DIY: Mesh Produce Bag

I've been seeing a lot of adorable produce bags around (I love a good bag!) 

and decided to make one of my own. 

I used an old football jersey for the mesh but you can just as
easily go to a fabric store and pick some up by the yardage. 1/4 yd will make 2 bags at least.

You will also need a length of rope or ribbon (to cinch bag) about  30 inches long.

As you can see, I didn't have a fat quarter, only yardage, so I measured and cut out the fabric.

You'll need a rectangle of mesh 7.5x18 for one bag.

Cut your fat quarter into the sizes shown (cut two 4" strips off the 18" side) 

so you end up with 4 pieces.

Start by sewing(zigzag) one of the strips(right side in) to the mesh,
matching up the 18" sides. Stitch with the mesh side up to avoid 
catching it on your machine. Repeat with the other side of your
mesh and your second 4x18 strip, right side to mesh again.

After you've sewn both strips, press your seams toward the fabric
and topstitch the seam down. This prevents you from seeing the
through the mesh after you've finished.

 Once this step is done, sew it to the 18x14 piece(right sides together). 

Your edges should line up. After that, and while the bag is still inside out,

pin and stitch together one of the edges so you create a pocket.

Return your pieces to right sides out and at the opposite end
you sewn shut, fold down about 1.5-2 inches. Sew this seam shut
all the way around, beginning and ending right before one of the
side seams.

Pull open that seam above where you created the pocket for your
drawstring and if you'd like, hand stitch the sides
(to keep from seeing the raw edge).

A trick I learned in a sewing class was adding a safety pin or
a paperclip to the end of a string will help you to push
it through the pocket in your bag.

Push your rope all the way through, making sure to keep track
of the other end so it doesnt get pulled through also.

Even out the ends of your drawstring and add a knot to keep
them from slipping out.

Iron it flat and your bag is finished!