Making Canvas Bags

Part of The Underway Gourmet by Suzy O'Keefe

What size bag would you like? Something for carrying a block of ice? Tools? Groceries? Here are simple instructions for making any-sized bag from a single piece of material.

Sketch is for a bag 15" tall by 12" wide by 8" thick made from a single piece of material 42" X 14". That's including seams and finished edges.

The formula is (height X 2) plus (bottom thickness) plus (finished edges X 2) for the length and (width) plus (seam X 2) for width. You can use this formula for any size bag that's square or rectangular shaped.

In the example above, that would be (15" X 2) plus (8") plus (2" X 2) or 30" + 8" + 4" = 42" and (12") plus (1" X 2) or 12" + 2" = 14".

Add a second color to reinforce the bottom if desired and add straps.

To make your bag:

1. Determine finished bag size.
2. Determine material shape needed as in formula above.
3. Determine length of webbing for straps based upon your preference for shoulder straps of handles.
4. Pin straps or handles to outside of material as shown and stitch along their length to within 2 inches of the top edges. If you'd like an outer pocket, sew it between the webbing straps as shown.
5. If you want a two colored bag or if you want an extra layer of material on the bottom of the bag, add that now so that it covers the bottom end of the straps. Determine it's size by making it the same width as the bag material and 8" more than the bag thickness. In the above example, that would be 16". That allows for 1" finished edges. Hem the top edges of this additional piece then position and sew it to the outside of your bag material.
6. Fold the bag material so that top edges are together and wrong-side-out.
7. Stitch side seams.
8. While still wrong-side-out, fold each side seam to form 2 sides of the bottom as shown. Measure at right angles across the side seam to determine placement of the stitching that will form the bottom of the bag. If your bag is 8" thick, the stitching will be 8" long.
9. Sew across the side seams making triangular shaped "ears".
10. Fold the top edge twice so that it's finished inside and outside the bag.
11. Turn the bag right-side-out and reinforce the handles with cross-stitching where the straps meet the top of the bag.
12. Use Fabric Paint to add your boat name.

This same formula makes precise shapes of bags that can snap in place under your opening cabin sole boards and hold supplies off the damp bilge bottom. Chances are, there are many places for bags on board your boat.