The Two Pillowcase Bag - a Free Sewing Tutorial. Got a linen closet full of pillowcases? If you can spare two pillowcases, here is a tutorial for a free reusable shopping bag.
One pillowcase will form the outside, and the other will be the lining. Lay both pillowcases flat and cut out the pattern below. Measurements below are for a fairly small bag- feel free to add as much length as your pillowcases allow, or adapt the pattern once you've made your first tester bag.
You will have two outside pieces (blue) and two lining pieces (taupe).
If you want a pocket, sew one to the good side of a lining piece now.
Lay one outer (blue) piece on top of one lining (taupe) with right sides together. Starting at one upper edge, sew upwards along the curve, over the top of the handle, and down the other curve. Clip the seam (if you're not familiar with this technique, it means make a small snip in the seam every 1/2 inch or so. It allows rounded seams to turn inside out easily and smoothly). Don't sew the two sides or bottom closed yet.
Turn right side out and topstitch the same place - up one side of the curve and down the other. Repeat for the other piece. You now have one bag back and one bag front, but only the tops are finished nicely.
With right sides together, lay the front piece over the back piece. Sew up the two sides and bottom seam.
Here's how to square the corners of the bag: from the inside, take the bottom corner of bag and pinch sideways. Sew a line across where my finger is pointing.
Confused? This is what it looks like from the inside:
And this is a square corner from the outside. It gives the bag a little more shape.
Last thing: either tie the two handle pieces in a knot for fun, or overlap them on the ends and sew shut like I've done here. You can top the stitching with a button.
Now off to the closet for more pillowcases.
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