oilcloth mini shopper

 

I’m always trying to find ways to not waste the scraps of fabric from my sewing projects. One of the easiest things to do is to make a small purse or bag for a little girl. Here’s a little tutorial for an oilcloth mini shopping bag for your favorite little one. (Note: Since I used oilcloth, I did not design the bag to have a lining. If you did make it with other types of fabric, I would suggest lining it to get a nice, clean look.) I used the scraps from this project. (This bag is sewn completely differently from the large one.) I think my daughter will love going to the farmers market with our matching bags.

oilcloth mini shopper
So here’s how you can make one! (This is my first sewing tutorial, so please let me know what you think.)

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Cut the following pieces from oilcloth.

(2) 8″ x 6.5″ front and back pieces
(2) 8″ x 4.5″ side pieces
(1) 4.25″ x 6.25″ bottom piece
(2) 16″ x 3.5″ handles

You’ll also need a water soluble marking pen, thread and low-tack masking tape (like painter’s tape).

Tip: Put some low tack masking tape on the bottom of your pressure foot when you’re sewing the oilcloth to prevent slipping.

Increase your stitch length to approximately 6 stitches per inch.

oilcloth mini shopper
Start by sewing one of the side pieces to a front/back piece (right sides together) with a 3/8″ seam allowance.

oilcloth mini shopper
Continue adding the other side piece to front piece.

oilcloth mini shopper
So now we have the front and two sides sewn on.

oilcloth mini shopper
Then add the final back piece and complete the four walls of your bag.

 

oilcloth mini shopper

oilcloth mini shopper

You’ve now got a bag without a bottom.

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Before we add the bottom piece, we need to trim the corners on the bottom of the bag. Measure 3/8″ in from seam line and mark with a water soluble pen. Then from the bottom, measure 3/8″ up along the seam line and mark this point and make a line to the other point you made and another to the edge of the fabric.

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Trim this extra fabric.

 

oilcloth mini shopper
The next step is to add your bottom piece. Making sure that your bag is inside out, pin the bottom on all sides.

oilcloth mini shopper
Sew around the bottom with a 3/8″ seam allowance. It’s easiest to start sewing in the middle of a front or back piece rather than at a corner. When you reach a corner, stop at the seam line for the side (3/8″ from the edge). Keep the needle in the down position.

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Lift your pressure foot and rotate the fabric.

 

oilcloth mini shopper

oilcloth mini shopper

Lift the side of the bag from your sewing path

 

oilcloth mini shopper
and lay it flat so you now have just your two layers in front of you (that you want to sew together).

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Continue sewing and repeat at the other corners.

oilcloth mini shopper
This should give you nice clean corners!

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Turn right side out. We’re almost done!

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Fold down top edge 3/8″ and pin in place.

 

oilcloth mini shopper
Top stitch around roughly 1/8″ from top edge. Then set aside.

oilcloth mini shopper
To make the handles. Lay out a handle piece wrong side up on a table.

oilcloth mini shopper
Fold in 5/8″ on each end. (Short ends.)

oilcloth mini shopper
Fold in half (lengthwise) making a nice crease in the center. Open back up and fold the outer edges to the center crease.

Fold in half again along that first center crease. Pin handles together and sew around edges to secure.

oilcloth mini shopper
Attach the handles to the bag with a 1″ overlap, lining the edge of the handle to the seam line of the bag.

And you’re done! I hope you enjoy this!

15 Comments

15 Comments on Oilcloth Mini Shopping Bag

  1. We have been using only reusable bags for our grocery and other shopping needs for about 3 years now in our humble attempt to go “greener”. The bags that we use are the basic ugly generic ones the grocery stores sell for around $2. It would be nice to have a stylish shopping bag to use. Thanks for sharing this post so much.

  2. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE MEASUREMENTS.
    THE HANDLES ARE 216″X3.5″ AND EACH PIECE
    IS 28″X6.5″. EITHER I DONT SEE RIGHT OR THIS BAG IS HUGE OR SMALL,ALSO THE PINS DO LOOK
    LIKE BUTTONS. VERY CONFUSING.

    • The dimensions are for the mini bag.
      The piece sizes are next to the parenthesis. In parenthesis is the quantity of those pieces needed.

      (2) 8″ x 6.5″ front and back pieces
      (2) 8″ x 4.5″ side pieces
      (1) 4.25″ x 6.25″ bottom piece
      (2) 16″ x 3.5″ handles

  3. I would like to have the measurements for the larger bag as I have some oil cloth and this would be a good item to make. thanks for your web site. I like it very much

    • There is a link in the post to another blog post which mentions which book I used to make the larger tote.

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