How to Make T-Shirt Bags for Groceries (and More)

Several years ago I made some reusable produce bags for when I’m at the grocery store or farmer’s market. While they’re great for smaller items I wanted something a little bigger. And they had to be easy to make! Here’s how to make T-shirt bags that you can use while grocery shopping, at the beach, or wherever.

The Problem With Reusable Shopping Bags

Reusable grocery bags have really gained in popularity the last several years. Especially as more states and stores quit using single-use plastic bags. While grocery tote bags are eco-friendly, not all of them are easily machine washable. And in one 2011 study, 97% of people admitted to not washing their grocery bags.

That can spell big problems when it comes to food safety, cross-contamination, and disease. In the same study, half of the bags tested had bacteria, including E. coli. Another 2013 study looked at what happened after plastic bag bans in Los Angeles. They reported a huge spike in emergency room E. coli infections. Plus there was a 46% increase in E. coli deaths in a 3-month period.

The moral of the story here is to wash your shopping tote bags. Most reusable grocery shopping bags though are made out of polypropylene plastic. So even if they are washed, they can pollute the water supply. There are tiny microfibers in our oceans and lakes that scientists have traced back to home washing machines. Reusable tote bags made from recycled material may keep trash out of the landfill, but they’re also made from plastic.

Then there are the collapsible cooler bags, insulated bags, and foldable insulated totes for cold foods. While these storage bags are water-resistant and keep food cold, the inside liner is mostly plastic. At least with these options, you can wipe down the interior with some all-purpose spray and a cloth.

The Best Reusable Grocery Bags

So what’s a health-conscious shopper to do? You can find cotton tote bags and environmentally friendly cotton canvas tote bags made from natural fibers. Some are even heavy-duty and stand up on their own for an easy way to carry your grocery items (and beach supplies!).

One downside is these can be a little bulky to store though. A solution is to make your own bag from an old T-shirt. It’s not hard to find one hiding in the back of the closet somewhere. Or you can purchase some with cute designs from your local thrift store. You can make a large tote bag with a big T-shirt, or opt for a smaller size bag with a smaller T-shirt.

How to Make T-shirt Bags

The design is really simple and you can not only choose your size, but you can do a sew or no-sew T-shirt bag. We’re basically cutting off the arms and neck and closing up the bottom of the shirt. If you have a sewing machine it’s fast and easy to sew the bottom of the T-shirt bag closed. Other options include using a drawstring or cutting and tieing the bottom closed.

This style of bag naturally has long handles, but the more you trim off the T-shirt neck, the longer your handles will be. You can line up the arm holes so the side seams of the T-shirt are in the middle. This creates a little more of a streamlined look and less like you turned a shirt into a bag. If you really want to showcase a design on the front though, you can skip this step.

Here’s how to make a drawstring bottom bag:

• Cut the sleeves and neck off of the T-shirt.
• Snip two small holes about 1/2 inch apart in the first layer of fabric in the bottom hem of the T-shirt. Make sure you don’t cut through both layers.
• Thread a shoelace or other cord into one hole, all the way through the hem of the T-shirt and out the other hole.
• Tighten and tie the cord.

Have you ever repurposed old clothes into something else before? Leave a comment and share below!