50+ Reusable Grocery Bags You Can Make: Free Patterns
13 Comments 
Sure you can buy some trendy brand name shopping bags, but why not make your own 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.
Sewing
earthgirlfabrics.com.au
Reusable Market Tote Tutorial: Sturdy bag designed to last yet look stylish while using. Made with quilting weight cotton or home decor weight fabric.
bijoulovelydesigns.com
marthastewart.com
Simple: Offers a downloadable pattern in pdf or word doc format (also an animated web tutorial). Simple tote style, easy to make.
morsbags.com
daisyjanie.typepad.com
Oilcloth Tote: Made with 3 panels of sturdy oilcloth and features a circular bottom.
purlbee.squarespace.com
spiderwomanknits.typepad.com
Make Your Own Grocery Bags: Nice and big, use a substantial fabric for this project such as canvas, heavy cotton duck or an outdoor fabric.
sew4home.com
wisdomofthemoon.blogspot.com
Pillowcase Tote: Here’s a simple grocery tote made from an old pillowcase, including the handles.
creativekismet.com
sewing.about.com
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.
unabashed.wordpress.com
instructables.com
Made From A Bird Seed Bag: 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!
curbly.com
pieandcoffee.org
Wallet-Sized Fold-Up: 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!
whipup.net
u-handbag.typepad.com
Simple Fabric Tote: A simple fabric tote with attached straps, tutorial found on the Craftster forum.
craftster.org
instructables.com
Singlet Style: A Crafster forum tutorial, this fabric bag uses a regular plastic grocery bag as the template.
craftster.org
instructables.com
etownhooks.blogspot.com
pmbetweenthelines.blogspot.com
Insulated: Nice sturdy tote lined with insulating batting.
sew4home.com
dana-made-it.com
Fold-Away: This folds away neatly into a small pouch when not in use.
craftyady.blogspot.com
craftstylish.com
Cheap & Easy: Made with repurposed flat sheets and webbing for handles.
wisdomofthemoon.blogspot.com
ikatbag.com
Roll-Up: Made with a single layer of quilting weight cotton (unlined) to keep it lightweight and small enough to roll up easily.
needleandspatula.com
sawdustandpaperscraps.com
Boxed: Here’s a neat bag that holds a cardboard box inside (to protect eggs, bread, etc.).
asquaredw.com
examiner.com
I also have a big list of tote bag patterns, many are suitable for shopping bags and you’ll find those here.
Knit
knitty.com
Strawberry Market (pdf): It’s knit in a fingering weight cotton, which I love because it’s soft, yet strong. Linen or hemp could easily be substituted.
orangejuicy.com
iliveonafarm.com
Monteagle (pdf): 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.
randomhouse.com
knitty.com
Turkish Stitch: Here’s a knit pattern for the mesh/string style of shopping bags with a shoulder strap. Pattern calls for a circular needle.
tiajudy.com
dancingbarefoot.wordpress.com
Mesh or Net: 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.
yarndemon.typepad.com
classiceliteyarns.com
Knit 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.
web.archive.org
web.archive.org
Fantasy Naturale: Knit bag pattern, size: Approx. 16” high X 12” diameter. Base uses straight needles, body of bag uses circular.
plymouthyarn.com
Crocheted Bags
theadventuresofcassie.blogspot.com
Doily Bag: A doily pattern is used for the bottom then a mesh-style pattern is used for the body, handles can be made as long as you like. Free pdf download.
elisabethandree.posterous.com
nancyscrochet.com
Vintage Pattern (pdf): Here’s a pattern previously published on Tipnut and moved here for better organization, it’s the old style string bags that last forever and hold more than you can imagine.
tipnut.com
crochetme.com
Hobo Style: 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.
crochetgypsy.blogspot.com
diyods.blogspot.com
Summer String Bag: Finished size measures 14″ deep & 24″ circumference (12″ wide at top, 13 1/2″ wide at base). Free pdf pattern download available.
classiceliteyarns.com
You can save a bunch of money by recycling fabric from old sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths and even old pairs of jeans (just sew strips of denim together and away you go) to make the bags.
Furoshiki is another option to replace bags, this is a neat technique from Japan.
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
all you do is substitute the bags for the yarn – i’ve done this with knitting (not much luck; crochet would be the best option for a project like this) .. just cut the handles off the plastic bags and then proceed to cut the bag in a 1 inch (or whatever thickness you prefer) spiral the whole way down .. repeat with other bags and tie the ‘yarn’ together at all the ends and voila! you have a whole bunch of plastic bag ‘yarn’ for your crochet-ing pleasure =)
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;~}
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.
Had a few pairs of old jeans & my family put in a few pairs too – The bags not only saved plastic and these old jeans from being thrown out, they’re also really cute
– I tacked the back pockets on to hold small items. I can wash them whenever I need to & they hold up really well!
If you’re not the crafty or sewing type, there’s an easy alternative to plastic produce bags. Simply go to a dollar store that carries net lingerie bags, you know, the ones you wash your bras and delicates in that come with zippers. They are usually white and can hold your produce purchases again and again (without complaint from a grocery checker).
Stuff them in with your reusable shopping bags so you have them on hand when you need them. I keep everything in my trunk at all times, as many of my grocery trips are spontaneous or because I often fail to remember to stick them in my car before I head out to the store. Our city’s upcoming plastic bag ban will help jog my memory, to be sure! Kudos to you for your conservation efforts.
After reading about the mesh bags, it dawned on me that I didn’t have any mesh on hand but did have some scraps of lace fabric (polyester) that I made curtains out of 30 years ago. Most elegant produce bags you’ve ever seen!