Easy to Sew Plastic Bag Dispenser

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Keep plastic grocery bags tidy and ready to reuse with an Easy To Sew Plastic Bag Dispenser. This simple sewing tutorial shows you step by step how to make your own so you can organize all the plastic bags in your pantry! This is a must-have for all those unruly grocery bags you bring home from the grocery store. This dispenser makes it easy to grab a bag to dispose of smelly diapers and dog poo, or anything else you might need a bag for! I use them for my dirty laundry and my shoes when I am traveling and they work great at keeping my bag from getting dirty or smelling.

How to Sew a Plastic Bag Dispenser

This project is a great seller at craft fairs and farmers markets. Make them in a variety of colors to match every home’s style and décor. DIY plastic bag dispensers are wonderful to give as gifts too! It’s one of those things everyone needs.

Supplies To Sew A Plastic Bag Dispenser

Plastic Bag Dispenser Supplies 2

A heavy weight cotton is best for this project (think home décor fabric) to hold its shape. However, fat quarters are the perfect size. They will work fine and save you some cutting time.

Similar products to the ones we used in the example are linked below for your convenience.

How To Sew A Plastic Bag Holder

Begin this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial by washing, drying and pressing your fabric. This will remove any chemicals used during manufacturing and allow for shrinkage.

Then square up your fabric using this quick and easy method. Now your fabric is ready to be cut to size.

Ironing floral fabric on ironing board

Step 1 – Cut Fabric

Measure and cut your fabric to 18″ x 22″. It is easiest and most accurate to do this with a rotary cutter and cutting mat.

Cutting floral fabric on cutting mat

Step 2 – Fold and Press

On the shorter edge of the fabric (18″), fold the fabric onto the wrong side 3/4″. This step is easy with a hem gauge. Press as you go with an iron. This will create a casing for the elastic.

Ironing seams for plastic bag dispenser

Make sure your fold is even all the way across, and pin in a few places to hold it in place.

Measuring seam allowance for plastic bag dispenser

Step 3 – Other Side

Next repeat for the opposite end of the fabric (18″ again).

Pinning edge of fabric

Step 4 – Sew Top and Bottom

Now on this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial, it’s time to sew! Using coordinating thread, sew all the pinned edges with 1/2″ seam allowance.

Sewing casing on sewing machine

Step 5 – Fold Lengthwise

With the sewn edges at the top and bottom, fold the right sides of the fabric together, ensuring the raw edges of the fabric are lined up.

Pinning layers of plastic bag dispenser

Step 6 – Sew Sides

Then using 1/4″ seam allowance, sew along the raw edge from the top to just before the bottom. STOP before you get to the bottom of the casing! Our plastic bag holder is taking shape.

Measuring elastic on cutting mat with scissors

Step 7 – Prepare Elastic

Now on this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial, measure and cut your elastic to 8″. This will help hold the bags in while making it easy to pull them out when you need one.

Safety pin pinned to end of elastic

Insert a safety pin into one end of the elastic.

Step 8 – Insert Elastic in Casing

Sliding elastic through casing

Push the safety pin inside the bottom of the fabric casing. Work it through the casing, gently pulling the elastic along.

Pinning elastic in casing

When the other end of the elastic reaches the opening, pin it to the fabric with a straight pin to hold it in place.

Pinning elastic in casing

Continue to work the safety pinned end of the elastic through the casing until it comes out of the opening on the other side. Re-pin the elastic, making sure to catch both ends of the fabric loop you have created.

Step 9 – Sew Casing Closed

Sewing elastic casing on sewing machine

With 1/4″ seam allowance, continue sewing from your previously sewn line (along the raw edge) to finish sewing across the casing and both pieces of elastic. Backstitch several times.

Sewing elastic in plastic bag dispenser on sewing machine

Step 10 – Prepare Ribbon Hanger

Next on this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial, we will make the ribbon hanger. Measure and cut your ribbon to 7″.

Measuring yellow ribbon on cutting mat with scissors

Create a loop with the ribbon, and position it over the seam of the plastic bag holder. Pin to hold in place.

Attaching Yellow Ribbon to Plastic Bag Dispenser

Step 11 – Sew Ribbon Loop

Now for the final sewing step in this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial, stitch the ribbon to the bag holder as close to the edge of the fabric as possible. Backstitch several times to create a strong hold.

Step 12 – Turn Right Side Out

Now reach inside the tube and grab the opposite end of the fabric.

Inside Out Plastic Bag Dispenser Over Arm

Pull the fabric tube right side out.

Turning Plastic Bag Dispenser Inside Out

Step 12 – Hang DIY Plastic Bag Dispenser

Your plastic bag dispenser is ready to be hung!

Plastic bag dispenser hanging on pegboard

Using Your Plastic Bag Dispenser

To use, fill your dispenser with plastic grocery bags from the top. Don’t worry about how to fold plastic bags for the dispenser. Just shove them in. Then pull a bag from the bottom when you need one.

Hand pulling plastic bag from fabric dispenser

Care

Your plastic bag holder may get dirty or dusty from time to time. It can be washed and dried by machine to clean it. Just make sure you remove all the plastic bags first.

Don’t forget to pin this project for later, and check out some more sewing projects for beginners listed below.

How to Sew a Plastic Bag Dispenser

If you loved this plastic bag holder sewing tutorial, just pin this to your favorite easy DIY Sewing ideas board on Pinterest so you can find it again quickly when you’re ready! Be sure to tag us on social media as we love seeing what our readers make and seeing the fabric they choose.

Yield: 1

Easy to Sew Plastic Bag Dispenser

Plastic bag dispenser hanging on cupboard in laundry room

An easy sewing project to keep plastic grocery bags tidy and accessible.

Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $2.00

Instructions

  1. Iron fabric.
  2. Cut fabric to 18" by 22".
  3. Turn edge of 18" side under 3/4" and press.
  4. Repeat for opposite side.
  5. Sew both ends with 1/2" seam allowance.
  6. Fold right sides of fabric together so that seams meet.
  7. Sew raw edges with 1/4" seam allowance but stop before bottom of casing.
  8. Cut elastic to 8".
  9. Pin safety pin to one end of elastic.
  10. Place safety pin inside casing and push through.
  11. Pin elastic ends to each end of casing.
  12. Continue sewing along line with 1/4" seam allowance across the casing and elastic. Backstitch.
  13. Cut ribbon to 7".
  14. Make a loop and pin over seam.
  15. Sew across ribbon ends, backstitching several times.
  16. Turn fabric tube right side out.

Notes

A heavy weight cotton works best, especially home decor fabrics. However, a fat quarter is the perfect size and will work fine.

Did you make this project?

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7 thoughts on “Easy to Sew Plastic Bag Dispenser”

  1. Sylvia, you made the first comment on Beginner Sewing Projects, and we are tickled pink. So glad you like the project!

  2. I made it and it looks ok. but I still don’t think I did it right. the bowl cover is what I made and I am gonna make some more but I have to watch you do it again before I start.

  3. I need this in my kitchen! Your pretty fabric plastic bag dispenser is so much much better than just the plain old plastic bag I use. Thanks for the great tutorial!

  4. I made the plastic bag holder. As I am a quilter, I had a box of 2 in strips. So I sewed the strips together to get my 18” x 22” piece of fabric. So many states are doing away with plastic bags, we have been saving them. As a result,I have plastic bags everywhere. So I am going to make several & hang them in my pantry, linen closet, closet in the laundry room and in our bedroom closets. We put the grocery bags in our small trash cans in all the rooms.

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