Sewing Reusable Fruit and Vegetable Bags
One of the joys of owning a fabric shop is being surrounded by beautiful fabrics and endless project inspiration. Sometimes a fabric arrives that is simply too nice not to take home and sew into something useful.
These reusable fruit and vegetable bags were a quick and satisfying project. They are practical, washable and a great alternative to disposable plastic bags when storing our home-grown fruit and vegetables.
They’re also perfect for taking shopping. We try to buy loose fruit and vegetables whenever possible, so it’s always handy to keep a reusable produce bag in the car for apples, bananas and other fresh produce.
Normally I would reach for Gütermann Sew-All thread because we stock such a huge range of colours and it’s easy to find the perfect match. For this project, however, I wanted the bags to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
To achieve this, I chose natural fibre materials throughout. The bags are made from cotton fabric, sewn with cotton thread and finished with cotton webbing ties, creating a project that contains no synthetic fibres.
An added bonus is that the materials are all derived from natural fibres. Once these reusable food bags have eventually reached the end of their useful life, they can be composted rather than sent to landfill.
How I Made Them
Materials Used
- Cotton fabric
- Cotton sewing thread
- Cotton webbing
- Sewing machine
- Pins and scissors
Construction
Each bag was made from a simple folded rectangle of fabric. The side seams were sewn first before creating a casing at the top edge for the drawstring. A length of cotton webbing was then threaded through the casing to create a simple closure.
This is a beginner-friendly sewing project that can easily be completed in an afternoon and requires only a small amount of fabric.
Conclusion
These little drawstring produce bags were quick to sew and used only a small amount of fabric, making them a perfect weekend project. They’re ideal for storing fruit and vegetables, organising cupboards or keeping small items tidy around the home.
The best part is that they can be customised with almost any fabric design, making them both practical and personal. Whether you choose bright lemons, herbs or floral prints, reusable fabric food bags are a simple way to add a little handmade charm to everyday life.
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