Crafting Sanity: Don't Forget Your Lunch!

By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

Picking out a new lunch box is a rite of passage for children. And packing lunches for these aspiring “big kids” can be an emotional rite of passage for moms and dads who may welcome a few more hours of quiet each day, but still miss the little ones while they’re away.

In an effort to be kind to the environment and also send a little homemade love along to school with my girls, I decided to whip up some cloth napkins and reusable sandwich sleeves and snack pouches.

Constructed with coordinating laminated fabrics, the sleeves and pouches are both durable and easy to wipe clean and a great alternative to traditional plastic sandwich bags.

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Sandwich Sleeve Instructions:

Supplies:

* 1/2 yard laminated fabric (I used prints from Healther Bailey’s Nicey Jane Collection from FreeSpirit Fabrics freespiritfabric.com)
* Coordinating all purpose cotton thread                                                                          

* Sewing machine with Teflon or ultra glide foot appropriate for sewing laminated fabrics

* Machine Needle Size 80/12 or 90/14 (The smaller the needle, the smaller the puncture hole

* Sewing scissors

* Sticky backed Velcro tabs

* Freezer paper to make pattern template

* Dowel sharpened to a point, or other turning tool

Step 1: Make a pattern template by  drawing a 7” x 14” rectangle on the dull side of a piece of freezer paper. To create the sandwich sleeve flap, add a triangle to one end of the rectangle. Use this paper template to cut out two sandwich sleeve pieces. (NOTE: This size fits a sandwich snugly. If you want more room for taller sandwiches, start with a base rectangle template measuring  8” x 16” and add a triangle flap to one end.) 

Step 2: Stack sandwich sleeve pieces right sides together and stitch around the raw edges leaving a 3” opening along the bottom. Clip the bottom corners and the curve if you decide to round out the top of the triangle flap. Turn the piece right side out, taking time to carefully poke out the corners with a dowel sharpened to a point or other turning tool.

Step 3: Set your stitch length to 3mm or longer (shorter stitch lengths can have a perforating effect on laminated fabrics) and top stitch along the bottom of the sleeve to close opening.

Step 4: Fold the bottom of the sleeve up to the base of the flap. Top stitch up side of sleeve, along top flap and down the other side of the sleeve.

Step 5: Place a sticky backed Velcro tab on the pouch opposite the flap. Place the corresponding Velcro tab on the underside of the flap.

NOTE: Do not try to sew through sticky backed Velcro because doing so will coat your needle with adhesive and possibly damage your machine.

Care Instructions: Wipe sandwich sleeve clean with a damp cloth and air dry.

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Snack Pouch Instructions

Supplies:
* 12” square of laminated fabric (I used prints from Healther Bailey’s Nicey Jane Collection.)
* Coordinating all purpose cotton thread

* Sewing machine with Teflon or ultra glide foot appropriate for sewing laminated fabrics

* Machine Needle Size 80/12 or 90/14 (The smaller the needle, the smaller the puncture hole

* 5” strip of sew-on Velcro (non-adhesive variety)

* Dowel sharpened to a point, or other turning tool

Step 1: Fold 12” piece of laminated fabric in half with right sides facing and stitch around  three raw edges leaving a 3” space for turning in the middle of one of the 6” ends. Clip corners and turn right side out. Poke out the corners with a dowel sharpened to a point or other turning tool.

Step 2: Set your stitch length to 3mm or longer and top stitch along both “6 ends. Center 5” Velcro strips on each end and stitch in place.

Step 3: Fold piece in half so corresponding Velcro strips meet. Top stitch down each side to form the snack pouch.

Care Instructions: Wipe clean with a damp cloth and air dry.

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Cloth Napkin Instructions:

Supplies:

* 12x24” piece of cotton fabric (I used regular cotton prints from Healther Bailey’s Nicey Jane Collection)

* Coordinating all-purpose cotton thread

* Sewing machine with regular sewing foot

* Dowel sharpened to a point, or other turning tool

Step 1: Cut a 12” x 24” piece of cotton fabric. Fold in half (right sides together) to form a 12” square.

Step 2: Sew around three raw edges leaving a 3” opening for turning. Clip corners and turn right side out, carefully poking out the corners with a dowel sharpened to a point or other turning tool.

Step 3: Press with warm iron and top stitch around the edge to finish.

CraftSanity on TV: Making green lunch accessories

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