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How to Make a Homemade Lunchbag

Whether your child is looking for a lunch bag that none of his friends have or has just outgrown his cartoon character lunch boxes, sewing a homemade version is a simple craft he can use every day. Oilcloth is easy to wipe clean with a damp sponge and can stand up to repeated wear, making it the ideal choice for lunch bag fabric. There are enough oilcloth patterns available to make lunch bags even an adult could carry to the office, so consider sewing some for the whole family.

Things You'll Need

1/2 yard oilcloth
Measuring tape
Scissors
Pins
Sewing machine
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a piece of oilcloth that is 29 1/2 inches long and 8 inches wide and cut it out.
- 2
  Measure and cut two more pieces of oilcloth, both 12 1/4 inches long and 5 inches wide.
- 3
  Fold the long strip of oil cloth 12 1/4 inches down from the top of one wide side. Measure 5 inches from the fold and fold again, creating a "U" shape with two sides and a 5-inch long bottom. The outside of the cloth should be facing inward.
- 4
  Make a single 1/4 inch cut at each corner of the folded "U."
- 5
  Pin one side of one of the side panels to the length of one of the bags, with the outside of the panel fabric facing the inside of the "U." Sew together, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- 6
  Pin and sew the bottom of the panel to the bottom of the bag and the other side of the panel to the other side of the bag.
- 7
  Repeat on the opposite side.
- 8
  Turn the bag right side out. Fold over and top stitch each seam, using a contrasting thread color if desired.

Sewing