Serger Made Grocery Bags Using Craft Fun Fabric

Serger-Made Grocery Bags

To make these serger made grocery bags, I received 1 meter of “Craft Fun” fabric at no charge to me, from Fabricville for this project, thank you.  (Product # YY072)  The original plan was that this post was going to be a guest post on the Fabricville blog, but with all the kerfuffle dealing with the Covid19 virus, plans were changed.

1 meter was perfect to make 3 grocery bags, and here’s how I did it: 

Open out the fabric to a single layer, then refold it cross-ways so it looks like the diagram.

Cut into 3 pieces, approximately 50 cm in width.  Square up the top edge if needed, then set 2 pieces aside for now.

Keeping the piece folded at the bottom, fold it vertically so the fold is at the left and the right hand edges are even.

Draw the cutting lines on the fabric following this diagram.  (I used a cup to create the rounded areas.)

Cut out the areas shown in white through all layers.

Set up your serger for a 4 thread overlock, and use it to edge-finish around the handles with the right side up.  I used a decorative thread in my upper looper and wanted it to show on the right side.

Refold with wrong sides together.

Measure up 2 inches (5 cm) from the bottom on each side and pin through both layers to secure. (at the arrows)

Refold from the pins, with right sides together.

Serge both side seams, leaving long thread tails for reinforcement.  (These seams need to be strong)

The handle tops are sewn by placing them right sides together, then folding each in half vertically, before serging through all layers. 

How to Secure Serger “Tails”

The side and handle seams need to be very secure, so begin and end the seam with a long serger tail which will be threaded onto a darning needle to secure. Or use the method described below. You don’t want your groceries on the sidewalk.

Here’s my way of securing the beginning of the seam:

Raise the presser foot and insert the raw edge even with the cutting edge of the knife.

Lower the presser foot and take a couple of stitches using the hand wheel. Stop with the needles in the fabric. Raise the presser foot, and bring the “serger tail” around to the left, then forward and under the presser foot and under the knife. Continue to serge which will secure the beginning of the seam.

Here’s my way to finish the end of the seam securely:

Stop serging when the next stitch would be off the fabric. Stop with the needles UP. Raise the presser foot and gently pull the fabric toward the back of the serger to remove the stiches from the stitch finger. You’ll likely feel the release. Turn the fabric onto it’s “tummy”, slide it under the presser foot angling a bit toward the left. Lower the presser foot and serge a few stitches before “zooming off”.

Turn right sides out after securing the serger thread tails if required, then make 2 more.  

My 3 Serger made grocery bags enjoying the spring sunshine.  Are you?

Prefer a “printable?  Please click here.  Serger Grocery Bags printable