How to make a Shopping Bag

After sewing the toy basket, I thought, Exactly the same thing should work with a square shape.
I had this shopping basket bag as a model (practical, but it looks a bit bleak...):

So it's clear to me that you can sew a bag like that, But the question was whether I could do it :-) so the first thing I did was one Approximately 20 cm wide pattern sewn - as a mini shopping bag for my daughter:

So I would have to get a big bag too. and since many of you wrote that you would also like to sew more but don't know exactly whether you can do it, I documented the sewing process for you today :-)) along with all the insights that came to me :-) and maybe one or two of you will think that you'll dare to try it because it's not that difficult... so here we go: First I cut a length of green checkered oilcloth fabric - 140 x 40 cm. Oilcloth fabric is great for a bag because it is washable and offers a little more stability than normal fabric.

then place the short sides on top of each other. sew both sides closed.

then move the seam approx. 20 cm to the left. Pin out the newly created edges and secure them again with a seam.

Out comes... a finished bag shape, still without a bottom. Place the shape on the floor (pattern facing inwards!) and place it on the sew on the bottom. I cut the bottom to size 55 x 25 cm, so there is plenty of room for maneuver when sewing.

next choose the decoration for the outside of the bag... here: bias tape in red vichy check, neon green pompom border and an iron-on motif. Attention...choosing may take longer :-)

sew everything on...

Now the outside pocket is already finished! Next, I cut all the shapes again using volume fleece - i.e. the bag walls (140 x 40 cm), the bottom (55 x 25 cm), and two rectangles (approx. 12 x 50 cm) for the handles.

Cut the same shapes with the desired inner fabric of the bag. I chose a green patterned interior fabric. The inner bottom should be red with dots and in red checkered I wanted to add two pockets for a cell phone and wallet on the inside.

the handles go quickly - roll the volume fleece into the fabric, Fold the cut edges of the fabric inwards and sew them shut. Depending on your taste, a seam in the middle...

Or, like here, on the edge and make two seams (I liked it better).

Now sew on the prepared inside pockets.

and the pocket again as shown above on the outside - sew together: 2 seams on the left and right, then the seams around Move approx. 20 cm and sew the sides together again. The only difference: this time take the fleece layer with you when sewing, So put the fabric and the fleece on top of each other. Finally, sew the fleece base onto the fabric base.  

For additional stabilization you can add a layer of plastic, e.g. made of plastic standing files or plastic placemats. And another tip: if you want a more stable fleece than the volume fleece from the sewing department, you can find it in the hardware store :-) namely the fleece for extractor hoods and the like. super stable and also flame retardant, like the volume fly too. So the outside and inside are finished...

To be on the safe side, turn the inside out again and see whether all the seams are successful - there is still something that can be improved :-)

ahh now it's getting exciting, both bags can be put together and we're one giant step closer to the finished bag :-)

Now carefully pin both pockets at the top edge so that the corners line up and the inner pocket lies exactly in the outer one. Don't forget the handles when unplugging :-)

... and the final approach!! I sewed back and forth several times on the handles so that they couldn't come apart under any circumstances. I placed the seam as close to the edge as possible so that it is hardly noticeable.

Yippee - here comes the finished bag!!! :-) So the big one turned out to be something, just like the small pattern. It was actually supposed to be a shopping bag, but I think it's more of a travel bag...

and here from the inside:

I hope this little tutorial makes you want to try it out yourself!! I can only say that I'm really excited about what I'm suddenly able to achieve as a beginner hobby seamstress, and I'm so glad that I'm now turning to the topic of utensils, bags and the like. I dared... I always thought it was all too complicated... 

The dimensions are of course just a suggestion, I might make the next bag a little smaller. And the bigger the bag gets, the more it needs the necessary stability, especially through something stronger fleece or, if necessary, plastic inserts as described above. And sewing with oilcloth fabric is particularly fun. But you can also make a completely normal fabric washable, by ironing on lamifix! I ordered one of these and am waiting very excitedly.