Crafty Kids | DIY Book Tote

by Jennifer Cooper, posted on January 21st, 2013 in Kids DIY

January is National Book Month. Show your love for the written word and how crafty you are with a super cool book tote. It’s perfect for carrying all those books you check out at the library, you clever kid, you.

Note: This is craft is for older kids and will require supervision since we’re using a sewing machine or it can be an afternoon parent-kid craft.

You’ll need:
an old tee shirt
scissors
sewing machine

Optional:
paint
sponge brush
freezer paper
craft knife

Step 1
Lay the tee shirt on a flat surface. Trim off the sleeves using the arm holes as your guide.

Step 2
Trim the neckline.

Step 3
Turn the shirt inside out.

Step 4

Lay out the teeshirt (inside out) and draw a line across the bottom. This will be your sew line. You can pin it if you like.

Step 5

Sew across the line. Then sew another line above or below it. You’ll want two sew lines so the bottom of the bag is extra tough.

Step 6

Trim the excess fabric below your sew line. Turn your shirt right side out and you have your very own bag. You can leave your project there or you can decorate it.

Optional

Show the world your love for the written word with a bold declaration. Take freezer paper* and write READ! Use a craft knife to trim out the letters and iron the freezer paper onto the bag (a grown up can do those two steps).

Insert a piece of cardboard into the bag so the paint doesn’t bleed through to the back. Apply paint. Let dry. Then peel off the freezer paper. You’re done!