For those who want instructions- I make my bags minimalistic.
Start with a clean bag and take the bottom strip off. You can cut it close to the tape. I find the bags are often crooked at the bottom. Cut them straight.
Decide where you want the bottom of the side picture. Measure about 5 inches or so down towards the bottom of the bag from there. Mark it. Flatten the bag out-- spreading out the gussets( folded in parts) in the side. Cut STRAIGHT across the bag at the mark at a 90 degree angle to the side of the bag.
On most bags, this leaves you a 6 inch strip or so that is the bottom of the bag. This provides the straps. Cut this in two pieces at the edges of the expanded gusset. You now have 2 strips each the width of the folded out bag. Fold them in half LENGTHWISE. Crease well. Take each side lengthwise and fold it in to the center crease. This is easier than it sounds. I run the creases along a hard table surface to enforce the creases. Now you have a long piece with 3 creases in it that allow you to fold each side in on itself and then both sides in half to basically have a strip 4 layers deep. Sew about 1/4 inch in from both edges to secure.
Note about sewing: Use a HEAVY needle- at least a 16. Leather point works best. My machine is gives a slightly uneven stitch on the bottom because of the plastic material so I am careful which side I sew that is visible.
Now back to the bag itself. Turn the bag inside out. Sew a good seam along the bottom- right sides together. Tricky gusset part: Locate the creases made by the original side gussets. The idea is to match the center of the bottom seam to the center of the side gusset and sew across this to create a triangle. To do this, I use one hand inside, one outside, and match the seam to the center crease and holding that as best I can, fold the triangle. On the outside ( white part because bag is inside out) I take a 6 inch ruler, place the 3 inch mark at the bottom seam and try to align the whole thing so the gusset seam will be 6 inches across. It helps to mark it using the ruler to give you a sewing line. Sew the seam on both ends, then turn the bag right side out. Press out the gusset corners inside with your finger.
The top of the bag I turn inside on itself twice about 2 inches each time to give a triple strength layer that I then sew twice about 1/4 inch and 1 1/2 inches from the top edges. It's just a big circle like putting on a cuff or a sleeve.
In attaching the straps, I close the top putting in the original gussets. I mark the inside top edge where the fold-in gusset stops. This is the start of my placement for the straps on each side. I place the ends of the straps even with the lower edge of the top border and sew in a box and crisscross on the strap for strength.
The more you do, the better you get. The plastic is a bit hard to sew but we are recycling, it's not totally perfect!
DD wants pockets and a flap on hers and someone suggested lining them too. It's a work in progress.
Oh, and DD's bf says don't get these too close to the fire when toting firewood. They melt
And I am seriously going to try those pots and holders. Great idea. Where's my glue gun?
