Upcycle: Build a Bag

Love up-cycling: Taking old clothes and remaking them into cool reusable bags you can gift to another is way fun!

1. From one gently used piece of clothing, cut 2 matching size pieces of cloth in the shape of the desired bag or one long rectangle piece that is 3 inches longer than twice the height of the desired bag 
2. Cut two 22 x 3 inch strips of material to be used as the bag’s handles
3. If two separate pieces of cloth, place right sides together and sew ¼ inch seam along the bottom
4. Pocket bottom seam between the front and back panels 1½  to 3 inches deep
5. Sew together the front to back panels along sides using a ¼ inch seam, catching the pocketed bottom so to create a nice bottom for your bag. 
6. Turn bag inside out
7. Roll top under by a double ¼ inch, pin and iron in place and set aside
8. Iron handles in half length-wise
9. Fold edge into center crease, pin in place
10. Pocket edges of handles inside by a ¼  inch and iron in place
11. Top-stitch both long sides of the handles
12. Pin one handle end, ¼ inch deep and 2-3-inches in from the left edge of the bag inside of back panel of the bag.
13. Pin the other end of the same handle ¼ inch deep and 3-inches from the right edge inside of the back panel
14. Repeat previous two steps to attach the 2^nd handle on the inside of the front panel of the bag 
15. Finish top of bag by sewing the top folded ¼ inch seam, catching the edge of the handles 
16. Top stitch the bag around the opening, which will help secure the bags handles 

Wala! You are now ready to go J