Grocery Bag with Cork Bottom Panel

Cork fabric is a unique and fun material for a variety of projects. Unlike traditional fabrics, it isn’t woven or knitted; instead, it is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, compressed into sheets. Since the edges don’t unravel, it is perfect for smaller projects like monograms and earrings.

This material is durable and water-resistant, making it ideal for bags. Cork sheets come in different sizes, colors, weights, prints, and even dye-cut designs. Nicki explains a few things to keep in mind when sewing with cork fabric, such as choosing the right needle size and using clips instead of pins.

Nicki demonstrates how to apply interfacing to the back of the cork fabric to add stability to the bag. She cuts from the edges to simplify boxing the corners of the lower panel.

Nicki shows how to finish the upper edges of the canvas panels and attach webbing straps. She uses French seams to stitch the canvas panels together, ensuring a clean inside finish. Afterward, she sews the canvas panels to the cork panel, trims the seam allowances, and topstitches to enclose all fabric seams.

The final bag is both durable and water-resistant on the bottom panel, making it a great option for beach or grocery bags.