Funky recycled pet food bag purse/tote.

This is a purse made from a pet food bag lined with white cotton from and old sheet and ribbon handles. The best ones to use are made from a plastic fiber. You can also use a paper type that you iron an iron-on plastic (available at most craft and fabric stores) to. This bag can be made with any type of bag to reflect your friends or your likes and hobbies.

Step 1: Materials needed

One pet food bag(or bag that describes an individuals likes).
Mat Knife
Scissors
Recycled fabric for lining(I used an old sheet)
Needles or sewing machine
Thread
Ribbon

Step 2: Cut apart seams.

Using the mat knife cut the back from the bag leaving the entire side seam attached.

Step 3: Cut bag front in half.

Cut the bag front piece in half. Then cut pieces of the sheet to match the same size of the cut bag pieces.

Step 4: Sew the two pieces of the bag together.

4step 3
Sew the two pieces of the bag together at the sides and bottom with the outsides facing each other.

Step 5: Do the same thing for the lining.

Do the same thing for the lining with the sheet as in the previous step with the bag. (My cat wanted his food bag back :).

Step 6: Stitch the bottom corners.

Push the side seam down until it touches the bottom seam and then stitch across the bottom corner about two inches from the point that is formed.

Step 7: Repeat the previous step on the other corner.

Repeat the previous step on the other corner. This allows for the bag to sit flat. Repeat this with the lining.

Step 8: Turn the bag right side out.

Turn the bag right side out. Then fold in the top edge about 1/2 inch all the way around.

Step 9: Place the lining in the bag.

Place the lining in the bag. Fold down 1/2 inch on the top of the lining all the way around. Then place the seam side of the lining against the seam side inside the bag so that they do not show. Pin the top edges together after placing the ribbon in between the lining and bag on both sides. Sew the top edges together.

Step 10: The finished bag front.

The finished bag front.

Step 11: The back of the bag.

The back of the bag. Now it's time to go show off your new creation. My teenagers love it and their friends all want one.

Comments

[petlady67]

I rescue animals & get these bags weekly. Different sizes, brands, etc. If someone will make me a bag, I'll be glad to supply you with bags for your other projects.

[janeycat57]

WOW !!! My grandson will love this... He is Austic and loves his cat , I can't wait to get my hands on one of these bags. I guess I will have to talk his mom into buying a big bag instead of the little paper bags or boxes..LOL...
Great Idea and It looks like it's factory made... Fantastic job and great instructions ...

[sweetdollymom]

I am so glad. Thank you for the compliments. I have a few friends who have children with autism. Have you seen the cholesterol therapy that they are trying for a treatment. From what I understand they are having phenomenal success with this. I hope he like the bag and take care.

[Tih]

What is the size of the bag? Mine are 1,5 kg... Are they big enough or do i need 2?

[MomLogg]

Thank you for the great photos of this project! I am fairly new to sewing and can't follow written instructions very well yet--photos are the most helpful. I saw a cool purse someone had made of a feed bag and have saved a few chicken feed bags for the project, but hadn't found a good instruction unti I saw yours. I'm going to do my purse soon!

[Shingalana]

wondering if I can use some old tshirts as lining for these. also trying to figure out what I can "re-use" for handles rather than purchasing something new. I'm planning some projects like this, with completely re-purposed items, as fund raisers for Earth Day next year.

[heartart]

Hello-
How about men's ties for handles, old suspenders, or lightweight belts? Those would all be easy to find and fun to use in different ways. Or straps cut from old jeans or cords, with a sewn edge to keep them from fraying.

Hope this sparks some ideas for ya!

[sandy-g]

This has now become an addiction for me. I make this every time I get a bag. I love these!!!

[sparkleponytx]

Great project! I've been saving a couple of sturdy bags that sunflower seeds came in (bird food) thinking they were too good to just trash. Now I know what to do with them. Thanks!

[Zmathews]

great idea, i have always went to the store and bought some of those ugly fabric bags so i dont have to use plastic bags but this is pretty and eco friendly ( kind of )

i love it

[rnchm1]

I am in awe of your brillance!!!! I cannot wait until my dogs finish a bag of food!!! I will definately make one of these.

