There are lots of ways to repurpose old plastic feed bags. Here’s a picture tutorial on how to turn old feed bags into a reusable grocery tote. The best part of this is if you mess up – who cares!? Even crooked seams or stitches are better than throwing it away.
Before getting started I should say that I used the standard needles that came with my sewing machine. One broke so I would recommend a more heavy duty needle but I was able to whip out a few of these on one needle.
Step 1: Remove the old strings from top and bottom of the bag.
Step 2: Lay the bag flat and trim the top and bottom of the bag to remove the previous stitch holes – usually you’ll be trimming the top and bottom inch from the bag.
Step 3: Wipe down the exterior of the bag with a damp cloth to remove leftover dust and feed particles. You will wipe down the interior of the bag in another step.
Step 4: While the bag is laying flat, take a look at the design and what you want featured in the end result. Usually, I’ll remove an additional 3 inches from both the top and bottom, depending upon where the main images are located. This will be used to make the handles in the next step.
Step 5: Mark off at least 3 inches from the top and again from bottom of the bag. Then cut them off. These will be the handles.
Step 6: Depending upon how large you want the width of the bag, measure 3 or 4 inches from each side, and the same from the bottom of the bag. (see below and next step to clarify)
Step 7: After measuring, make the cutouts for the bottom of the bag. It will look like this:
8. Turn the bag inside out. This is when you wipe down the inside to clean it of any dust and feed particles.
9. While the bag is inside out, sew the bottom seam (the side where you made the square cut outs) – make sure to double or triple sew it so the bottom holds with weight in it.
10. After you’ve sewn the bottom seam, keeping the bag inside out, expand the bag so you can attach, pin and sew each of the sides. Make sure to double sew this seam as well. Now you have the beginning of a bag! Keep in mind, depending upon how large you made the cutouts it may not be this large/small. See below:
11. Now turn the bag right side out so you can see the designed side.
12. Stand the bag up and measure off your top fold. I usually follow the design or plan for a 1 or 2 inch fold. See below:
13. Pin the top fold and sew all the way around.
14. Now it’s time to fold, pin and sew the straps! Tri-fold each strap where one side overlaps the other (see below) so you only have to sew it once. Pin, sew and repeat with the other strap.
15. Now it’s time to finish your bag by adding the straps! I usually place the straps by looking at the front design, selecting a couple letters or design features and pinning the straps there. (see below) Make sure to have the strap hang below the inside of the bag a couple inches to secure them. Now sew each side of the strap to the same side of the bag! You can sew an X, a square or a combination. Just make sure the straps are double sewn for strength. Do this for both sides.
16. Admire your new, repurposed, reusable feed bag tote bag!