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35 Reusable Grocery Bags You Can Make: Free Patterns
**Updated List** Sure you can buy some trendy brand name shopping bags, but why not make your own bags for cheap (and even free!), they can be as chic and cool as you like (and original too)!
Here’s a bunch of free patterns and tutorials to get you started, I have them sorted in three sections: Sewing, Knit, Crochet. Some patterns are pretty similar but there are subtle differences and features in each.
35 Reusable Grocery Bags – Free Tutorials & Patterns
Sewing Grocery Bags & Totes
- T-Shirt Grocery Bag: (newly added) Turning an old T-shirt into a reusable shopping or grocery bag is a simple, clever craft to help everyone be “green.” It’s a Good Thing that will help protect the environment.
- MorsBags.com: Offers a downloadable pattern in pdf or word doc format (also an animated web tutorial). Simple tote style, easy to make.
- Cheap & Easy Fabric Produce Bags: A great alternative to the clear plastic bags available in the fruits & veggies aisles, these are made from repurposed sheer curtains (watch for them at garage sales), drawstring closure. Wash & reuse, lovely!
- Cheap & Easy Fabric Grocery Bags: By repurposing some old sheets, you can make a batch of these up for less than $2 each, and look how cute your groceries are in bags that are all the same pattern
. Simple design with sturdy webbing for the handles (or just whip up some fabric straps if you prefer). - Pillowcase Tote – Sewing Tutorial: Here’s a simple grocery tote made from an old pillowcase, including the handles.
- Sew a Durable, Reusable Grocery Bag: This tutorial suggests using canvas or denim but you can use whatever fabric you prefer. Boxed bottom with webbing or fabric strips for straps.
- Make a Reusable Grocery Bag: Simple reversible tote with boxed bottom, the handles are actually cut out (and reinforced) from the top of the bag.
- “Green” Re-usable Grocery Bags: Another simple fabric bag, this one has the handles cut out with the pattern rather than sewing on straps separately. Another good one for beginners to make.
- Make A Bird Seed Bag Grocery Tote: Here’s an original idea, make a grocery tote out of big feed bags. If you have any woven plastic bags on hand that you’re wondering what to do with–here ya go!
- How To Make A Canvas Bag: Cotton canvas shopping bag tutorial. Very simple design and sturdy!
- Wallet-Sized Fold-Up Re-Usable Shopping Bag: This bag folds into a wallet size that fits perfectly in your purse so you’ll always have one at your fingertips when needed. The bag is more detailed than most, but how nice it is!
- Reusable Groceries Bag With Comfy Bag Handles: Here’s a pretty bag with its own bag cozy featuring a strap and metal clip. A bag within a bag–very cute!
- BurdaStyle Reusable Grocery Bag: This super-simple fabric bag is from BurdaStyle (free membership required to download pattern). No handles or straps to sew on and uses just 3/4 of a yard of fabric. Also features an inside pouch so the bag can tuck into itself
- Tutorial: Grocery Tote Bags: A simple fabric tote with attached straps, tutorial found on the Craftster forum.
- SewUseful San Fransisco Shopper: Roomy fabric tote with shoulder straps, folds down nicely to fit into a pocket or purse.
- TUTORIAL: Singlet Style Shopping Bag (like the plastic shopping bag): A Crafster forum tutorial, this fabric bag uses a regular plastic grocery bag as the template.
- A TOTE-ally Easy Way To Help The Earth: This fabric tote has straps that run from the bottom of the bag up (to reinforce), fully lined. Very sturdy construction, perfect for hauling canned goods.
- Make Your Own Shopping Bags: Simple design for a fabric bag, long rectangular shape with reinforced handles attached.
Knit Shopping Bag Patterns
- A Knitted Grocery Bag: (newly added) Easy adaptable pattern, mesh style (love the handles!). Pattern uses circular knitting needles.
- Monteagle Bag (pdf): (newly added) This sturdy bag collapses into a tiny puddle, making it simple to take to the grocery store. So much more convenient than a big, canvas bag. And the knitting makes for the best kind of puzzle: crazy stitch patterns that work up fast.
- Knitty’s Everlasting Bagstopper: Here’s a knit pattern using a mesh stitch but has a solid base for items to sit on). Nice, big & stretchy!
- Turkish Stitch String Bag: Here’s a knit pattern for the mesh/string style of shopping bags with a shoulder strap. Pattern calls for a circular needle.
- Susitna String Shopping Bag: This is another string shopping bag, knit pattern done on a knitting machine (not many of these patterns available!). Nice original design and pattern is available via a pdf download.
- Net Shopping Bag Pattern: A knit pattern for a mesh or net shopping bag, starts with double pointed needles then switches to circular. Nice length for the shoulder strap.
- Handknit Market Bag: Very nice knit bag using a lace pattern, great length for shoulder straps. This pattern is one of my favorites! Available in a pdf download.
- Knit Shopping Bag Project: Project uses worsted weight yarn and measures approx 24″ wide x 20″ long, excluding handle. Website is no longer available, this is found on the web archive.
