Turn An Old Bed Sheet Into A More Sustainable Grocery Choice

You've been contemplating how to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and while standing in line at the grocery store, you eye a stack of reusable produce bags for sale. But before you invest in new items — even reusable ones — consider how much more sustainable it would be to repurpose what you already have. Upcycling can be the easiest way to make your home more eco-friendly, and those old bed sheets you have piled up in the back of your linen closet are a great place to start. For this project, we're going to turn an old bedsheet into a reusable produce bag.

Millions of tons of textiles end up there each year, with the numbers continuously increasing. So, not only is this a clever way to repurpose an old bedsheet, but it also helps keep all your old bedding out of the landfill. Using your own produce bags at the grocery store also eliminates the need for the single-use plastic bags most stores make available to customers. As you can see, this DIY is great for the planet in multiple ways.

For this project, you'll need an old bed sheet, a measuring tape or ruler, a pen to mark the measurements, scissors, and either a sewing machine or thread and a needle. To make this a drawstring bag, you'll need a ribbon and a safety pin, with an optional wooden or decorative bead to add to the drawstring.

We're going to make a 13-inch by 15-inch-sized produce bag. Start by laying the bedsheet flat and measuring a 28-inch by 16-inch rectangle, marking those measurements with a pen. Cut out the piece of fabric and fold it in half lengthwise so the 28-inch side becomes 14 inches. If the sheet is different on one side than the other, fold the desired side inward. It will become the outer-facing side when the bag is complete. Sew two of the three open sides together with a sewing machine or by hand with a needle and thread. Leave one side open to serve as the bag's top.

To make this a drawstring bag, take the open top of the bag and fold about an inch of the material down all the way around. Sew along the edge of the folded material, creating an enclosed space for the drawstring. Flip the bag inside out and cut a ¼ inch hole in the outer layer of material of the drawstring enclosure, next to but not on top of the side seam. Cut a strip of ribbon twice the width of the bag, plus a few extra inches. Attach a safety pin to one end of the ribbon to help you thread it through the drawstring enclosure. With both ends of the ribbon sticking out of the drawstring hole, thread them through a wooden bead and tie them together. The bead will help hold the bag shut when you tighten the drawstring. If you don't want the drawstring feature, skip these steps and simply hem the top of the bag. Don't forget to wash your produce bags and keep reusable grocery bags clean with one household ingredient.