Brooke and I were driving around town running errands. We went to a few stores before ending up at Walmart to pick up a present for my Grandma Grimes. I had had the idea to get her a plastic bag holder since I saw that she didn't have one.
Before my sister Tami bought us one, all of our bags were just shoved in a big pile in the back of a cupboard. And I noticed a few weeks ago that my Grandma had to do the same with hers.
Well, we walked around Walmart for about 45 minutes looking for a plastic bag holder... and picking up random things on the way, of course. Haha!
Eventually, after talking to three workers, we found out that they are only available online from their store right now.
Then, my mom checked Target's inventory for us and it didn't look like they had any either.
Not sure why this is a big selling item right now, but I guess we weren't the only ones wanting to buy a plastic bag holder this month.
When I got home, I was planning on checking all the other random local stores in our area.
But then, I had the idea to just make one! It would save me time and extra hassle hauling three kids around town with me. Plus, I already had the material I would need!
First, I measured our own plastic bag holder to get the dimensions.
I cut two 17.5 inch by 4 inch rectangle strips in the yellow fabric and another 10 inch by 2 inch strip in the same fabric.
Then, I cut two white 17.5 inch by 12 1/4 inch rectangles (This is the same white fabric I use for my DIY Bibs, basically just a white sheet I cut up. Lol.). I decided to use two layers to make the fabric thicker and stronger (with a sturdier fabric, I could've just done one layer).
With the 10 inch by 2 inch yellow strip, I ironed it in half and then unfolded it to iron the sides into the middle seam. I then sewed along the edge of the fabric twice before folding it in half to make a handle.
Next, I pinned and sewed one rectangle of yellow fabric to each end of the white fabric along the 17.5 inch sides with the right sides touching and a half inch seam allowance. Before sewing them together, I also pinned the newly made handle in between the white and yellow fabric to secure it.
I then sewed the long edge together with the right sides of fabric touching to make a kind of tube.
To attach the elastic, I folded the edge of the yellow fabric over 1/4 inch and then 1/2 inch ironing it each time. I sewed around most of that fold but didn't sew it closed all the way so I could add the elastic.
I couldn't find any safety pins and had to use a paper clip to pull the elastic through the opening. Once it was through all the way, I took the paper clip off and sewed the elastic together before sewing the opening shut.
I did the same thing to add the elastic to the other side and with a second round of ironing, it was done!
In the end, this project took me two hours to complete.
It also showed me that I am getting a lot better at sewing the more I do it! I'm pretty impressed with myself that I was able to look at something and create a brand new one from scratch!
I still wish I was better at using actual store patterns, (and with practice I'm sure I can be!) but for now, I'm going to be happy with my "just winging it" projects that somehow turn out... and also the ones that don't turn out but still teach me how to do it better the next time!
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