Rice Bag Tote Bag

1. Find a good quality rice bag (I found mine in someone’s front yard… I hope they didn’t want it)
2. Wash it in hot water (especially if its from someone’s front yard)
3. Cut the bag in half width wise and take out any stitching that is still in.
4. Fold it in half so the old side seam is now the top edge.  Stitch at ½” wrong sides together (right sides out – just like you would like it to look finished). Do this for both sides
5. Trim down the seams to about ¼”
6. Put white glue (PVA) on the 1" flaps. Fold everything into place. Keep your 'seams' together while it dries using masking tape (take some of the stick out of the tape by putting it on your clothes first and tearing it off)
7. Take the corners of the bag (still inside out) and fold a mitered corner to make the gusset – I like mine to be about 2-3” long.  Sew along the base of your now triangle.  Repeat with the same measurements on the other side.
8. Hem the top (trim it down if you think its too tall).  I like a nice generous 1” double folded hem.
9. Attach handles (cotton webbing is usually my choice)
10. Take it shopping… or even better yet – take it dumpster diving.