Crafts From The Past: Rice Bag Tote

I hope you guys don't mind but I'm going to re-post one of my older crafts from when I first started blogging. I'm currently fighting a horrible flu and just don't have the energy to be crafting/writing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll be back to normal my Monday.

I made this handbag out of two rice bags. We buy the large bags since we eat a lot of rice here. My husband would beg to differ. And after I made this tote, I just might agree with him. So buy some rice or hit up your local Asian restaurant for a rice bag. Lets make a tote!

Supplies
two large rice bags
thread
ruler
scissors
sewing machine

Here's one of the rice bags I used. This is a plastic rice bag. The fabric ones are hard to find. Cut all around the edges of the bag to get two pieces per bag. Choose the the two best looking pieces and cut them to 17" x 11 3/4".

Hem the top of both large pieces of plastic. This will be the top of your bag.

For the handles cut two strips of the rice bag to 16 1/2" by 3". Fold in half , wrong sides together, sew down the length of the strip.

Center handle to wrong side of bag and pin in place. Top stitch a box with an x to secure the handle. Refer to picture above. Do this for both handles.

Pin right sides of bag together. Stitch all around the edge of bag (refer to picture). Trim excess plastic. Mainly the bottom angled corners. Turn right side out. done