How to Make a Reusable Sandwich Wrap
March 26th, 2009 in sewing, other crafts, patterns & designs, books & moreMake lunch, not trash! These fun, functional sandwich wraps give you a reusable alternative to plastic baggies, plus they are a snap to make. After each use, they can be wiped clean with a damp cloth or tossed in with the rest of the laundry.
Check out Sewing Green for my Lunch Tote and Water Bottle Sling projects. Click here for sneak peeks inside the book! You can also keep up with me and Sewing Green on my blog here.
What you’ll need:
- 1/3 yard of 45-inch-wide woven polyurethane laminated fabric (PUL; see note below)
- 1-inch length of 3/4-inch-wide Velcro tape
- Thread in a coordinating color
- Fabric shears
- Ruler
Note: PUL refers to any fabric that has been laminated with polyurethane on one side to make it waterproof. These fabrics are often found at websites that sell fabric cuts for making diaper covers (such as www.diapercuts.com) as well as some larger chain fabric stores. One 20-inch x 21-inch “diaper cut” is enough to make one sandwich wrap.
1. Cut the pieces.
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Using the templates provided, cut one main wrap and two flaps from PUL. |
2. Hem the edges.
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Beginning with the main wrap, with the wrong (coated) side facing up, fold 1/4 inch on one of the short, angled edges to the wrong side, and topstitch the fold 3/16 inch from the edge. |
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Then fold the five other short edges 1/4 inch to the wrong side, and topstitch the fold 3/16 inch from the edge, leaving the two remaining long sides unhemmed. |
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For each rectangular flap piece, hem two short sides and one long side in the same way. |
3. Attach the flaps.
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With right sides together, align and pin the unhemmed edge of one flap with one of the main wrap’s two unhemmed edges, centering the edge on the flap. |
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Join the two with a 1/4-inch seam.
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Tip: If the laminated surface is causing the presser foot to stick and not move smoothly, cover the fabric surface with a piece of tissue paper while sewing. Tear the tissue away after seaming. |
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Fold the flap to the wrong side of the main wrap, so the wrong sides of the two pieces face together. Finger-press the fold, and topstitch the folded flap 3/16 inch from the edge of the fold, encasing the seam allowances inside the fold. |
Repeat the process for the second flap and the main wrap’s other unhemmed edge.
Note: Since the side of the main wrap is a little longer than the flap’s side, you will be hemming the last 1/2 inch of the main wrap’s unhemmed edge as you topstitch the flap 3/16 inch from the edge.
4. Attach the Velcro tape.
Separate the hook side from the loop side of the 1-inch piece of Velcro tape, and pin one piece to the wrong side at one end of the main wrap, following the placement noted on the pattern.
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Topstitch around the perimeter of the tape, then stitch diagonally across the tape in both directions to create an X in the center. |
Place the remaining tape half on the other end of the main wrap on the right side, topstitch around the perimeter of the tape, then stitch diagonally across the tape to create an X in the center.
5. Flap, wrap, and go!
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Lift the flaps. Place your sandwich in the center of the main wrap, and allow the flaps to overlap on top. Fold in the sides, and secure with the Velcro closure. |
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Done! |
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
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Comments (70)
Posted: 9:48 pm on October 21st
Posted: 11:35 am on October 19th
Can anyone explain why oil cloth can't be used on this project? I read on an oil cloth website that you can use it with food if the person is over 3 yrs old? That seems so odd. It has PVC in it right? I would use "confused" as my screen name but it might be taken....
thanks!
Posted: 5:38 pm on September 21st
What about using a tightly woven unbleached cotton for a liner? Make a few and wash after use. What about nylon fabric for the liner?
Every step we take makes a difference!
Posted: 10:03 pm on September 9th
Would LOVE to win the book!
Posted: 2:09 pm on September 7th
Obviously this is a topic that many people are passionate about! If you are wary of PUL or other plastics, please don't use them. Scan the comments on this post for other creative solutions that readers have left. I feel that the PUL manufacturers state that PUL is not certified as food safe because they have not had the FDA test it for food safety. Personally, vinyl (modern oilcloth) scares the beegeebers out of me due to the hype about lead, yet some folks are happy to use it.
