How to make plastic bag dispenser

plastic bag dispenser

It’s the good old plastic bag dispenser. They’re a little bit daggy, but honestly, they’re a very useful place to store plastic shopping bags and they’re also a great way to use up fabric scraps… and this is our current mission.

plastic bag dispenser

I made two dispensers and gave one (full of plastic bags) to my mum as she is always, ALWAYS running out of plastic shopping bags.

plastic bag dispenser

Making these dispensers was quite easy to make and they can be made with yardage or can be as scrappy as you like. As I’m on a mission to empty my scrap tub, I decided to go down the scrappy route.

To make a plastic bag dispenser, start by making a rectangle of fabric measuring between 18” – 20” wide and by approximately 24” – 30” long. The length is really up to you and space where you’re going to hang the dispenser. Mine currently hangs on a hook in the kitchen but will move to the laundry when we move to the new house.

Sew a 1/2” seam along the top and along the bottom edges.

Pin a safety pin to a piece of elastic (approximately 8” long) and thread it through the bottom seam.

Sew the elastic to the beginning and end of the seam, to secure it in place.

plastic bag dispenser

plastic bag dispenser

plastic bag dispenser

Fold the dispenser in half with right sides together and sew the seam. Turn it out and sew some ribbon or cotton tape to the top to create a hanging handle and voila! You can embellish the dispenser further, or just go with the scrappy look and use it as is.

You now have a lovely plastic bag dispenser to keep all of your plastic shopping bags tidy and in one place.

Make one for yourself and one for a friend. Or perhaps make a couple and have them ready for gifting at Christmas time.

courtesy: sameliasmum