How to Make a Simple Cloth Bag
Choose a t-shirt you won't mind cutting up, and turn it inside out., Cut the sleeves off., Cut the neckline off., Decide on the length of your bag, then draw a horizontal line across the shirt., Draw a series of vertical lines, ¾ to 1 inch (1.91 to...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose a t-shirt you won't mind cutting up
To make your bag more interesting, consider using a shirt with an interesting print or graphic on the front.
If the shirt is white, consider tie dyeing it first.
This will make your bag more colorful and fun., To make the cut more even, fold the shirt in half first.
This way, you will be cutting both sleeves off at the same time.
To make longer handles, consider cutting a little bit below the sleeves. , Try to leave 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to
7.62 centimeters) of space between the neckline and the sleeves.
This will make your handles more durable.
To make your neckline more even, trace the curve using a marker and a bowl or plate first. , Use a ruler or some other straight edge to make the line as even as possible.
Remember that your shirt will stretch a little when you put things into your bag. , These vertical lines will be your cutting lines to make a fringe.
You will be knotting the fringe together to make the bottom of the bag. , Be sure to cut through both layers of the shirt at the same time, so that your fringe is even.
Do not cut past the horizontal line, however.
Be sure to cut the side seams going from the hem of your shirt up to the line you drew.
This will create the first and last fringes., Tie the first top fringe to the first bottom fringe.
Tie the second top fringe to the second bottom fringe.
Keep doing this until you have knots all along the bottom of the bag.
The knots and fringe will be part of your bag's final design.
If you don't want the knots and fringe to be visible, then don't turn your shirt right side out.
This will keep the knots and fringe on the inside. , Your bag will likely have tiny gaps between the knots.
You will need to hide them, or your bag won't be able to hold small items.
To do this, you will need to tie the first and second fringes together, the third and forth fringes together, and so forth, on both sides (front and back) of the bag.
If you are keeping the fringes on the inside of your bag, consider trimming them down, so that they don't get tangled. , Turn your bag inside out.
Cut the shoulders apart.
Sew the front left shoulder to the front right shoulder.
Sew the back left shoulder to the back right shoulder.
Use ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowances.
When you are done, turn the bag right side out. -
Step 2: and turn it inside out.
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Step 3: Cut the sleeves off.
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Step 4: Cut the neckline off.
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Step 5: Decide on the length of your bag
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Step 6: then draw a horizontal line across the shirt.
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Step 7: Draw a series of vertical lines
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Step 8: ¾ to 1 inch (1.91 to 2.54 centimeters) across the bottom of the shirt.The lines need to go from the hem of the shirt
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Step 9: all the way up to the horizontal line you drew.
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Step 10: Cut the vertical lines to make the fringe.
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Step 11: Turn the shirt right side out
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Step 12: then tie the top fringes to the corresponding bottom fringes.
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Step 13: Tie the adjacent fringes together to hide the gaps.
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Step 14: Consider cutting the shoulders of the shirt and then sewing them together to make front any back handles.
Detailed Guide
To make your bag more interesting, consider using a shirt with an interesting print or graphic on the front.
If the shirt is white, consider tie dyeing it first.
This will make your bag more colorful and fun., To make the cut more even, fold the shirt in half first.
This way, you will be cutting both sleeves off at the same time.
To make longer handles, consider cutting a little bit below the sleeves. , Try to leave 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to
7.62 centimeters) of space between the neckline and the sleeves.
This will make your handles more durable.
To make your neckline more even, trace the curve using a marker and a bowl or plate first. , Use a ruler or some other straight edge to make the line as even as possible.
Remember that your shirt will stretch a little when you put things into your bag. , These vertical lines will be your cutting lines to make a fringe.
You will be knotting the fringe together to make the bottom of the bag. , Be sure to cut through both layers of the shirt at the same time, so that your fringe is even.
Do not cut past the horizontal line, however.
Be sure to cut the side seams going from the hem of your shirt up to the line you drew.
This will create the first and last fringes., Tie the first top fringe to the first bottom fringe.
Tie the second top fringe to the second bottom fringe.
Keep doing this until you have knots all along the bottom of the bag.
The knots and fringe will be part of your bag's final design.
If you don't want the knots and fringe to be visible, then don't turn your shirt right side out.
This will keep the knots and fringe on the inside. , Your bag will likely have tiny gaps between the knots.
You will need to hide them, or your bag won't be able to hold small items.
To do this, you will need to tie the first and second fringes together, the third and forth fringes together, and so forth, on both sides (front and back) of the bag.
If you are keeping the fringes on the inside of your bag, consider trimming them down, so that they don't get tangled. , Turn your bag inside out.
Cut the shoulders apart.
Sew the front left shoulder to the front right shoulder.
Sew the back left shoulder to the back right shoulder.
Use ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) seam allowances.
When you are done, turn the bag right side out.
About the Author
Frank Wells
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow cooking tutorials.
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