- Knit Shopping Bags in Two Sizes: Sizes: Small Bag: 11 1/2″ x 14″; Large Bag: 13 1/2″ x 14″, pattern uses worsted-weight yarn. Website is no longer available, pattern found on the web archive.
- FREE PATTERN Fantasy Naturale Market Bag: Knit bag pattern, size: Approx. 16” high X 12” diameter. Base uses straight needles, body of bag uses circular.
Crochet Shopping Bag Patterns
- Free Reusable Crocheted Grocery Bag Pattern: (newly added) This bag is crocheted in the round from the top down. It might be helpful to use a paperclip or a stitch marker to define the start of the round.
- Paperless Grocery Bag Pattern: (newly added) Paper or Plastic? Neither! The classic lines and color of the traditional brown shopping bag can be yours to crochet in Coats Creme de la Creme cotton thread. Make one for a project bag, or stack for your grocery trips!
- Grocery Tote Bag (pdf): (newly added) This bag works up quickly and stretches upwards to hold a large amount of items. Make yourself several and carry in your car for shopping trips and help the environment.
- Vintage Crochet Shopping Bag Pattern: Here’s a pattern previously published on Tipnut, it’s the old style string bags that last forever and hold more than you can imagine. If you crochet, having one or two of these in your purse comes in super handy. Pattern available in a pdf download.
- Reduction Tote Bag: A crochet pattern in a mesh style with a solid bottom and straps. The bag also features a pocket on the front (great for holding keys and a wallet).
- Crochet Shopping Bag Pattern (pdf): This pattern is worked in one piece, has two straps and the body is mainly treble (triple) stitch.
- Hobo Style Bag: This bag is done in a mesh crochet and has long shoulder straps. Instructions are basic, but you should be able to work your way through this if you’re at an intermediate level for crochet.
You can save a bunch of money making your homemade grocery bags by recycling fabric from old sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths and even old pairs of jeans (just sew strips of denim together and away you go).
Furoshiki is another option to replace plastic bags, this is a neat technique from Japan.
Updated June, 2009: Originally published April 12, 2008–removed the grocery bag patterns that were no longer free or were unavailable.
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i just wanted to let everyone know how wonderful the pattern for the singlet style bag is (#16). even for a beginner seamstress like me, they are fun and relatively easy to make. they hold tons (ex. 1 gallon milk, 2 64 oz. cans of juice, and numerous soup cans, in one bag!) they are lined, washable, compact (they can be folded into themselves), and cheap to make. i make mine out of old pillowcases and sheets from thrift stores.
Where is this free pattern.
I am ready to sew this beautiful bag.
Thank you
Sandy
Sandy just click the link for the pattern you’d like to visit, you’ll see the pattern or tutorial on that page.
I buy tank tops from thrift stores at the end of summer for 29-50 cents each and just turn wrongside out sew a seam or two across the bottom and remove the tag if I’m feeling ambitious. These make great bags. They hold a lot and stretch which can be good depending on what you are carrying. Just get tank tops with big neck holes!
Thanks you for such a great list of wonderful links. Have added to our tips, as I know that our ecobiters are so intune with making bags and will love this. If not ok to have your link posted, please let me know.
am trying to find crochet patterns for using plastic grocery bags instead of material or yarn. i have seen them on the market but can’t find a pattern for making things using the plastic bags. any help would be very appreciated. thx carol
Does anyone have a pattern to crochet shopping bags from plastic bags?
Hi Lynda, I have a project listed here for a clothes pin bag made crocheted with plastic bags, check the website listed and they may have what you want: Recycled Clothes Pin Bag.
My Mama has made school bags for church world service for many years. When I came home to take care of her after a fall the job of making the bags fell on me.
I had been cleaning out the basement of the bags of clothes my sister had left 10 or more years back, I washed and folded and sent them on to the church rummage sale. when they arrived the ladies went thru them and said; who would want these old cotton camp shirts that you have to press. Then tossed them to the side. At the end of the sale I gathered them up and returned home with them and a new idea.
First I cut the front with the buttons off and the collar and sleeves, then sewed the front with the pockets together and cut the rest in a square large enough for a notebook. Then I took the strips with the buttons and sewed them to the top and used them for the handles. What a great little school bag full of color and whimsy~ great for kids everywhere.
I also took the sleeves and sewed them together and cut off the cuffs and put the cuffs together and laced them through the placket and made a handle and use them to carry socks and swimwear when I travel. The narrow opening keeps everything inside.
Now those same ladies are asking me for their own totes;~}
I’m having trouble getting to the site linked #3 under Crochet.
Susan, thanks for that wonderful idea about turning tank tops into shopping bags. Now I know what to do with those old tank tops I’m not wearing anymore, but aren’t in good enough condition to donate.
I love the idea of making your own grocery bags. This is such a great source, I want to make them all! Are there are any tutorials for fused plastic grocery bags? I think it would be neat to be able to reuse the plastic bags that have accumulated over the years.