Pretty AND practical.
MATERIALS: You'll need 1 yd. of fabric and matching thread. I used August Fields by Amy Butler. It's a decorator weight fabric in a scrumptious color. NOTE: 1-3/8 yds. of 58"-60" wide fabric will make two bags.
Cut one 19" x 36" for the bag and two 4" x 36" for the handles.
Cut one 12-1/2" x 19" for the bag bottom.
Fold and press one edge of each handle under 1/4".
Fold and press the other edge under 1-1/4".
Fold it in half and press.
Stitch close to the edges of the handles. This will be a lot faster if you don't lose one of the handles somewhere in your sewing room like I did!
Fold and press a crease to mark the center of 19" x 36" bag rectangle as shown.
Press a double 1" hem on each end. Stitch close to both edges of the hem.
Pin the handle in place as shown. The ends of the handles will be 10-1/2" down from the top and the sides of the handles will be 5-1/2" over from the raw edge.
Stitch the handles in place, stitching on top of the previous stitching along the edges of the handles and across the handle even with the hem stitching line.
Press a crease to mark the center of the 12-1/2" x 19" bag bottom. Press under 1/4" along the long edges.
Pin the bottom section on top of the bag, matching center creases. It will cover the raw edges of the handle ends. Stitch close to the pressed edge and again 1/4" away.
Place pins as shown, 4" on each side of the center crease at the bottom of the bag.
Fold the bag in half, wrong sides together.
Fold the top layer down, creasing across between the pins.
Repeat with the other side of the bag. There will be a big pleat as shown.
Stitch the side seams using a 1/4" seam, catching all layers of the pleat. Zig-zag the raw edges to keep them from raveling. I like to use either a 3-step zig zag or a feather stitch because it flattens the seam and finishes the edge at the same time.
Here is how your bag will look. Doesn't Kirk make a great knuckle model?
When you turn the bag right side out, the corners will look like this.
Cut a piece of foam core or cardboard 8" x 10" for inside the bottom of the bag. See Nov. 5 post "After the Election".
Time to go shopping! This bag is a perfect size - even when it its full of cans, it's not too heavy! Because it is fat, it won't tip over in the car, even if your driving is like mine . . .
Wow ... step-by-step ... and with a fabulous knuckle model, too!
Posted by: Roseann | November 08, 2008 at 01:04 AM
This is a great bag tutorial. This bag looks more sensible than any I've seen so far. Would make a nice gift (and wrapping) for Christmas!
Thanks!
Karen
Posted by: Karen | November 09, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Pam just told us on her blog that you have a blog! I am so excited!!! I love your books and patterns.
Thanks for the bag tutorial!
Now I'm going to go add you to my bloglist! I'll be visiting more often!!
Amanda
Posted by: Busy Little Quilter | November 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Looks like this bag is a hit! I don't know how you figure this stuff out, you're like a folding genius!
Posted by: pam | November 11, 2008 at 06:03 PM
So happy that Pam pointed out your blog. I'm in love with your fat sack! Thanks for sharing it with us. I believe these might land under the Christmas tree for some LUCKY recipients this year. :-)
Posted by: amy | November 11, 2008 at 07:25 PM
I love this bag and I do use reusable bags for my shopping. I think I can definitely personalize my bags by making my own. I love it!! By the way, we love Raisin Bran Crunch too!!
Posted by: Jackie | November 11, 2008 at 07:52 PM
She with the finger on the pulse the quilting world (Pam) led me to your blog. Love it. LOVE your patterns. Love your new fab (I actually made something from the little sample pack I got at Spring Market).
Even though my to-do list a mile long, I want to drop everything and make your Fat Sack bag! Thanks for the tutorial and welcome to blogland!
Posted by: happy zombie | November 13, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I really like this bag - it's big! I need a new bag for all my Church stuff and this looks perfect. Thank you for the tut also!! Glad to find you through Pam's blog :)
Hugs from Laurie in Maine
Posted by: Laurie | November 15, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I made two of them tonight and they are wonderful! I used the remnants of the fabric and added a pocket between the straps sewn in as I sewed on the straps. Can't wait to make more! Now I wonder where those campaign signs are now?
