Instructions: reusable produce bags (for the store and at home)

I hate plastic bags. I hate the sound of the plastic tearing, prying the two sides apart, and seeing them all lined up on the conveyor belt at the register.  They drive me crazy and I hate to see them in the train tracks, in the subway, in the ocean, in the sand… arg!  I’ve been thinking of making reusable produce bags that you can use at the grocery store instead of tearing off those green plastic bags they keep in the produce aisle.  I finally decided to get down to it and make them for my pal for Christmas.

I did some research online for some design (seriously, where would we be without Linda Permann and lindamade?) and function ideas and found that many places indicated that it is best to make produce bags that are see-through so that cashiers can see the numbers and SKUs while ringing them up.  (I had assumed that a cotton produce bag would be best, but it was pretty much agreed that mesh bags were best.) 

But where to get the fabric?  Maybe this is a little too easy, but I just ordered the mesh at Joann.com, after doing a simple search for “mesh” in their online store and using the faceted search on the lefthand menu to narrow down the options to “fabric”.

Joann.com had basically two options for mesh fabric: tutu fabric or “dot mesh”.  I chose the dot mesh, not fully knowing if it would be the stiff plasticy fabric reminiscent of the scrubby puffs used with liquid shower gel.  Indeed, when the order was delivered, the mesh was what I had envisioned! Yay!  I’ll also make cotton muslin bags to put the veggies in once I get them home.  The mesh ones are too airy to keep the produce from going bad, and the cotton lets in some air but keeps them fresh in a microenvironment.  Now, to practice with the design…

The design is simple: folded fabric with a drawstring at the top.  Mesh ones have openings for the drawstring at the seams, while the cotton ones have a drawstring that opens in the inside.

Mesh produce bag instructions

Cut fabric to twice the height of the fabric plus 2 inches and to the width plus 1½ inches.  Fold over top and bottom of fabric ¾ of an inch and pin. 

Stitch along the top and bottom of fabric, tacking back and forth at beginning and end to secure seams.  This is the drawstring casing. 

Fold in half length-wise lining up the drawstring casing with the wrong side on the outside.  Sew side seams beginning immediately underneath the drawstring stitches, tacking back and forth at top and bottom to secure seams.  

Turn to right side out.  You should be left with a square bag like thing with a drawstring casing at the top with two openings on the left and right side of the casing.  Insert a string (ribbon, yarn, etc.) through an opening using a safety pin to guide it through.  Tie the knots together and you have your drawstring!  Ready to use!

Fabric produce bag instructions

Again, it is not a good idea to keep your veggies in mesh bags in the fridge.  A cotton fabric (like muslin) allows some air to get in so your veggies can breathe without letting in too much that might make them go bad quickly.  

First, I cut the fabric in strips twice as tall as I wanted, plus room for a drawstring casing (make the casing three times as tall to fold over twice before seaming to hide the raw edge inside – so it’s the height + one fold + another fold), plus some for the seam allowance for the width (you can do a French seam if you want, just double the seam allowance).  

I just did one seam allowance for the width and then did a zigzag stitch along the seam to prevent fraying.  I chose three sizes (ish): tall and skinny for greens, standard large-ish for things like potatoes, tomatoes, bananas or apples, then small ones for little guys like nuts, grains, smaller fruits or onions and garlic.

Before seaming, I stamped words using foam letters (purchased at the SugarOwlSupplies on etsy) and some fabric paint (with a touch of water to thin it out).   This was my first time fabric stamping with letters and I thought they turned out pretty cool!  Let the ink dry and sew the side seams first, stitching back and forth to secure ends.  

Then, with the wrong side outside, fold down the top of the fabric once, iron, then fold again and iron.  Pin and start stitching close to the fold.  I started the stitch in the middle of the back of the bag.  Go all the way around the bag, stopping one inch from the start.  This is the drawstring casing with a gap left where the drawstring end will come out.  Turn right side out and iron, making sure to iron over the stamped letters to set the paint.  Insert drawstring (I used yarn) and tie ends together. Voila!

I realized I didn’t finish these in time for the Sew Mama Sew green grocery bag challenge meme, but with all the craziness of finishing school and completing other Christmas presents, I didn’t have time to submit anything.  But be sure to check out other green grocery options on flickr and the Sew Mama Sew blog!

These bags were a present for a fellow librarian crafter. It’s such a fun and easy project! I hope you enjoy making them too and show me your results! xoxo