This project was meant to be helpful and create less waste on a daily basis. I hope, as with any project, you make it work for you and tailor it to your own familly's needs and desires.
Posted: 11:25 am on August 30th
Posted: 12:29 am on August 27th
KittyF blogged some really good ideas for rectifying this dilemma. Although oilcloth can be found in some fabric shops, and there are lots of online sites that offer some pretty choices, Kitty's suggestion for recycling the inside bags to cereal boxes is superb!
Another idea would be to use a tiny bit of fusible webbing to secure the coated paper within the wrap. The paper can be removed when worn out or when the wrap needs to be washed, then another sheet can be easily replaced with another bit of fusible webbing. If you don't eat that much cereal, a sheet of coated parchment paper can be used over and over again for this project.
I love to bring real silverware and napkins to work because it's kind of medatative to quiet down even a quick lunch aa one is surrounded by the colors, textures and warmth of "home". These wraps also serve that purpose by doubling as an inviting placemat. Such a cool idea!
Posted: 12:21 am on August 27th
However, if you have to use plastic, why not just stitch a recycled Cereal box liner into your project. OR, use silk. it's washable, fairly cheap, and boy does it prevent air from moving through it. should keep a sandwich from drying out til lunch time. LOL
Well I gotta say, I love the idea as far as it goes, but I think it needs a bit of thought to make it fit YOUR lifestyle and values. FWIW, kitty
Posted: 10:45 pm on August 26th
"Polyethylene does not contain BPA and has proven to be a benign plastic"
Thus far NOT sure why fabrite is saying their fabric is not food safe. Liability reasons? It may be easier to just state that it's not food safe than to pay legal costs if someone decided to sue them. Like most plastics, it may emit toxic chemicals when heated in the microwave?
Polyethylene is on highchairs and other infant feeding seats and many feed children right off of the high chair tray.
Who is to say that the sandwich bags we use everyday are safer?
www.junktique.etsy.com
Posted: 10:33 pm on August 26th
If you are sure PUL is food safe, I'd love to find out if you can prove that it is. I've been searching all of the place to find out if they are. I am trying to make food safe bags with PUL but gave up on the project because I couldn't get anyone to confirm that it is. Even Betz e-mailed me and said she doesn't know if it is for sure.
I made bags with PUL side away from the food just to be sure for personal use.
Posted: 9:14 pm on August 26th
Posted: 3:14 pm on August 26th
LOVE you Betz! Sharon
Posted: 3:09 pm on August 26th
Posted: 2:44 pm on August 26th
I just put on my velcro tape, but when I tried to sew it my needle got all sticky in the tape. o_O
For now I'll just leave the velcro on un-sewn, but do you have any thoughts?
Posted: 8:08 pm on August 20th
Thanks! Hope I win.
All the best, Maggie
Posted: 8:59 pm on June 24th
Posted: 1:08 am on June 8th
Your project is gorgeous.
Posted: 2:57 pm on May 22nd
adjustable baby sling
Posted: 4:12 pm on May 18th
Posted: 2:28 am on May 3rd
And congratulations on your new book! ;)
Posted: 10:50 am on April 23rd
Posted: 8:23 am on April 23rd
Posted: 1:35 pm on April 22nd
Posted: 7:22 am on April 22nd
Posted: 3:26 pm on April 17th
find PUL prints that are more for babies. Any idea where to find adult style print PUL?
Posted: 1:31 pm on April 12th
I remember having my sandwiches in plain paper bags when I was a schoolgirl. They didn't go stale in the few hours between being made in the morning and lunchtime.
Posted: 3:48 am on April 12th
Posted: 9:28 am on April 4th
Posted: 5:19 pm on April 2nd
Posted: 2:11 pm on April 2nd
I'm putting on my thinking cap - we have a yearly family picnic - what a hit this will make showing up this wonderful idea.
Thanks, Terry D.
Posted: 6:58 pm on March 31st
Posted: 10:54 pm on March 29th
Betz here...thanks so much for all of your comments! I will try to answer most of your questions here. Please visit my blog post on packing waste-free lunches at
http://blog.betzwhite.com/2009/03/reusable-sandwich-wrap-tutorial.html
1) Freshness: This keeps PUL wrap keeps sandwiches fresh because of the laminate coating.
