Snack Bag Tutorial

This Snack Bag is approximately 8.5X7 and can carry all sorts of dry snacks. It can be tied to wrists, belt loops, strollers, car seats, etc. I made my insides out of unbleached organic cotton for safety. Some quilting and other fabrics can have formaldehyde in them and you wouldn't want that next your kids food now would you? Now I know that organic cotton might sound fancy and expensive, but considering that you can get 8 snack bags out of just one yard and you can buy said yard at JoAnns for $9.99 (or even cheaper if you use a 40 or 50% coupon) I don't think it's that bad. I would also suggest unbleached cotton or possibly using an old t-shirt. The straps and embellishments are on the outside so use whatever you have on hand, scraps, old baby clothes, etc. I made these instructions super easy, so sorry if they seem redundant to some.

Materials needed, 2 8"x10" pieces of organic or unbleached cotton, 2 pieces of 3.5"x8" of your embellishment fabric (optional), 2 2"x12" pieces for your ties, 8" of 1/4" elastic. Now, if you are going to make more then one of these I strongly suggest making yourself a pattern out of a paper bag, it will make things go a LOT faster. You will also need scissors, iron, pins, ruler, a safety pin, and a sewing machine (or needle and thread).

Start off with strap pieces, fold both sides in 1/4" and iron smooth.

Take one end and fold it in 1/4" and and iron. Then trim each end like shown below, this will make is so that when folded nothing sticks out. You only need to do this on one end of each piece.
Then fold pieces in half, iron and pin in place.
Sew closed with about an 1/8" seam allowance (As close to the edge as you can get)
The next step is optional, go ahead and skip it if you don't want to bother with the embellishment on the front. Take you front pieces and turn the sided in 1/4" and iron flat

Pin them on the front of the 8X10 pieces about 2.5" from the bottom. Sew along each side length wise about 1/8" form edge of embellishment fabric. Do this on both pieces.
Sew in place with an 1/8" seam on both ends, repeat on both pieces.
Line up both large pieces right sides together, making sure to match up the embellishment pieces. Pin in place. Sew along sides and bottom with 1/2" seam allowance. I went around my fabric twice, once at 1/2" seam allowance and again at 1/4". Not to sure how well you can see it in the picture below. I did this for extra security. Trim the bottom corners, making sure not to cut along you seams
Fold down top of bag 1/4" and iron flat.
Then fold down 3/4" and iron flat.

Take the ties you made earlier, overlap them and insert them into the fold you just made about 2/3 of the way down (leaving room for your elastic, pin in place. Pin and sew around the top leaving a half inch seam allowance, leaving a 1" gap near one of the sides so that you will be able to thread the elastic through. When you come to where you ties are go over it several time, you want these to be really secure.
Take you elastic, attach a safety pin at one end and close it. Thread it through your opening safety pin side first.
Once you come out the other side sew your elastic together laying one on top the other. Go over this several times so that it is secure

Sew your opening closed. Take your ties and fold them back over. Making sure not to catch your elastic sew in place, go over this several times as well. Trim threads and turn right side out.
Tad-da-li-lah! Fill with snacks, attach to child and watch them skip away with glee.