Get ready for a delightful summer picnic in the park with these reusable sandwich bags! Made from oilcloth, these bags are easy and fun to whip up in a variety of fun, summery prints.
Oilcloth is also called woven PUL fabric (polyurethane laminated fabric). Though it looks like a thick vinyl, you’ll notice that the back side of oilcloth fabric is woven rather than having the smooth feel of the front.
My local quilt shop sells large bolts of oilcloth for around $9 per yard, and I’ve also purchased it from Oilcloth Addict on Etsy. Fabric designers have really jumped on board with the oilcloth trend, so you’ll find laminated fabrics from Anna Maria Horner (including the new LouLouThi collection) as well as designer prints by Amy Butler, Jennifer Paganelli and others, though the prices are higher. If you shop online for project materials, just make sure you don’t order flannel-backed fabric, which is harder to clean.
For this tutorial, you can make 6 sandwich bags from a half-yard of oilcloth, making your cost as low as 75 cents per bag. Just think of how much money you could save on plastic baggies over time! Once sewn, these durable snack bags are easy to rinse out in the sink and air dry.
Oilcloth Sandwich Bags Tutorial
Finished size: 6.5″ x 7″ folded
You’ll need:
- 1/2 yard of oilcloth (makes 6 bags) or a fat quarter (makes 3 bags)
- Velcro, .75″ wide
- White or coordinating thread
- Glue stick
- Ruler and scissors or rotary cutter
- Sewing Machine with zig-zag and blanket stitches
Steps:
1. Each bag is made from a cut of oilcloth that is 16.25 inches x 7 inches. Using your rotary cutter and ruler, measure and cut your six pieces as shown in the diagram. The scraps can be saved for decoration or a 5-inch wide snack bag.
This is what your bag will look like unfolded, along with measurements.
2. Take your oilcloth rectangle, and place it in front of you with the pattern facing down. Fold up the bottom 6.5″ and crease with your fingers. (When folded, the bag is 9.5″ tall, including the opened flap, which is 3″.) Now, fold down the top flap like an envelope and crease.
3. Cut a 3-inch strip of velcro, and separate the fuzzy and scratchy sides. Lightly apply glue stick to adhere each velcro strip in place.
- Attach the rough velcro .5″ down from what is now the top of the flap (attach to WRONG side of oilcloth).
- Attach the fuzzy velcro strip 1.75″ from top of opened pocket (RIGHT side of oilcloth) with glue stick. (Refer to above diagrams above for velcro placement.)
4. Open up the folded flap and straight stitch both velcro strips on with your sewing machine, turning at the corners and sewing all the way around. Since the velcro may slip, hold with your fingers and tackle the patterned side of the oilcloth first.
5. To add a monogram, simply create a large letter in a Word document, choose your font, and print. (For the “S” and “J,” I used Arial Black, size 320, and applied an outline to the font to waste less ink.) Place your printout on top of oilcloth and cut through both layers using sharp scissors. Use a craft knife if you have a letter with small circles.
6. Apply monogram to outside of bag with a glue stick (use sparingly). Zig-zag stitch the letter applique to what will become the outside of your bag, to either the front or the back. The applique will slide out of place on the patterned side, so stitch this piece first and hold it in place while sewing. I added long strips of oilcloth as accents.
7. Refold the sandwich bag using the creases from earlier (top flap remains open for now), and hold in place with a paper clip on the fold.
8. With the monogram and velcro now attached, it’s time to turn your oilcloth into a sandwich pouch. Set your sewing machine to a wide blanket stitch and test out on a scrap piece of fabric or paper. (If you need a guide, aim for stitches that are about 1/4″ long and 3/8″ apart. I used my sewing machine’s widest stitch.)
Begin to blanket stitch the bag together, starting where the wrong sides meet on the right side. You’ll want to stitch so close to the edge that your stitches actually fall off the side of the bag and wrap around the raw edges. If your stitches catch on the oilcloth, adjust your needle position a bit to the right. Continue the blanket stitch around all four sides of the bag, including the opened flap. (For the flap, you’ll be sewing through a single layer of oilcloth, so this is merely decorative).
