How to Make a Grocery Bag Holder (Easy DIY Sewing Pattern)

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This grocery bag holder is a staple in our kitchen—how else are you going to store all of those extra (but entirely useful) plastic bags in a way that looks beautiful and is easy to access?

We’ve been using one of these grocery bag holders forever and honestly they last forever, but with my young daughter learning to sew we decided to refresh our old one and sew a new one. (Plus, we found some great fabric on Amazon. You only need less than one yard—or one of those fat quarters that’s been hiding in your fabric collection—to make one of these!)

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How to Sew a Grocery Bag Holder pinterest

Why Sew a Grocery Bag Holder?

They’re an easy, 1-hour project! No french seam, buttons, zippers, or basting. The most difficult skills you need to know to make this easy hanging bag holder are how to press seams and how to sew an elastic casing (an easy step even if it’s your first time).
They make great gifts. A handmade, fabric grocery bag holder is a gift that almost anyone can use! Plus, it’s easy to add a pop of personality, and a decorative bag holder is so much more lovely than those stainless steel wall mount dispensers.
They’re inexpensive to make. This project cost me approximately $8 to make (since I bought a yard of this lovely linen fabric on Amazon). But if you have a fat quarter or a yard of fabric sitting around, plus 9″ of elastic, you could do it for free.
They’re perfect for kitchen organization. This design has a built-in loop which creates a really functional style you can hang anywhere. It’s such an easy way to access bags (and put away all those plastic grocery bags when you get home from the store)!

homemade bag dispenser hanging on wicker shelf

Supplies You’ll Need

16″ x 22″ piece of fabric. A fat quarter works well for this! (They measure 18″ x 22″ – just cut off 2″). I bought a yard of this linen floral fabric on Amazon for mine.)
3″ x 6″ piece of fabric for the handle. You could also use a piece of ribbon for the handle if you like!
9″ piece of 3/4″ elastic. You’ll thread this through your casing at the bottom of the bag holder.
Safety pin. For threading your elastic.
Matching thread.
Pins.
Scissors.
Sewing machine.
Iron and ironing board.

floral grocery bag dispenser hanging in kitchen

How to Make a Grocery Bag Holder

Disclaimer: My sewing style is easy! There are probably more perfect ways to do some of these steps, but this is how I made mine. 🙂

Start by cutting your fabric into a 16″ x 22″ piece. In addition, cut a 3″x 6″ piece for the handle. (You could also just cut a 6″ piece of ribbon for the handle if you prefer.) You can use a craft board for this or just a measuring tape.
To make the handle, fold both sides in until they meet in the center. Wrong side should be against wrong side here.
Press. Then, fold it in half lengthwise, press again, and pin.
Lastly, sew up the open side of the handle lengthwise using a 1/8″ seam allowance.
Next, take your main piece of fabric. The 16″ sides are the top and bottom. Take the top edge and fold it 1/2″ and press. Fold over again 1/2″ and press again.

Then sew, using an 1/8″ seam allowance.
Now it’s time to make the elastic casing on the bottom edge. To do this, simply fold the bottom edge up 1½” and sew, using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
This will leave enough room for the 3/4″ piece of elastic to thread through. (I’m not worried about fraying of the raw edges here since this is on the inside of the bag holder.)

Here’s how it should look with the top and bottom edges completed:
Using a safety pin, thread your elastic through the casing.
Fold your bag holder in half with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and pin it, starting with a pin in the elastic so that it does not slip out.
Pin all the way up the long edge, then sew up that long edge. I used a 1/2 seam allowance here and then trimmed the edge so it was less bulky.
Turn your bag holder right side out, pin the handle (or ribbon) on either side of the seam, and machine-sew or hand sew the handle into place.

You did it!

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Sew a Grocery Bag Holder?

For beginners to intermediates, this convenient bag holder takes approximately an hour or less to make.

How Much Fabric Do You Need to Make a Plastic Bag Holder?

It takes a 16″x22″ piece of fabric to make this easy plastic bag holder, plus another 3″x6″ strip for the handle. Alternately, you can use a 6″ ribbon.

How Much Does It Cost to Make Your Own Decorative Grocery Plastic Bag Dispenser?

This project cost me less than $10. However, if you have a 16″x22″ fabric remnant, thread, and a 9″ piece of elastic already on hand, you could make it for even less.

What Are Some Other Easy DIY Grocery Bag Storage Methods?

A fabric grocery bag holder is one of the best ways to store grocery bags because it’s practical (you can effortlessly hang it on the wall in an easy to reach place) and beautiful! If you don’t want to make your own, there are quite a few charming designs available on Etsy for less than $15. I’ve also seen people reuse a wipes container or opt for a stainless steel bag dispenser.

A plastic bag dispenser stores other items too! Stick cleaning rags, gloves, winter hats, or even socks and underwear inside!