Posted by: EvelynB | November 15, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Love this pattern!!! A project even a sewing-challenged person can handle :-) Although now that I have a Pfaff, sewing isn't nearly as difficult as it used to be. I've sent the link to my college-age daughter as well, who's always looking for economical but nice gifts to make. THANKS for sharing!
Posted by: Kim | November 18, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Love this pattern!!! A project even a sewing-challenged person can handle :-) Although now that I have a Pfaff, sewing isn't nearly as difficult as it used to be. I've sent the link to my college-age daughter as well, who's always looking for economical but nice gifts to make. THANKS for sharing!
Posted by: Kim | November 18, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I love this bag! I am going out on my lunch break to pick up some fabric. Maybe I can make a couple for last minute Christmas gifts...
Posted by: Darlene B | December 09, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Great bag! Right up my alley :)
Posted by: Amy @ parkcitygirl | December 09, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Hey Terry! That bag is SO cute! I have been wanting to make some "grocery totes" for awhile, but hadn't seen anything that was just right. Very cool, I want to make one tonite! It'd be a nice distraction from all the Christas prep that really needs to get done, thank you!
Posted by: kristina | December 22, 2008 at 01:44 PM
This bag was so easy to make. Your tutorial is the bomb! Thanks for sharing. One of the first quilts I ever made was your "Cheese and Crackers." I'm a big fan!
Posted by: Michele | January 02, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Ohhh I know exactly what I am doing tomorrow your tut is awesome THANKYOU!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tina | February 22, 2009 at 04:23 AM
I made your bag yesterday and I just love it. My head is swimming with ideas - can't wait to make more. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: mary Ann | February 28, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Just made a bag following your tutorial...love it :) Perfect for groceries as well as toting quilts to show off ;) look forward to more fun tutorials/patterns in the future. Thank you for taking the time to share your talent with us :)
Posted by: Erika | March 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
If you have only regular weight cotton fabric, you can fuse craft weight pellon onto your yard before you cut it. Makes a good, stiff bag with plenty of body. I used Pellon Craft weight that is 45" wide and have a lovely fashion bag. This is a great Tutorial. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Sheila Galindo | March 11, 2009 at 06:17 PM
What a great idea. Thanks for a great tutorial. Will have to drag out my sewing machine to attempt to make these.
Posted by: Creative Triplet Mom | March 14, 2009 at 10:45 AM
That bag is great and what a good job for a tutorial. Understood everything right away. I'm off to make a few.
Posted by: Charlene | March 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Love this pattern. Have made 4 for myself and 2 for my mom (who needs more, darn, a trip to fabric store, LOL). I have been going to closeout portion of store and making with $1/yd home decor fabric to stand up to the long-term use. Amazing how much stuff can fit into one of these.
Posted by: T Hartman | April 02, 2009 at 09:15 AM
I love this bag!!! Thank you so much for sharing it. I can't seem to stop making them :)
Posted by: Lisa | July 13, 2009 at 04:11 PM
i visited a quilt shop today that had this bag hanging as a sample of what you could do with some gorgeous home dec (joel dewberry, maybe?) fabric. this particular fabric was far too gorgeous to cut into for my first try, but this bag went so easy that i'll make a hundred more! i think they'll make nice christmas gift bags. the wrapping will be a present in itself!
i think for the next one i'll use a contrasting fabric for the bag bottom.
Posted by: april | August 02, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Oh how gorgeous! Love the detailing.
Posted by: sildenafil citrate | April 21, 2010 at 12:58 PM
FANTASTIC, what a cool design and a great excuse to use up all of those leftover scraps. Thank you sooo much.
Posted by: sildenafil citrate | April 21, 2010 at 12:59 PM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
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Posted by: marco | May 17, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Found you via Pinterest, and am so happy to see this tutorial in easy to understand terms! I am not a veteran seamstress, or even a beginner, but I'm finding so much that I'm willing to start trying, including this bag! I hate using plastic at the grocery, but I can't bring myself to pay for the ugly reusable bags there. This is much better.
Posted by: Kate | March 24, 2012 at 06:51 AM
I really enjoyed this great post and you are very talented and interesting. I really appreciate this excellent post.
