the raw edges. Pin them in place.  Machine stitch down each side of your utility and across the bottom, using a ½” seam.  Backstitch at both ends.  The square cutouts at your corners should be left open.

Time to close your corners.  Fold in bottom of bag bringing bottom seam and side seam together.  Match up the raw edges and pin bag bottom in place.  Machine stitch across each side using a ½” seam.

Turn your lining right side out and slip it inside of your oilcloth piece.  Right sides should be matched up. 

Match up your corners and raw edges and then pin them together at the top. 

Machine stitch along the top edge of your bag using a ½” seam, and backstitch at both ends.  Leave a 3” opening so you can turn your bag right side out.   

 

Using the 3” opening, turn your bag right side out.  Push your lining inside your bag’s exterior, matching up your corners and side seams.  Press the top edge with your iron.

Top-stitch along the edge of your bag using a ¼” seam allowance.  Backstitch at each end.

Almost finished!  We just need to add Velcro to our bag for a closure.  Fold the sides of your bag inward like a paper bag.  Place one piece of your Velcro just below the seam along your top edge.

Next, fold your bag’s top edge over twice, so your Velcro piece is touching the other side of your bag.  Should be about 3” down.  Attach the other piece of your Velcro.

Guess what…..we’re officially finished!  You have made your own lunch sack.  You will be able to send your kids off to school in style!

Enjoy!

Reusable Snack Bags

Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial

So Back-to-School week is under way.  I hope that you have found some of these recipes and tutorials have been helpful.  These next two tutorials are going to be geared towards making lunchtime more interesting.  Today we are going to make reusable snack bags.  I love these, because I hate Ziplock bags.  I buy the giant 3pack of Ziplock bags at Costco and use them for everything.  What bothers me about them is that you use them once and then throw them away.  If you hate throwing them out as much as I do, these little snack bags are the perfect solution!  So pick out some really cute printed fabric and let’s get to work.

These reusable bags are extremely simple and easy to make, so cut out multiple pieces so you don’t have to go backwards.  They make great gifts too!  Pick out some fun prints and put together a few sets for your nieces and nephews or your grandchildren.  They’ll be a hit.  I can promise you that.  Our finished bags will measure 5 ½” x 6 ½”.  You can adjust the size of the bags to make them bigger or smaller by changing the measurements of the fabrics you start with.

Materials Needed:

For a Set of 3

¼ yard Printed Fabric for the Exterior

¼ yard Utility Fabric or Osnaburg Fabric for the Lining

½ yard Sew-On Velcro

Matching Thread

Tip: When choosing which fabric you would like to choose for your lining, here’s a way to decide.  The Utility Fabric is best for foods that might melt or be sticky.  The utility fabric is easily cleaned by wiping the inside of your snack bag.  The Osnaburg Fabric is best for foods that crumble like crackers.  I recommend making your sets of snack bags using both the utility and the osnaburg fabric. 

We’ll begin by cutting our fabrics and Velcro.  These instructions are for making a set of three bags.  So if you would like to make more, just adjust your measurements accordingly.  Cut three rectangular pieces of your exterior fabric measuring 7” x 12.”   Then cut three rectangular pieces of your lining fabric measuring 7” x 12.”  Cut three 6” pieces of Velcro.

On each piece of lining fabric, pin your pieces of Velcro on each end, about 1/2" in from the edge.

Machine stitch the Velcro to your fabric.  Stitch close to the edges on all four sides and backstitch at both ends.

Place your lining and exterior fabric right sides together.  Match up your raw edges and pin them in place.

Machine stitch around the edges of your fabric using a 1/4" seam, and backstitch at both ends.  Leave a 3” opening on one side, so you can turn you bag right side out.

Time to turn your bag right side out.  Trim your corners at a 45 degree angle and the pull your bag right side out.  Press your bag with an iron.

Machine stitch along the top edge of each end of your bags, about ¼” from the edges.

Almost finished!  Fold your bag in half lining sides together.  Match up your top edges and Velcro. 

Machine stitch the sides of your bags together.  Use a ¼” seam and backstitch at both ends.

Great news…….You are fininshed!  Now open up your snack bags and fill them up with your yummy snacks.  I told you they were easy!

Tomorrow we will be making Lunch Bags.  You’ll have something to put your reusable snack bags in.

Enjoy!