Back to School {Snack Sacks}

We are in full Back to School mode around here.

Our daughter is heading off to 1st grade!

And now that she is all grown up...

and will be eating lunch at school

all. by. herself.

We had to address the issue of: 

what is she going to eat 

and what will we put it all in?

Now, I know the Snack Sack is not a new idea...

But I put together a little tutorial to show you just how easy

they are to make yourself.

An let's face it, 

your kid is going to look pretty cool 

pulling one of these out of their lunch bag 

when their neighbor has, dare I say it, a ziplock baggie!

Seriously though,

what a genius idea!

Who doesn't need these?

Supply List:

Fat Quarter of fabric

Some type of washable vinyl

Velcro

How to make the tabs:

First cut two pieces of fabric 3" long

I experimented with the width and made one 1", 1.5" & 2" wide

( I think I prefer the 1.5" myself)

Fold in half and iron.

Open up and fold to the center and iron again.

Fold over again and iron.

Cut your vinyl 6.5" square

Cut your fabric 6.5" square

Face the right sides of the fabric together.

Stitch around three sides leaving the top open.

Inside out the vinyl.

Slide the vinyl inside the fabric cover.

Like so.

Insert your tabs upside down and in between the two layers.

Be sure to pin the tabs into place.

Stitch 1/4" from the top all the way around the top of the sack.

Be sure to leave a few inches open.

About this much.

So you can inside out the whole sack.

This is the tricky, hard-to-explain, part.

It works best if you reach in through the hole 

and pull the out side fabric through.

It will look like this.

Stuff the vinyl back inside the sack.

Ta da!

It's like magic.

Stitch all the way around the top of the bag to close up the hole.

This also gives the sack a finished look.

In side out the whole bag.

So that the vinyl is on the outside.

Cut a section of velcro appox 6" wide.

Stitch in a rectangle (through both fabrics).

In other words across the top down the side and back.

Sew the other section of velcro.

Tip: I lined up my velcro with my top stitch.

That way, my Velcro matched up with each other, when I closed the sack.

Here it is inside out and finished.

Last step:

Turn it right side out.

It really is that easy!

You can wipe out the inside of your sack or you can throw it in the wash.

Either way, you have a reusable sack, 

that actually works better than the ziplock you have in your drawer.

Not to mention:

your kid will be the coolest kid in the cafeteria.

Or you will be the coolest mom at your next play date.

No more spilled fish crackers in the bottom of your purse.

Happy Sewing!


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Living a Radical Life

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A Simple Market Bag

Did you miss me on Wednesday?

Awe thanks ;)

I love "Idea Sharing Wednesday"

so I was happy to move to Fridays!

I am super busy these days, 

Sewing, Crafting, Painting, oh my!

I'm preparing for a big show next month, 

Molly Mo's Antique Faire.

Today I am going to share how to make a simple {Market Bag}

I've made a few of these for the show and I just LOVE them!

You do not have to be a professional sewer (I am not).

If you can stitch a straight stitch, you can make this bag! Promise :)

 The really great thing about this bag is you can make it any size you want.

You just need TWO fabric pieces cut the same size for the outside.

and TWO muslin pieces also cut the same size for the inside liner.

For these two bags, 

I used a vintage floral sheet for the outside.

I used new fabric for these.

Ok, let's get to the How to part.

Here are my four fabric pieces cut.

If you choose to embellish the bag, 

you do that before you sew the panels together.

For the flower I used some lace I tore off a vintage pillow case.

To ruffle or gather the fabric.

Set you sewing machine on the highest tension and the stitch to the longest.

It will gather it as you sew.

Then, pull on the bottom string to gather it tighter.

Tie the end strings together so it doesn't unravel.

 Pin it on your fabric and stitch it to the panel.

 Sew on a button for the flower center.

Moving on to the straps.

Again, this is completely flexible. You can make your straps any length you like.

For this bag, I made mine 20" long x 4" wide {x2}

Loop 18" long x 4" wide {just the 1}

 Fold in half and iron.

 Open up the fabric and use the center seam you just created as your middle.

then fold both sides in so they meet and iron.

Then fold one more time, down the center and iron. {not shown in this photo} 

Now you should have a strip 1" wide.

This will become your strap.

 Fold in one end of each of your two 20" straps.

Like the photo below shows and iron.

 This will be the finished end you will tie to the loop.

 Ta da!

 So, to re-cap.

Two 20" straps.

One 18" strap {this will become the loop you will tie the straps to}

Stitch all the way around the straps.

For the outside and the liner.

First of all: 

Place right sides of fabric together 

and stitch on three sides leaving the top open.

Repeat this process for the liner.

 Next: Fold the bottom of the bag so that the corner is pointed and stitch 1 1/2 in in.

This will create the flat bottom of the bag.

{you can skip this step if you want to}

 Final Step:

Turn your liner, right side out.

Leave the outside fabric, wrong side out.

Stuff the liner inside your outside fabric.

Tuck your two matching straps in between the liner and the outside.

Also tuck your loop strap inside.

Pin your bag so everything stays in place as you sew.

Stitch all the way around the bag {leaving a 3-4 in opening}

Then pull the inside out and stuff the liner back inside the bag.

The outside should be on the outside now 

and the liner tucked inside the bag and the straps should be sicking out. 

Iron the bag, so the top seam is really flat.

Stitch all the way around the top of  the bag this time.

This closes the hole and finishes off the top of the bag.

 Tie or knot the straps around the loop.

And Done!

I made a few variations of this bag this week.

I added: Ruffles. Pockets. Lace.

 Have fun with it!

The teal bag with the ruffles...

my favorite!

The bag with the yellow flower...

my sister in laws favorite!

Which bag is your favorite?

See you next time!

Be sure to stop by by blog:

Living A Radical Life

for more crafting ideas!