2) Food Safety: In my research, I have found that vinyl (modern oilcloth and iron on laminate, etc) is not rated as food safe. I have read that PUL is regarded as food safe as the plastic used in lunch baggies. Waxed cloth and true old fashioned oil cloth would also be food safe, but I have not tried making these finishes myself. Finally, you could make these with plain uncoated fabric, but I am not sure if the bread would get stale.
3) Resources: I apologize about the shop I linked to, I didn't realize that is was not currently taking orders. Check www.acutabovefabrics.com sells PUL and I have found shops on eBay as well. Make sure it is cotton PUL.
If you have any other questions, please visit my blog and leave a comment there as I am more likely to see it. :)
http://blog.betzwhite.com/2009/03/reusable-sandwich-wrap-tutorial.html
I hope you enjoyed this peek into my book!
Thank you,
Betz
Posted: 9:02 pm on March 29th
Posted: 3:53 pm on March 29th
Posted: 3:51 pm on March 29th
Posted: 3:41 pm on March 29th
Posted: 12:39 pm on March 29th
Posted: 10:41 am on March 29th
Posted: 7:34 am on March 29th
She melted wax, either parafin or beeswax. When the wax was hot enough to be very thin and watery, she would put the cotton cloth in the wax. Leave it long enough to absorb the wax and pull it out. She then hung the cloth until cool. The fully cooled cloth would be stiff. Holding the cloth over a basin to catch the wax, she would crumple and twist the cloth until all the excess wax came out.
When she was done, the cloth had a heavier, waxy feel, but was soft, waterproof, and washable. Washing with a mild soap in cool water maintained the waterproof qualities much longer. When the wax finally does wash out, just process the cloth again.
It would be easy enough to make some of these wraps, dip them in wax, work the excess wax out, and use them to your heart's delight.
Posted: 12:59 am on March 29th
This goes on my Christmas gift list along with reusable hot drink cup cosies.
Posted: 12:00 am on March 29th
Posted: 11:14 pm on March 28th
Posted: 10:30 pm on March 28th
I hope this can be introduced to the classes as this is one idea that the children will remember and why they are making this as well.
Thank you for spreading the word about going "green"
Carebear2
Posted: 9:34 pm on March 28th
Posted: 9:28 pm on March 28th
Posted: 8:48 pm on March 28th
Posted: 5:34 pm on March 28th
Posted: 4:09 pm on March 28th
Posted: 4:07 pm on March 28th
Posted: 1:20 pm on March 28th
Posted: 11:51 am on March 28th
I love these. Time to learn how to use that sewing machine my MIL gave me!
Posted: 11:09 am on March 28th
Posted: 10:56 am on March 28th
Posted: 10:13 am on March 28th
At home we no longer use paper napkins but have a stack of about 25 napkins or so that we cycle through like our socks.
The sandwich wrap is very cute.Thanks so much for the instructions. I'm going to make a set of five one for each day of the week which will all go in the laundry over the weekend to be fresh and ready for Monday again. I'll be happy not to buy so many plastic sandwich bags.
Posted: 9:42 am on March 28th
Does anyone know what the first comment asked - if the PUL is food-safe?
Posted: 9:04 am on March 28th
Posted: 8:54 am on March 28th
Thank you!
Posted: 8:47 am on March 28th
Posted: 7:59 am on March 28th
I'm not a fan of velcro, especially for any situation where breadcrumbs could end up getting caught up in it. If I were doing this I might make a button and loop, or tie fastening.
But what fun - and you could open the sandwich wrap and use it like a little placemat which is nice in some situations where the table tops may not be fabulously clean.
Robyn Coburn
Posted: 5:36 am on March 28th
Posted: 2:49 am on March 28th
Posted: 10:56 pm on March 27th
Well, I'll have to try it!! I love to be eco-friendly.
Posted: 10:24 pm on March 27th
I'll make it for my scout camps!!!
Posted: 5:31 pm on March 27th
Posted: 9:10 am on March 27th
Posted: 4:45 am on March 27th
Posted: 1:31 am on March 27th
Posted: 5:55 pm on March 26th
Posted: 3:06 pm on March 26th
Love the pink polka dots and stripes fabric. :)
Posted: 1:55 pm on March 26th