Tough Fabric for Grocery Bags?

Posted by Sunny on January 1, 2009, 11:28 am

Hi everyone,

I'd like to make my own grocery totes and need advice on the type of
material.

I have a couple different kinds that I've purchased and loved, the
ideal fabric being that used in ChicoBags, here is their website:
http://www.chicobag.com

Target also made a bag that had a less "shiny" cloth that seemed
reasonably durable, although not as much as the ChicoBag. You can see
this bag here: http://www.sustainableisgood.com/blog/2008/01/target-reusable.html

Does anyone know where I can get either (or both!) fabrics to make my
own totes?

Thanks!
-Susan

Posted by on January 1, 2009, 4:28 pm

Susan
I use old skirts , double , Old Curtains , leftovers from my sewing
crazy patchworked over old shirts of my husband , Jeans , etc,,,
mirjam

Posted by Pogonip on January 1, 2009, 6:47 pm

mirjam@actcom.co.il wrote:
show/hide quoted text

I use canvas remnants. Some I've gotten at the Mill End store, very
cheaply. Other pieces I've found in thrift stores. The size of my bags
is often determined by the length of the remnant. I remove the selvages
to use for handles, then fold the fabric and stitch the sides. So if I
have 24 inches of 54 inch wide canvas, my bag is 27 inches tall, 24
inches wide, less seams*. This leaves no seam at the bottom of the bag.
I fold over the top and hem it on the machine. Fold the selvage
strips and sew them so they have two or three thicknesses, attach them
to the hem, then fold in triangles at the bottom of the bag to whatever
width I want the finished "standing" bag to have.

The straps are attached with an "X" box - an "X" with stitching around
like a box. The resulting bag is very strong. The ones I have now are
about 10 or 12 years old and have been washed many times. I have some
interesting canvas I plan to use to make replacements. Not that I need
them - I'm just getting very bored with these!

*All measurements approximate due to seaming and removal of selvages.
--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth.milky-way.com
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/

Posted by Samatha Hill -- take out TRASH on January 1, 2009, 4:44 pm

Sunny wrote:
show/hide quoted text

It looks like it's something like Supplex.

Posted by Sarah Dale on January 1, 2009, 4:45 pm

Sunny wrote:
show/hide quoted text

Personally, I think this is the ideal (and greenest) opportunity to use
up some old strong ugly stash material. I would think heavy curtain
material, old jeans, canvas etc. would be perfect for the job.

I've run up a pair of shopping bags out of some heavy curtain lining
fabric that I no longer had a use for - perfect.

Sarah

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