BACK TO SCHOOL - DIY reusable snack bags

Published: Wednesday, 23 August 2017

If you know me, or you checked out my previous "Back-to-school" tutorial, you know that there is one thing about school that I can't stand and it's not Math (I actually really like math... weirdo). The one thing that makes me wish Summer could last forever is LUNCHES. I hate thinking about them, I hate preparing them, I hate packing them... and I hate unpacking them when they come home untouched (seriously kid, you need to eat!). But as it turns out, there's always a brighter side to every horrible thing in life (I kid, I kid, I know there are worst things... like folding laundry). The brighter side in this case is colourful snack bags that you can use and wash, and reuse over and over again. Bright, fun and eco-friendly. Check, check and check!

The very first time I made these was for Emma's 2nd birthday party. I was stuck about what to do for loot bags. Loot bags are usually the hardest for me, because I want it to be something useful, and not just candy and silly toys that will end up in the garbage the minute the kid gets home. Looking through my fabric stash I found some owls printed canvas, and then it hit me. I would make reusable bags that could either be used for snacks or thrown in mom's purse with other essentials. And so I did... and they were a hit! Not just with party goers, but with us, too. We used them and washed them repeatedly, until the poor things fell apart.

Emma's school participates in a cool program called "Trashless Tuesdays", where kids are encouraged to be more aware of the disposable items they carry in their lunch bags, and to try and reduce the garbage they produce. So when Emma was in JK, I decided to make these reusable bags again for all the kids in her class, as a gift for Valentines day. I personalized them with their names using twill tape and tiny letter stamps (I can be such an overachieving mom sometimes). The kids loved them, and proceeded to stuff them with all their little Valentine's treats to take home.

The point I'm trying to make here is that these bags are a quick, easy sew for many occasions, and they make the perfect Back-To-School gift for everyone. Would you like to make some?

Here's what you'll need:

- Canvas or Cotton print, 7" x 14" per bag

- Nylon fabric for lining, 7" x 14" per bag

- Velcro, 2" for each bag (both hook and loop sides)

- Coordinating thread

Cut your main fabric and lining into 7" x 14" rectangles, or choose your dimensions based on the size you want your bags to be (I like to cut the corners at one end to give the bag more of an "envelope" look, but that's completely optional... see picture below).

Once your pieces are cut, place right sides together and use clips to hold them in place (I don't like using pins on nylon). Sew all around, leaving an opening at one end to turn the bag right side out later. Then clip all the corners to reduce bulk (as shown below) and turn it right side out. Press all seams and sew the opening closed.

Now take the loop side of the Velcro and sew it to the flap of the bag. Then fold over the bag (as if it was finished), and estimate where the hook side of the Velcro will go. Hold and sew the Velcro in place.

Once the Velcro is sewn on both sides, fold the bag again and top stitch all around it, starting at one bottom corner and ending at the other, as shown below.

And you're DONE!! A super quick project you can make in a just few minutes. It took me about 1 hour to make a bunch of them.

Looking forward to packing delicious snacks in pretty bags makes me forget how much I hate packing lunches (ok, only a little bit, but I'll take it!). And using reusable bags instead of plastic ones makes me feel like I'm making a tiny (but still important) difference in helping reduce trash in the world (or at least in our community). Water bottles, reusable shopping bags, cloth napkins and washable cleaning cloths are other easy ways I try to do my part.

How do you show your eco-friendliness?