TUTORIAL REVIEW: Lunch Bag

I needed to make another lunch bag (I made one a while ago - you can see that HERE).  Of course I am always looking for new tutorials to try out.  When I came across this one by Pink Penguin, I knew this was the lucky winner....

Why?  I knew I wanted one with a drawstring top which is easy for kids to open and close....and I wanted something on the smaller side (this is for a child).  Actually, this is very similar to the one I made previously, but this one is constructed differently.

So here is my final product.....

I'm very happy with the results, and the directions were super easy to follow....although I did make some changes.....

I really wanted this bag to be insulated.  It will be sitting in a school cubby all morning so it needs to maintain a cooler temperature.  Without insulation, that wouldn't work.  So, I added a layer of insulbright to the lining (I serged them together, but you could just baste)

To accommodate the moisture that may accumulate from an ice pack, I used PUL instead of cotton or canvas for the lining.  While I wouldn't use PUL (or any type of vinyl) for something that is going to touch food, I felt perfectly fine using it for the interior of the lunch bag.  Food items will not actually touch the fabric since this was specifically made to carry a bento box and juice box.

The other change I made (obviously) was to add a little personalization.  This was done with my embroidery machine.  I kept it simple by just embroidering a piece of canvas, tucking the raw edges under and sewing it directly onto the front of the bag.

I centered it about 2" down from the top.

 

I also choose to keep the handles simple by using 1" cotton Belting.

I found this tutorial to be super easy to follow.  The directions were clear and the photos were excellent!  If you plan on using this for foods that need to be kept cold, I HIGHLY recommend making the alterations I did.  If you don't have access to PUL, you can use a laminated cotton....although PUL can be put in the washing machine and dryer - laminates cannot!

Oh, and if you are looking for the perfect accompanyiment to this bag - you should check out this awesome little Bento Box from Amazon.  It is the perfect size for little ones and keeps everything neat and tidy!

This makes a super gift, especially if you personalize it!  Have fun!