Insulated Picnic Bag


Yesterday I made this bag to use for picnics and days out.

I used my tutorial for the Zipped Cylinder Toiletry Bag,

 and resized it to make a larger version!





For the outer fabric, I used some sturdy 
Cotton Canvas Fabric.

For the inside, I used some pieces of old inflatable pool toys - as this was waterproof and could be wiped easily if any food or drinks spill inside!
I also added a layer of insulation between the outer and inner fabric using an old car windscreen shade, and some other thin foam packaging pieces I had in my stash. 
This layer of insulation should help keep our drinks and food cool!  I've used old car windscreen shades for this before with my insulated lunch bags which our girls have been using for a few years now!

The car windscreen fabric - or packaging foam also provides stability and shape for the bag.

I tried my bag out filling it up with drinks in the main section..

And bags of chips in the drawstring section in the top of the bag - a great part for keeping lighter packs of chips or crackers separate from the bottles of drinks.


If you're interested in the measurements for this bag, I used:

Circular ends (2 of inner and outer fabric) - 26cm (10.25") diameter

Bottom bag part 

(1 Outer fabric, 1 Inner Fabric, 1 Insulation Fabric) 

- 82 x 30 cm (32.25 x 11.75")

Top bag part (1 Outer fabric, 1 Inner Fabric, 1 Insulation Fabric)

- 82 x 12 cm (32.25 x 4.75")

Drawstring section - 82 x 20 cm (32.25 x 8")

Zip measured to 70 cm  (27.5")

Strap - 100 x 10 cm (39.5 x 4")

I attached the strap to either side of the bottom bag part just before 

attaching that part to the zip. I just eye-balled where to put the 

strap.

Then I just followed my tutorial to make the bag, stitching the 

insulation layer to the outer bag part.


I'm really happy with how the bag turned out.

I even found a zip in my stash that was nice and strong and had 

two zip pulls on it!


And of course my daughters have already tried to claim it for 

themselves...

But this one I'm keeping for use as a family!


What do you think?




There are over 100 more free sewing tutorials for all sewing levels and abilities on 








41 comments:

  1. This is fantastic Jill, what a great idea!! Love how you have repurposed the car windscreen shade and packing materials! Great fabric too!

    Michelle :o)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Michelle - I think that's finally the last of my car windscreen shade stash! (I've had it for about 5 years!!)

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  2. So cute!!! Absolutely awesome.

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    1. Thanks Niki! I'm really pleased with it - it turned out just as I imagined!

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  3. You are SO clever!!!! A wonderful addition to a picnic blanket!

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  4. I love this design for a picnic tote!! I've linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-insulated-picnic-bag/2013/08/27/

    --Anne

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  5. WOW, I love this project...and Sept is Sewing month! :) This post is so amazing I hope you would be willing to stop by and share it at a weekly link party that I co-host with 3 other amazing bloggers called, "The Project Stash". It goes lives tomorrow at 8:00 pm eastern time!

    Have a fabulous day!

    Marilyn
    www.4you-withlove.com

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! I'd love to link up to your party! Thanks for the invite.

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  6. Oh my goodness. I had to pin this. I could make bags to hold certain lunch boxes.

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  7. Very clever bag and even more clever reuse of pool items. Thanks for linking up to the Upcycled Linky Party at http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/2013/08/upcycled-linky-party-22.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Tricia! I love being able to upcycle and re-use items when I'm sewing!

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  8. Aww love this picnic bag, such a great idea :0)

    Thanks for sharing with us at Creative Mondays ...

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  9. Ingenious! You recycled so many things for this project! I love it!
    Gina @ Gina's Craft Corner

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    1. Thanks Gina! I love it when I can upcycle something in my creations!

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  10. This is so cool. I've been thinking about making something like this for my kids. Perfect for a picnic. Thank you for sharing.

    Get Your Crap Together
    Please join our Pattern Party It starts the 1st of each month

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Chelsea - and for the invite to join in your Pattern Party - I'll come on over and link up!

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  11. Fabulous idea! I love that you used recycled items instead of buying special insulation to go inside! Thanks for linking up at Whatever Goes Wednesday. We'll be featuring this over at Someday Crafts tomorrow :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Miranda! So excited to be featured - thank you, thank you!!!!

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  12. I love this! Thanks for the idea!

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  13. Great idea! Don't forget to link up to The DIY'ers. http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-diyers-27.html

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  14. Delightful. Thanks for sharing on BeColorful.
    p

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  15. Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing. I love the separate drawstring compartment.

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  16. Hi Jill. this is really terrific and a great item for all those awkward, tall, hard to fit items standard insulated bags don't cater for. Thanks so much for linking up Thriving on Thursday. I'm featuring this at tomorrow's party.

    Anne xx

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  17. Thanks for the invite Rhonda. I just went over and linked up!

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  18. Thanks for the invite Rhonda. I just went over and linked up!

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  19. You were featured! Swing by, check it out and link up another upcycled project http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/2013/09/upcycled-linky-party-23.html. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. Nicely done Jill. Of course I love how you have upcycled so many items to create this great bag.

    Cindy @ Upcycled Design Lab

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