Note: If you are planning to spend all day in the sun with your picnic fare, keep your sandwich bags in the shade to avoid emitting any non-safe chemicals into your food. As a general rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t want to heat it up in a microwave, don’t let it bake in the sun. This sandwich sized bag fits pretty large slices of bread, though you can make reusable snack bags that are slightly smaller or larger, depending on your needs.
Is oilcloth food-safe?
There is a lot of discussion about oilcloth and food, and you can find more resources and a lengthy discussion on the topic at CraftStylish and Mothering. One alternative is to cover regular fabric in layers of natural beeswax. Another idea is to line fabric with thick, resealable Ziploc bags.
If you’ve enjoyed this sandwich pouch tutorial, why not whip up some bags as gifts? They are great for lunches at school, work or a summertime picnic at the park. If you make some of these reusable snack bags, please let us know with a comment. You are also welcome to add your project photos to the Craft Buds Flickr group!
I’m going to try these! I have a yard of laminate on a roll in my closet that I bought over a year ago (I HAD to have it!) and have been at a loss on what to use it for.
These are such a great idea~ So much better than throwing away plastic bags with EVERY snack! Love the design and the fabric.. I am soo going to try these! Thanks for sharing!
I like these a lot. I’ve seen them done in fabric too, but didn’t like the thought of stains. This would be perfect.
This is a great idea! I can get oilcloth near by and could absolutely see myself using your tute. Thanks!
Lovely idea -and what pretty oilcloth you found!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much for sharing this! I had experimented (unsuccessfully) with some reusable snack bag ideas but I am excited to try yours . The info on the PUL was much appreciated too, as I could not find much information on it. So glad I found you through Round Tuit Linky – I am your newest follower!
Cheers!
Jeanette
http://jeanette-myownfourcorners.blogspot.com/
Hi!
This is a fabulous tutorial!
Would you be willing to link it up at our weekly link party?
It is a Playdate!
http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com/2011/06/playdate-link-party-in-summer-13.html
Cheers,
Lori
http://www.beneaththerowantree.com
Thanks Lori! Just linked up the tutorial at your link party and added your button to our Linky page!
Thanks for the tute! I love how they look, I’ve pinned this so I can hopefully make them soon!
This is such a fantastic idea! I loved it so much that I featured you on my weekly Tutorial Tuesday-
http://www.morganandkari.com/2011/06/tutorial-tuesday-11-and-link-up.html
Be sure to come grab your featured button and link up other great projects on my weekly link party.
Kari
Newlyweds on a Budget
http://www.morganandkari.com
I LOVE YOUR BLOG! All of these ideas are FABULOUS!
I’m your newest follower and I hope you’ll be mine too! My BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER is going on RIGHT NOW with over $500 in products and prizes!
Creative blessings, Brynn
http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com
Love your way cute baggies
These have been on my to do list for a while now. I hope to get to them this summer!
Love it! I have been looking for some cute ideas for gifts for some of the ladies in my family and I will defiantly be making some of these to go with the other things I found.
Love those sandwich bags!! Thanks for linking @’Sew Cute Tuesday’!
I have wondered what this fabric could be used for, and what a great idea to make bags out of it!
Mrs. Hearts
I LOVE oilcloth and the designs you found are fabulous. Love your bags!!
please post this on my Reap What You Sew linky this week! Ends each Sunday…http://the4rsRamblings.blogspot.com
What a great idea! You don’t suppose these could be thrown in the washing machine inside out and hung to dry to do??
Are there different kinds of PUL? I have some that I made cloth diapers with and it seems a lot different than the oilcloth I see at my local quilt shop. I’m trying to figure out if all PUL is safe for food. Thanks for the tutorial. Great way to go green.
oilcloth is not food-safe. i wish it was because i love it so. if you find a source that says it is food-safe, please post it.
Thanks for all the great comments! A note on this tutorial: I’ve added some links to more information on food-safe alternatives to oilcloth. For my purposes, I would use these bags for food, but I would not leave them in extreme heat (the sun, the dishwasher, the microwave), just like I wouldn’t advise anyone to do with plastic containers. Of course, everyone has varying degrees of interest in this topic, so feel free to check out the links I’ve included in the article. Thanks!
