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Stylish and simple to make, these shopping bag savers are a tidy way to stash and save bags for recycling and reuse. They're also the perfect way to use up fabric scraps and a practical but pretty make-ahead Christmas present -- for yourself or someone else.

Supplies (for each)
• Piece of medium-weight fabric, 74* x
40 cm (29-1/8 x 15-3/4 in), for sleeve (*or desired length plus 11 cm (4-3/8 in)
seam allowance)
• Strip of matching or contrasting medium-weight fabric, 74 x 5 cm (29-1/8 x 2 in), for hanging loop
• 0.40 m elastic, 6 mm wide
• Bodkin or large safety pin
• Matching thread

Instructions
1. With right sides together, fold fabric in half so long edges are even; using 6 mm (1/4-in) seam allowance, stitch long edges together. If desired, machine-zigzag seam allowance, to bind. Turn sleeve right side out.

2. Around each end, press under 1 cm (3/8 in), then 4.5 cm (1-3/4 in); pin. Edgestitch each inside fold, backstitching at beginning and end, and leaving a 1 cm gap in seam line, then stitch a second seam line 1 cm out from the first.

3. Cut elastic into 2 equal lengths. With bodkin, thread each length through gap and around 1 end between seam lines; tighten elastic as desired, then overlap ends, trimming away excess if necessary, and stitch together.

4. Press under 1 cm along all edges of strip. With wrong sides together, fold in half so pressed edges are even; pin. Edgestitch all 4 edges. Loop strip over top end of bag saver and, about 20 cm (7-7/8 in) up from each end, pin just above elastic at opposite sides of sleeve; machine-zigzag in place. Wrap each end around loop; knot to conceal stitching.

5. Hang it up, then stuff plastic bags in top and pull out from bottom.

Now that you're on a roll, click here to learn how to organize your digital photos!

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