What's the easiest way to cut out the body of the bag?

[catscratchfever]

I have no problem cutting out the handles but the body is more time consuming. Any shortcuts? Right now I have an 18"X20" rectangle that I kind of just trace around and then cut out. Does anyone have any better ideas? I've got a lot of fabric left over from quilting and I want to make some bags for the grocery store.

Is the 18" X 20" a good size to use for the grocery store or do you guys use bigger ones?

I made 3 morsbags last year for my Neice and nephews to use for their halloween bags and they were super cute!

[Lady B]

Hi, we always cut the body of the bag in one piece, not two, save sewing one seam.. Place the template edge on the fold of fabric. Same with handles, cut a piece twice the length, sew as usual then cut in two. HOpe this helps

[Simply Sewing]

If I am using a stable fabric (like bedding or cotton curtains) I cut a nick in the edge then tear along the grain into rectangles (have a fold at the bottom or one side of the bag instead of a seam) That is quicker than cutting. Handles can be torn in long strips too, stitched, then cut into handle lengths afterwards.

[pol]

Wow - great tearing tip! Sounds strangely satisfying too...

[Butterfly]

My cutting out is never perfect. I often blame the fabric!
After I have done the first seam, I trim any extra bits off. Then you don't get any bits peekng out when you do the second seam and it hides the fact it started off a bit wonky. (It was a top tip from Lady B when she saw me sewing and was pretending I wasn't completely rubbish at it!! Thanks Lady B!! )
Hope that makes sense

[mediatinker]

I have two methods, depending on the sort of fabric I'm working with.

FOR LENGTHS OF 110cm WIDE FABRIC
Fan fold the fabric into 50 cm lengths (or 20 inches or whatever you use as your long side), using a ruler to measure. Use regular scissors to cut along the fold, holding the fabric taught with your hand so the cut is straight. Slice along all folds, then rotary cut the 45 cm short length. This gives us bag bodies and handles all in one go.

FOR DUVETS/SHEETS/CLOTHING AND OTHER ODD-SIZED FABRICS
B) Use a rotary cutter and a ruler in combination with folding to get as many bag bodies as possible. Handles are a lot easier to get than bodies (since handles are smaller), so do bodies first!