Tote Bag Reflection

Hello bloggers, today's post is a reflection of the bag making process for the gala. We are having a Gala so we can raise money for our junior playground.

For the Gala my class is making tote bags to reduce the use of plastic bags. Plastic bags are taking over the world by the minute so we thought that making tote bags would be sustainable, useful and long-lasting. For this task we learnt how to sew with a sewing machine, screenprint and make a bag. 

The steps of making a bag is: (Wait! make sure you have adult supervision and try to make your lines as straight as possible.)

1. Cut 2 pieces of fabric the same size. This will be the body of the bag. If you want to decorate your bag this is the time.

2. Put the 2 fabrics on top of each other inside facing out.

3. Sew a straight line across 3 sides of the bag, leaving one open for putting thing in. Make sure you are sewing quite close to the edge but leaving space for zig-zagging. Make sure every time you sew go back and forth and the start and end of the your sewing.

4. On the outside of the straight lines turn your sewing machine into zig-zag mode. Zig-zag the same 3 sides. This will stop any freying and make it extra strong.

5. At the top of the bag where it is open fold down about 1 cm and iron it down. Sew that near the edge of the fold. Fold the bag down again about 2cm and iron that down. Sew that near the edge of the fold aswell.

6. Turn the bag outside facing in now. Make sure that your corners and all poked out. 

7. Iron the whole bag. Sides, edges, everything. (but make sure that you don't burn yourself because it will hurt a lot.)

8. Cut 2 strips of fabric or strapping that are 70cm long and 8cm wide.

9. Sew the straps on going back and forth 3 times on each side forming a square. Make sure that your handles are as far down as you can where the hem is.

Once your handles are sewn on you are done with your bag. Yay! You will now be an expert at making tote bags.

The best part of the whole bag making process is designing/decorating your bag. That was so much fun. something bad was that some of the screenprints bled into the fabric where we didn't want it to be. A challenging thing making all my lines straight and sewing on the handles. Those were really hard for me.I think that this activity changed my thinking about the environment and how we are damaging it by using plastic bags. I hope you guys can also reduce the use of plastic bags in your household aswell. I think that tote bags are going to help the world's problem of plastic bags. 

Here are some photos.

                                                                                   Our classroom was a mess after                                                                   a day of sewing.                                    

Thank you for visiting my blog and please leave a comment below.

Bye!