Homemade Reusable Lunch Bags

     Get ready, here's another sewing project based on making less waste. Since plastic food bags can't be recycled, here's a tutorial on how to make your own.
     What got me started on this idea was when I used to eat Lean Cuisines I collected their Delicious Rewards points and ordered a set of Lunchskins through their catalog. I loved them so much that when I saw them at The Container Store I started to buy some more. When I saw the price tag I put them back! Maybe $9 for a baggie is reasonable to some, but the Scotsman in me couldn't pull the trigger! I knew I could make my own for less and they'd match my kitchen and my child's backpack and lunchbox.
     It's been several months since I made these and I don't have my receipts anymore so I can't do a cost breakdown for you but I took pictures along the way so I can show you how I did it.

MATERIALS:
1/2 yard fabric
1/2 yard lightweight vinyl (BPA free!)
package of hook and loop tape (velcro)
thread
scissors
sewing machine

STEP 1--MEASURING AND CUTTING
 Sorry, I don't have a photo of how I measured. But I do have one from before I sewed so that'll have to do. I folded my fabric in half and placed a sandwich bag on top. I cut about a half inch extra all the way around. I repeated the process for the vinyl.

STEP 2--STAY STITCHING

 I stitched the fabric to the vinyl before continuing, to make things easier. The vinyl goes against the WRONG side of the fabric. Sew really close to the edge. You can straight stitch or zig-zag to prevent raveling.

 NOTE: In case you've never sewn with vinyl, it will stick like a you-know-what to your presser foot and sewing machine plate. Be sure to use the paper that it comes rolled up with to help. Lay it over the exposed vinyl. After stitching, just tear it gently away.

STEP 3--ATTACHING THE VELCRO

 Take out your velcro and leave it hooked together to save time. Place it at the short end of your bag and cut to the same length. 

 With wrong side/vinyl side up, fold down the fabric and vinyl edge just a bit, about a quarter inch and place one side of the velcro over it and stitch it down. I ran a stitch on the top and bottom of the tape to make it sturdier than if you just did one down the middle. Repeat on the opposite end, using the other piece of velcro.

STEP 4--ASSEMBLING

 Fold the bag in half with right sides facing and sew along the three open edges. In this photo you can see me using the paper over the vinyl to keep it from sticking to the machine.

Turn the bag right sides out and you're done!

VARIATIONS:

1) Use scrap fabric to reduce cost.

2) Upcycle old dish towels or old picnic tablecloths.

3) For a Fold-Over Style Bag: Sew the hook/sticky side of the velcro to the vinyl side of the bag. Sew the fuzzy side of the velcro to the right side/fabric side of the bag. Attach the two sides of the velcro and lay as you want it to look when finished. Flip wrong side out and sew down. Open velcro and flip right side out.

4) You could use bias tape to hide raw edges inside bag.

5) You could fold cut edges inward before sewing down to eliminate raw edges inside bag.

6) You could use just patterned vinyl and skip the fabric layer.

  

Reusable Cloth Food Covers

     In my efforts to try to cut back on what we throw away, I decided another way we can reduce is by cutting out how much plastic we toss. Cling wrap can't be recycled, unless you save and reuse it---which I have been know to do! 

It's been awhile since I made these so I don't have my receipts anymore but I can still give a pictorial tutorial (say that 5 times fast!) with a materials list.

Materials:

1/2 yard fabric (feel free to reuse scraps)

1 package elastic cord

thread

scissors

sewing machine

STEP 1--MEASURING AND CUTTING

 Lay out your fabric on a surface you can't damage by accidentally cutting through (we've been over this, lol). Take a typical sized container lid or a favorite bowl that you cover often and place it, on top of your fabric. If you're using a container, place the open end of the container against the fabric for measuring (duh!). 

I am lazy, so since I was making these for myself, I didn't measure carefully. I cut about 2 inches around the lid I chose. I only went halfway around and then I removed the lid and folded it in half and then half again and cut the other side. I have had difficulty in the past with symmetry when cutting without measuring and this helps. If you measure, skip this step and just measure about 2" all the way around. If you're lazy too, here's some pictures if it helps.

STEP 2--STAY STITCHING

 Next, you need to stay stitch the edges so it won't ravel, especially since this is something you will possibly be tossing in the washer. If you have a serger, use it, if not a tight zig-zag stitch will work just as well.

STEP 3--SEWING

 Fold down your edge about a half inch or so and sew down with a regular straight stitch. In case you're an inexperienced sewer, sewing down an edge on something round is a bit challenging. It won't lay flat. Be prepared to fold it a bit here and there or stretch the fabric or whatever you need to do to get that edge sewn down all the way around.

 NOTE: Okay, here's a step where I'd have done something a bit different. If I make any more of these, I'll be putting in a buttonhole close to the edge of my stay-stitching before folding down and sewing. 

STEP 4--ELASTIC

 Take out your elastic cord and measure around the rim of whatever you're planning on covering with these. Subtract about 1/2". It's not an exact science but unless you want it to fall off, you'll need it to be a bit smaller. Snip a hole in the pocket you've just created with your straight stitch and thread through your elastic. If you made a buttonhole, you can open it with a seam ripper and place the elastic through there. Tightly knot  the ends of the elastic.

 NOTE: In case you've never threaded elastic through a hole, the best way is to attach a safety pin to the end and push the pin through the casing. Since it was cording and not flat elastic, I tied a knot and pinned the knot.

VOILA! Bowl Covers!

VARIATIONS:

1) You can reuse scrap fabric to save cost and recycle.

2) You can use vinyl backed fabric to make these stain resistant and water proof