If you’re reading this blog- it means you are at least partially green. If you were looking for the “How to fill the landfill ASAP” blog- you’re in the wrong spot. So- back to that lunchbox. In packing daily lunches for my daughter I was determined to do my part to be a little more green. I went a tad crazy seeking the perfect lunchbox. My daughter is carrying a Goodbyn lunchbox this year and so far I pretty much have a crush on the thing. Truly.
In addition to this lunchbox, we use reusable sandwich wraps and snack bags instead of ziplocs, foil or saran wrap when I pack lunch and snacks. We also use a reusable drink bottle instead of juice boxes. Since I can’t tell you how to make a drink bottle, you’ll just have to go to Target to get one of those bad boys. But, as the woman behind Rugrat Design. I CAN tell you how to make the reusable wraps. So I will do that. That’s right, I’m telling you how to make something instead of sending you to my shop to buy it. Aren’t I nice!? For those of you who don’t sew or don’t want to- then just head right over and do your shopping and I’ll happily make it and mail it to you :)
So, shut up already Lesley and tell me what to do. OK. I hear ya!
With no further ado….THE REUSABLE SNACK BAG AND SANDWICH WRAP TUTORIAL This is my first tutorial and therefore I request your patience as it may be a tad wordy. But I promise you, at the end, you will have a reusable snack bag and sandwich wrap and you can send stylish and green lunches for your Rugrat (or yourself!) Goodbye waste…hello style!
This tutorial will result in 1 reusable snack bag and 1 reusable sandwich wrap. |
- Cotton Fabric (enough to cut one 12x12” square and one 8x13” rectangle)
- Ripstop Nylon (sold in the utility fabric section at JoAnn or Hobby Lobby – this is food safe and water resistant so it’s good for items that could become “juicy” like grapes. Waterproof fabrics like PUL or oilcloth are not recommended for food storage.)
- Thread
- 8” of ¾ inch Velcro
- scissors
- Pins
- cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler (if you have them. If not, fabric scissors work fine!)
Cut your fabric. You need to cut a 12x12” square from both the cotton and the nylon. I usually just cut them on top of one another using a rotary blade. If you don’t have that- you can trace the measurements onto the fabric and use scissors to cut them.
Pin the fabric and ripstop together. There is not a right or wrong side to the nylon so you can just pink it to the right side (aka the pretty/printed side of the fabric). You just need enough pins to keep it from slipping as you sew.
Sew the fabric and nylon together using a 3/8”stitch. Sew all around the edges of the material but leave approximately a 3 inch opening not sewn so you can flip it back to the right sides.
Step 6: Flip the fabric right side out- through that opening you left. Use your fingers to push out the seams flat – or even the top of a pen cap to get the corners out.
Now that your fabric and nylon are flipped- iron them. Iron them on the FABRIC SIDE (unless you want to melt your nylon onto your iron and get a new one “by mistake.”) Otherwise, I recommend the fabric side for ironing.
You now have a nice flat square with fabric on one side and nylon on the other. It looks like this.
Cut approx. 1” of Velcro. You’re going to sew one side of the Velcro to the fabric side in one of the corners- in a diagonal position.
Now- to the snack bag.
Follow steps 1 (but this time cut an 8x13 piece of fabric and nylon) and follow through step 7 above.
You will have a rectangle like this.
You will now sew the Velcro on this. You want to cut about a 6” piece of Velcro. Sew one side of the Velcro to the fabric side on one of the short ends.
Fold the snack bag so the Velcro on the fabric side folds up and “looks” at you. It should look like this. When you fold it- you want to fold it up to a point that the top flap (where the Velcro on the nylon shows) can fold over and attach to the matching Velcro. If it does – you’re in business. Take your newly folded piece over to the sewing machine (you can pin it if you want to help hold it- nylon can be slippery. )
Starting at the bottom left corner, top stitch (remember to “lock” your stitch when you start) from the bottom left corner up and around the top of the bag top and down to the bottom right corner (lock the stitch there too.) I usually do a little lock stitch at the part where the bag “opening” is (as shown) for extra reinforcement.
Now- you’re DONE!
Enjoy! And if you haven’t already done so, be sure to like the Rugrat Design facebook page! I’d love to see what you’ve made!
Love,
Lesley, FEE