Reusable Pillowcase Tote

Reusable bags are great, but sometimes when we are trying to watch our pennies we end up opting for the bags at the stores that aren't exactly on the eco-friendly side. A nice remedy for this is to make your own eco-friendly reusable bag. One easy way to do this is by recycling one of your old pillowcases or finding a super cheap single organic pillow case. Creative Kismet has supplied a pattern online in order to show everyone how to do just this. Please go to to Creative Kismet's website in order to properly follow these instructions due to the fact that they have pictures to go along with the set by step instructions. Good luck all!

Here is what you will need:

1. Turn pillowcase inside-out and fold in half long-ways.

2. Cut a 3-4 inch strip off of one side. Save the long strip for the straps.

3. Open and lay flat. Pin together the open sides. You will be sewing this together in the following manner, leaving a 6 inch (15cm) gap in the center.

4. Cut a 2 inch square (a) off of all four corners (b) making sure to measure from the folded edge and and seam, not the rough edge.

5. Following these instructions, you are going to square off each corner (c).

6. When all four corners are sewn, flip the bag right side out through the open gap and sew the gap closed (hand or machine– I used my machine for this). Now you will have a completely sewn shut, empty pillowcase with squared off corners.

7. Now the fun (and kinda hard to explain) part… Fold the pillowcase into itself by stuffing the just sewn together gap-end into the bottom of the opposite end. The sewn together gap-end will be the inside bottom of your bag(d) and the squared-off corners will meet together on each side(e).

8. Once all the corners meet(f), iron and then sew around the top edge. Now you are ready for the straps

9. Cut off the big hemmed end off of the remaining strip. Fold the strip in half long-ways and cut again. These will be your two straps. They should be 12-16inches long each.

10. With the right sides facing in, sew together the short ends of each strap, leaving one long side open.

11. Trim the corners(g) and turn right-side out.

12. Following the picture above, fold the ends towards the inside so that the raw edges are tucked inside(h-j). Once it is straight and flat(k), press with an iron and sew together(l-m).

13. Lastly, sew one strap to each side of your bag with big criss-cross squares(n) and you are done!!!