[Abbylynn]

that is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anibioman]

i kinda want to make a dog food one

[sweetdollymom]

I made a dog food one for my daughter.She loves it.

[bryandhispup]

I Hear BEST REUSEABLE SHOPPING BAG nominations ringing... GREAT pictures and great Idea!

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much . I hear ringing all the time but I just thought it was me.

[emjmcs]

Love It!!! Great Bag!

[1-2BGardening]

 haa haa haa! free advertising for those companies!

[techshop1]

Cat Chow Indoor Formula, is the only cat food my sweet Ivy eats.
This is an awesome hand bag, A great idea, since I already have some of those bags saved. I will make one for all my "cat-lover" friends.
Thanks for sharing.
You rock!

[handprints]

awesome! we feed our cats max cat (paper bag) so I will try it with the plastic fusing stuff. and maybe my bags of potting soil or other gardening supply bags...wow. I'm going to be eyeing people's trash much more now!!! Where do I cast my vote??

[handprints]

shoot! I'm sorry, I'm such a dummy. You were a finalist! that is why I clicked on your instructable in the first place!

[sweetdollymom]

That's okay. I'm glad you like it. As an artist (synonym for pack rat) I see possiblities everywhere. Sounds like you do also.

[Ninzerbean]

This is great, I love the idea, but the blurry photos hurt my eyes.

[mehoye]

Love this Janet! It's Karin's friend Maureen:) What a cool idea...hope you win!!!

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much. I hope so too. I have had a lot of people ask me about my bag and I even had one woman follow me through some art studios so she could ask me where to buy it. My daughters teenage friends think it's cool.

[dgteach]

Very nice tote. Love how "green" it is.

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks so much. Being an artist I see possibilities in everything.

[talons]

This is a cool idea, but you all should really consider switching your pets food to something better. Purina is full of junk.

Here is a good article outlining some basic facts about pet food. http://healthypetsnw.com/articles/commercial_foods.php

If anyone has any questions about foods, feel free to message me :)

[TimTheScarecrow]

the finished product turned out pretty cool. if i were a girl id totally make this. or as i saw someone else say, i might make this for a pet christmas gift or something

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks. They make fun bags to give to someone as a gift too. Especially if you know someone who likes cats of other animals.

[waterbaby]

Make it larger, line with additional plastic pet food bag material rather than fabric, and you've got a strong, reusable, and even manly tote bag!

[sweetdollymom]

They are really waterproof too.

[sweetdollymom]

Cool changes. I like that you can make it your own. Thanks for the positive mput. I'm hoping to start a crafting business at home so the serger would be great. Hope I can get your vote.

[answerman]

I love this thing. Easy to do, inexpensive materials, and strong when completed. I am jealous that I did not think of it first. And as an extra bonus it recycles those bags I hate to throw away. Works with any bag big enough too so I do not have to throw out those feed bags, potato bags, or any other bag. Reminds me of the old time "gold medal" diapers from the flour bags! Great idea

[sweetdollymom]

Thanks for the comment. I have been sewing since I was 5 and I have taught sewing to everyone from my kids to teenagers. We recycle a lot of stuff (occupational hazard for an artist) and this seemed just perfect I have gotten a lot of compliments on my bag and a lot of people have asked how to make it.

[sweetdollymom]

The nice thing about this is it is so easy to make for any age. And it makes a fun gift.

[answerman]

Just thought of this.... Feed bags for livestock are usually the woven plastic and are great to hold things. Farmers could use this idea to help carry smaller amounts of produce for farmer's market sales as a sales bag. good because they are cheap and memorable for the customer as advertising. Any large bag would do for almost any purpose, they do not have to be ladies purses.

[dragonslayer1135]

I think this is really cool. I am going to make these with my friends.

[sweetdollymom]

My daughter and I are going to make these to help out a local shelter. Have fun making them.

[DanielleKellogg]

I made one, but a little different. This is such a great recycle idea!