Posted by: celebrex 200mg | March 31, 2012 at 03:45 AM
Saw this on Pinterest and have now made 3. I'm hooked. So easy and the tutorial was great. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Debi K | April 20, 2012 at 03:12 PM
Me estoy encontrando tanto que estoy dispuesto a empezar a tratar, incluyendo este bolso! No me gusta el uso de plástico en el supermercado, pero yo no me atrevo a pagar por las bolsas reutilizables feas allí. Esto es mucho mejor.
Posted by: ralph lauren pas cher | May 16, 2012 at 03:28 AM
Great tutorial and what an ingenious design with the bottom pleat! Because I burn my fingers when ironing quarter inch folds, I cut my straps five inches wide to make the folding and ironing easier and more accurate, and to get straps one and a quarter inches wide as per the original design. (Thus: fold in half lengthwise and iron, then open up; fold in edges in to center and iron; fold in half and iron). This bag pattern is going to quickly eat up my home dec stash. (Maybe it's time to buy some more fabric!)
Thank you, Terry!
Posted by: Jenny | June 01, 2012 at 04:19 PM
Clever and cute! I like using plastic canvas to stiffen the bottom of bags like this. It's lightweight, sturdy, crease-free, easy to cut straight, won't get soggy in case of a spill, and can be washed if necessary.
Posted by: Anita | July 16, 2012 at 10:09 PM
I use canvas bags instead of plastic all the time!! This is going to be my weekend project!!! :)
Posted by: Theresaaross | August 07, 2012 at 07:55 PM
I said to a cashier just last week. Life is short, why carry anything but a cute bag?! :) Now I can design my own! Thank you
Posted by: Sandi | September 12, 2012 at 11:53 AM
I was always wondering how to make the triangle fold at the side of the bag , I even saved up an old bag for sample which I was going to open up . but Thank you for the simplest tutorial I will try and make one now
Posted by: Kulsum | October 08, 2012 at 12:58 AM
I am excited to try this for Christmas this year! Love how clear the instruction steps were--Thank you!
Posted by: Amy | October 18, 2012 at 02:15 PM
Simple but useful, it is totally perfect as I planed to bring bottle of wines in our rest house this coming Christmas imagine how many bottles I can put there, a little bit decoration it will become more epic.
Posted by: Gift Wine Bags | November 06, 2012 at 11:54 PM
I really like this bag, I was wondering if I could put this post along with your link in my newspaper that I publish every week here in Island Park Idaho (Island Park Journal)
Posted by: Samantha Nielson | January 20, 2013 at 05:07 PM
Thank you for the free tutorial, I wrote down how to do it and in one day i made four, I will be using them for shopping and sending some out for gifts, Plus i will also use some cotton fabric with fusible vinyl on in case it rains or snows.
Posted by: Angela Sherwood | February 23, 2013 at 02:04 AM
i like to use plastic canvas in the bottom of bags. stronger than foam core and won't break as easy.
Posted by: JoAn GODFREY | March 04, 2013 at 10:06 PM
I found you via Pinterest and think this is a really cute project. I'm wondering if it would work to sew it out of oilcloth. Thoughts?
Posted by: Mary | March 18, 2013 at 12:03 AM
This bag would be great using oilcloth - but I would turn under the handle ends and skip the double layer on the bottom.
Posted by: Terry | March 18, 2013 at 04:14 PM
Hi Mary,
This bag would be great using oilcloth - but I would turn under the
handle ends and skip the double layer on the bottom.
Terry
Posted by: Terry Atkinson | March 18, 2013 at 04:16 PM
Thank you for the great directions, I made a bright shopping bag with cute sunflower material, just love it. The square bottom is just awesome.
Posted by: Liz | March 19, 2013 at 12:33 AM
I used this tutorial to make teacher gifts this year and they turned out awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to make it!
Posted by: Tifani | May 26, 2013 at 09:10 PM
Thanks for the great tutorial! I have linked to it in my blog - http://alittlebirdmademe.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/friday-finds-a-list-of-18-links-to-free-patterns-to-make-market-bags/
Posted by: Theresa | July 12, 2013 at 05:09 AM