Easy Bag Holder Sewing Pattern
I used to keep a bag full of bags under my sink. My Granny cut a hole in an empty milk jug and puts her old plastic bags in that. If you do any shopping at a regular retail or grocery store you are bound to have some plastic bags sooner or later! If you follow this site regularly I’m going to guess you are more of the type that will reuse the bags instead of tossing them. 🙂
Last year I stopped at a little Mennonite store in the country while visiting some family in Wisconsin. Among the fun handmade things I found, I picked up a bag holder that I just love! I’ve been happily using it ever since and I keep it on a hanger on the back of my pantry door. It’s very nice to keep the bags put away and off the floor, but easily accessible when I need them.
I decided to put together one of these simple Bag Holders as a gift for my sister who recently moved into a new house; a nice little housewarming gift!
These are easy enough to put together, so I’m sharing my sewing adventure here so you can make them too!
All you need to make this project is 1/2 inch elastic (at least 20 inches) and a piece of fabric that is cut to 24 inches long and 15 inches wide. I used a light upholstery fabric which I got from Fabric.com to make mine heavy duty. You can use cotton if that’s all you have on hand.
Take one of the short ends (the 15 inch sides) and fold over 2 inches. Sew a wide hem. Repeat on the other side.
Then sew down the middle of your wide hem, making a pocket for the elastic and a little ruffle detail on the edge.
Take a 10 inch piece of elastic and pull it through one of the pockets (using a safety pin will help make this easier). Pin the ends of the elastic together (with the wrong side of the fabric out) and stitch so they stay together. Repeat on the other end.
Then sew the long sides of the bag fully together with the wrong side of the fabric facing out. Trim off any excess fabric.
This is what it should look like when you are done with those steps! Almost finished!
Make a hanger for your bag holder by cutting a 3 inch by 15 inch piece of fabric and sewing it into a long tube (right side out and then flipping it the correct way). Sew this handle onto the top of your bag holder. If you don’t want to make this using fabric you could also use ribbon.
Turn your bag holder right side out and you are done! Hang wherever you store your bags. I have mine hanging on the back of my pantry door.
Find even more super simple sewing projects here on Little House Living.
What are some of your favorite easy sewing projects?
Great idea! Beats the usual ‘bag of bags’ we end up with in the kitchen, or clogging up a drawer somewhere! I might have to give this a go!
I’m going to use a fat quarter and starch it to stiffen the fabric. it will be an inch or two shorter than the one shown but I think it will be just fine.
Rather than buying expensive fabric, this can also be done using the sleeves of long sleeved t-shirts from a thrift store. And as long as you don’t damage the seam you can still use the t-shirt! 🙂
You can also use these to hold a rolling pin with the pastry cloth and rolling pin cover. I use it and it’s wonderful, it keeps it clean and I know where it is all the time.
Great post. It makes saving bags so pretty.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing! Blessings
I need to do this, we have a bag full of bags right now! We take them to be recycled fairly often but in between they are always a mess.
I am not very handy with a needle, do you think I could use that stuff hem glue stuff?
Very nice and great tutorial! I used to make bags kind of like these back in the 80’s! I was thinking of making some more to sell in my Etsy shop out of those old fabric calendars (I have a whole bunch!). I try to use reusable grocery bags but dang it if I still don’t end up with those dumb plastic one’s sometimes!!
Tania
I need to make one of these … my bags are threatening to overtake the area under my sink! Hope to see you at Best of the Weekend! 🙂
Your timing is perfect Merissa. I’ve had my old bag holder for *cough cough* years and really need to make a new one. I was going to Google for a pattern, now I don’t have to. Thanks so much for sharing at Thriving on Thursdays last week. Always great to see what you’ve been working on. I’m featuring this one at tomorrow’s party.
Anne @ Domesblissity xx
I made these in the 80’s using terry cloth hand towels. They tame the bags and make them so easy and convenient to use.
How simple, cute and easy! What a fun project 🙂
I just made this for my niece and now I’m making one to use in my classroom for sending wet clothes home in or for tying up poopy diapers before disposing of them.
Made this 2day. I’m a new sewer and found this super simple. So cute! Love ur projects!! Thank You!
I’m so glad you enjoyed making it!
Thank you so much for posting this pattern and sharing your talent with all of us. After many years of not sewing, I picked it back up during the pandemic. I purchased a new machine and started to relearn all that I had forgotten over the years. This was the perfect project! I am just an occasional sewer and enjoy making small items. Each of my friends received a bag with their Christmas card. For others like me, who are rusty, I found it easier to attach the handle before adding the elastic.