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with Barbara Edmondson

Feed Sack Tote

Recycle / Repurpose Deer Corn, Pet Food, Ag Feed sacks made of woven plastic in to useful, sturdy, large totes!

Supplies needed:
An empty plastic feed sack, or pet food sack Polyester thread A machine needle size 90/14 or 100/16 Helpful: Acrylic template ruler, rotary cutter, and self healing mat
Copyright March 2012 Barbara J. Campbell Edmondson, all rights reserved. Copying or distributing this pattern is NOT permitted.

Instructions to make Feed Sack Tote:

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Page 1 of 2 Feed Sack Tote

Read ALL of the instructions before starting to sew, so you will have a better understanding of it all. I set my stitch length at 4, because I want to poke less holes in the fabric . The plastic is stiffer than fabric so this project requires crunching the bag to work with it. ~ ~ ~ Now, Get Sewing! ~ ~ ~
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(4.)
1. Wash thoroughly the inside and outside of the empty
sack.

2. Open both ends. Usually there is a string that will easily

come unstitched if you pull it just right. If not, you cut it off however you can. Now you basically have a tube.

3. Look at the designs on your bag and decide what parts you want to try to keep, what places youre willing to cut off to make handles or to become the bottom. Things to consider: You will need to cut off 3 4 inches around one end to use to make the two handles. Boxing the bottom of the tote will take 2-4 inches. You may wish to cut off more of the bag than needed for the handles and bottom. 4. After youve made your decision, cut a 3 4 inches strip around for the handles. You will be cutting through two layers since its a tube. You can lay it flat on a self-healing mat and use a rotary cutter and acrylic template ruler, or you can measure & draw marks and use old scissors. Do not use your good sewing scissors on this plastic, it could ruin them! 5. Sewing Handles: While folding handle in half lengthwise, rub a crease on the fold. Then turn in each long edge in toward center crease and press creases. Then fold over so that long cut edges are tucked into the first creased fold. See Figure 5. You cant use pins, but you could binder clips or clothes pins. Your handle now has 4 layers. Then, Stitch closely along both long edges.

(5.)

6. Turn the bag inside out by reaching inside, crunch and

grab the bottom and work with both hands to pull it through. See photo 6. Then lay the bag flat. . . . . . . . . . . Continue to next page

(6.)

Copyright March 2012 Barbara J. Campbell Edmondson, all rights reserved. Copying or distributing this pattern is NOT permitted.

7. As shown in photo 7, Sew a seam across the

bottom opening of the bag. I used about a inch seam allowance. Then overcast the edge, I used a regular wide zig-zag stitch. Do step 8 to both sides of the bottom. 8. Work with the bag to line up one end of the bottom seam with the center of a side (not too hard to find because its usually creased). Hold in place. Draw a line about 2 inches in from point/ corner. You can use a 45 degree angle on your ruler to make it straight. Sew along this line. This forms the box bottom of the bag. See photo 8.

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Page 2 of 2 Feed Sack Tote

(7.)

9. If desired - Fold the corner triangles toward

the bottom and attach the seam allowances of the corner point end and the bag bottom seam by sewing the seam allowances together a few stitches. You can do this on the machine or by hand.

(8.)
45 angle

10. Turn the bag right side out. 11. Measure & rub a crease, an inch (or what
you choose) around the top edge of the bag. Sew a seam along close to the cut edge.

12. Find the center of the front and back of the

bag. I do this by folding in half & drawing a mark with a pencil, see photo 11.

(12.)

13. Measure & mark 3 inches from each side of

the center mark on front & back of bag. This is for handle placement. Sewing on handles 14. Referring to figure 13, Position a handle end at the outer edge of a mark, overlapping onto bag about an inch. Hold in place.
Bag bottom handle center

(13.)
position handle ends to the outer edge of the mark that is away from the center

15. Sew to attach handle securely. I sew a

square, then an X in it. Sew both handles on the same way.

Congratulations! You made your own Feed Sack Tote!

Copyright March 2012 Barbara J. Campbell Edmondson, all rights reserved. Copying or distributing this pattern is NOT permitted.