Reduce waste by learning how to sew a bento bag using three square handkerchiefs sewn together, three quilt squares, or any scraps to create a stylish and reusable bag.
It’s no secret that our world is full of waste. Plastic bags are generated for one-time use, then left in landfills to exist forever. Fabric trash is a generally unknown yet unfathomable source of waste; tons of fabric are tossed annually, unused, as “deadstock.” Even the gift-wrap industry is a study in strange modernity, with high-gloss, extensively produced papers created for the sole purpose of being torn up and thrown away.
So, what’s one tiny way you can take a stand against such needless waste? By making your own bento bag, of course! These easy-to-sew, easy-to-use bags can be made by hand or by machine, and they’re an excellent way to end plastic use, save fabric from the landfill, and do away with paper gift wrap – a personal vendetta, admittedly, but one I welcome you to join me in!
Flexible Fabric
The word “bentō” refers to the Japanese tradition of packing ready-to-eat meals in organized containers. This quick project is a study in elegant simplicity – by merely running two lines of stitches along two edges, you’ll almost instantly transform a rectangle of fabric into a sturdy and useful reusable bag.
The fabric I used was 14 by 42 inches, but you can customize the size as long as you keep it in the same proportions. The sewing for this project is minimal, so it’s a great option for some peaceful hand-sewing. Be creative with your fabric choices! You can use three square handkerchiefs sewn together, three quilt squares, or any sort of scraps you’d like. This is a great way to use up odds and ends from earlier projects. (Match your fabric with its intended use. A loose-weave linen will be good for a foldable shopping bag, but if you want to keep muffins or other baked goods fresh, choose a tighter weave or a double-layer quilting cotton. – Mother)
Before you begin, prepare your piece of fabric. If you’re working with unhemmed cloth, add a 1/2-inch seam allowance to your final desired dimensions, and hem accordingly. Alternatively, you can omit the seam allowance and use a machine satin stitch around the perimeter for a rustic look.
Beautiful Bento Bags
- Divide the cloth into three equal squares, using a pencil or tailor’s chalk. Lightly mark the fabric’s “right” side, so you can keep track of your measurements.
- With the right side of the fabric facing up, fold the first square (labeled A) completely over the square to its right (labeled B). Referencing the same labeled image above, sew from Point 1 to Point 2.
- Fold the first square (A) back over itself diagonally, matching the tip of the free edge to Point 2.
- Fold the third square to the left so it covers the folded squares A and B. Sew from Point 6 to Point 5.
- Holding Points 3 and 4, flip the bag right side out. Don’t worry if the bag doesn’t line up perfectly on your first try – my first one didn’t, and it still functions fine.
- 6 To use the bag, fill it and tie the top two tails with a double knot, which will also function as a makeshift handle. Simple, functional, and beautiful.
Multipurpose Simplicity
Bento bags are great for wrapping up loaves of bread, eliminating any need for plastic wrap to keep your loaves fresh. They’re also a handy way to transport your lunch, fruit, toys, or a gift. Supersize the bag, and you can even turn it into a reusable shopping bag. The more bags you make, the more uses you’ll think up for them. Happy sewing!
Wren Everett and her husband live off-grid in the Ozarks in a home they built with their own hands. They try to grow as much of their own food as possible and rediscover the old skills of self-sufficiency.
Originally published in the June/July 2025 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and regularly vetted for accuracy.
