Make Something Useful: Reusable Fabric Snack Bags {Craft Challenge, Day 114}

I have wanted to make reusable fabric snack bags for a long time now, but I always hesitated to do so because a lot of patterns call for oil cloth or PUL (the sort of fabric the outside of cloth diapers is made out of) for the inside, which makes them waterproof but is also expensive, and there’s some debate about its safety when touching food.

I don’t know why I needed to see someone else make snack bags out of plain old cotton fabric before I was willing to give it a try, but I did.

So when I came across this tutorial for reversible cotton snack bags with a flap top — so new sewing on Velcro or adding a zipper, even better! — I knew it was time to give it a try.

Making Reusable Fabric Snack Bags

I won’t go into all the details because Ellen has already done it, but you need rectangles of two different fabrics.

I knew I wanted to use this adorable cherry one (which I had forgotten I used to make a low-sew apron), and I had a little bit of a baby animal print that might be a little too babyish for a six year old but is super cute in snack bags. Both of these are directional fabrics, so half the time they are upside down. This doesn’t bother me, but if it bothers you, choose carefully.

I made one that’s pretty much the size shown in the tutorial, and a couple of tiny ones that will be perfect for things like nuts and dried fruit that you don’t need a ton of anyway.

They’re really quick to sew, adorable and super useful. I love that the flap can be used to hold the bag closed or folded over so you get a peek at the other fabric. And that they are reversible, because it just adds to the cuteness.

Of course you don’t have to make snack bags if that’s not something your family needs. But there’s something about making something you know is going to be used that just makes it that much better to take the time to make.

If you try this I’d love to know what you make!