I’m going to have to give this a try. Such a cute and clever idea! Thanks for sharing
Hi there!
These are adorable and I’ll be making them myself sometime soon. On Oilcloth Addict’s page, she mentions that oilcloth is not necessarily “food safe”.
Here is what the site said:
Oilcloth Safety
Please note that the recent Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) prohibits oilcloth garments such as bibs and aprons or toys for children. While there are no heavy metals in oilcloth, it does contain Phthalates, which softens the plastic coating used to manufacture Oilcloth. With this in mind it may not be suited for Snack Bags and Sandwich Wraps especially for children. I suggest using the more family friendly Laminated Cottons. Also note we plan to expand our selection of this new lux oilcloth in the near future.
I ADORE oilcloth… have you found evidence that it actually is food safe?
Sounds like laminated cottons would be more food-friendly, but I am no expert on this. Learning along with the rest of you! I also read something about a material called ripstop nylon, which is said to be food-safe.
So attractive, and so economic! Love this idea! Thanks for sharing at Blue Cricket’s party today.
I love this idea and that they are re-useable. Even better, they can be washed in the dish washer! Thanks for tutorial. It’s super easy to follow. Please stop by http://www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I’m your newest follower!
Thanks for letting us know Laura! Just linked up and added your button to our Linky Parties page.
LOVE it! Thanks for sharing! My kiddos need these!
You have been featured on the Glitter blog from the link party! http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/06/featuring-you-friday-6-24.html
Great idea! You’ll be featured tomorrow!
Smiles,
Melanie
Reasons To Skip The Housework {The Blog}
Tinker B Boutique {The Shop}
skipthehousework@hotmail.com {The Email}
If you’re worried about icky things in oilcloth being next to food, look into laminated cotton – it’s quilting cotton laminated with a polyurethane coating that’s supposed to be free of phthalates, vinyl and PVC (although I’d double-check the brand you’re interested in, because it might vary from manufacturer to manufacturer). Amy Butler, Michael Miller and a ton of other designers have really cute laminated cotton out there right now.
Thanks JP! That is super helpful to hear about the laminated cotton. I’ve heard that new types of food-safe oilcloth are also being developed.
Hey, just wanted to let you know I featured your link today at SewHappyGeek’s Feature Friday!
Great idea! Love the fabrics you chose. If I could sew, I’d try these.
These are great! I may have to try this:) Thanks for sharing the tutorial!!
These bags are adorable! Does the sandwich bread stay fresh in the bags?
If you are taking sandwiches for lunch, absolutely–works just like a disposable plastic bag.
Love this idea! Pinned it!
Thank you so much for the detailed tutorial. I can’t wait to try this out. When I do, I’ll blog about my experience and come back and share my link with you. Thanks again! – Jess @ OlyMomma
Would love that Jessica!
This is definetly one of my FAVES from the ffa party! I gave you a Saturday Shout Out at Sassy Sites!
XOXO
marni
Those are really great. I am going to give it a try. Thank you. Unfortunatelly, where I live the oil cloth costs 2 to 3 times as much. Ugh. On the other hand, one does not need so much of the cloth and the bags are a great gift. I have never seen something like that before. Thank u
Sorry ziploc, these are way to cute to stick with plain old baggies! Love the prints. Thanks for linking up with DIY under $5!
I so need to make some of these they would be great for me to take to work come visit me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Hi, I’m new here. Love the blog.
I joined the Flickr group and uploaded a photo of an oilcloth lunch bag I made. With these there’s no concern about the oilcloth contacting the sandwiches.
Hope you like it
I’ve been wanting to try the new laminate fabrics – can’t wait to make these
I have some left over stuff that is plain. Is the laminated side on the inside or outside of the bag? These are such a great idea! Thanks for sharing…now I’m going to browse your other stuff!
Both sides feel kinda slick, but the outside is the shiny laminate, and the inside is still a plastic-like surface.
Thanks for stopping by!
These are so great! I’ve been wanting to make them for a while… hopefully sometime soon. Thanks for the great tutorial, and thanks for sharing this at For the Kids Fridays at Sun Scholars! I have passed this link onto my Facebook friends.
Hope to have you back again to share with us at Sun Scholars!
rachel
Hi there! Awesome tutorial.
I did want to mention though that oilcloth and PUL are 2 different things and neither are foodsafe.
A good alternative is to use ripstop nylon, although that won’t contain liquidy foods very well.
You can make your own oil cloth though, or beeswax coated cloth and both of those would be foodsafe.
I make these and line them with white ripstop nylon to be on the safe side. I also use my serger for the edges. Works well. These are a great seller at craft fairs and my farmers market.
Great tutorial, but oilcloth is toxic. It is made out of PVC and is different than PUL. The old oilcloth was made with flax oil originally, but not anymore except from a few boutique manufacturers. Just wanted to share
Thanks for the great idea! My daughter will be eating lunch at school every day this year, so I am going to try to make some of these bags to cut down on waste in her lunch box.
Thanks for sharing such a great money and environment saving idea. I let my boys pick pictures (going with firetrucks and a skull and ghosts) to cut out for them instead of a monogram. They are so excited and the instructions are so simple they can help make them!
That’s awesome Terri! Please let me know if you make them–I’d love to see pics!
Thank you for this tutorial. I made a couple and featured you in my blog. Please take a look. My kids love eating out of them at school and I love not having to use zip lock bags!
Sarah
http://ohsewnice.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html
I was concerned about using oilcloth for these bags, I was looking to make some for my grandson’s lunch box. I happend upon a site that sells BPA free fabric so I am going to try that. The fabric is a little more expensive but well worth it when the health of my granson is involved.
That’s a great tip Kathleen! Do you have the website URL? I’d be interested in checking that out.
Lindsay, There are several companies that carry the BPA free laminated fabric but I found the best variety, less flowers, at:
http://hartsfabric.com
There was also a couple of companies that sell BPA free oil cloth. I just googled” BPA free laminated fabric”. I just wish I could find more patterns suitable for little boys. Good luck.
Could you use vinal? I accidentally ordered some online. I don’t want to return it because I absolutely love the pattern.
You could try it with the vinyl, but my guess after having worked with vinyl is that it tends to stick to itself, so the bags might make that “coming apart sound” when you open them.
For anyone who has a foodsaver vacuum sealing system, you could always line your bags with that – sewn in to make it permanent.
I bought a bolt of lightweight Heat n’ Bond vinyl covering so I could cover any fabric I choose (cotton of course) and to make these reusable lunch bags, I plan to use some of my foodsaver bag material since I buy that in rolls and can cut what I need.
That way there is no concern about food safety!
Just a thought
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! I picked up some adorable oilcloth today and am sooo excited to make these! Goodbye plastic bags, I will not miss you!
Great tutorial for making your own reusable bags! Thanks so much for sharing! I own my own small business,where I make reusable snack bags and reusable sandwich bags and wanted to let you know that you can always substitute the oilcloth for regular natural fabric (just for those squeamish about using oilcloth). It works great for me. Your tutorial is very clear and consise, with great photos too! Thanks for helping others to make the switch to reusables!
Lovely post! I cannot wait to make these for my family for our lunches. I’m so tired of wasting ziplocs.
Love this tutorial. I will definitely be making some!
This is just a warning that some oilcloth contains lead, so be sure to find lead-free oilcloth if you are using it in direct contact with food.
You can also use ProCare fabric as your lining. It runs about $12+shipping for a 72″ wide yard and is BPA, lead and Pthalate free – the company that produces it will send you a CPSIA GCC testing certificate if you need one. It’s also produced as “food grade”. It’s not particularly heat tolerant though so watch your irons! This is what a lot of people use to make wetbags but I haven’t found anything to seal it with that is food-safe. While I think that a velcro or fold-over bag would let in some air, I make sandwich wraps too and today I found my son’s PB sandwich from Monday in his lunchbox (it’s Saturday) – the bread wasn’t stale.
Great tips! Thank you!