The fast paced lives we lead can take a toll on our wallets and the environment. We prefer to forgo the traditional fast food lunch and those wasteful disposable containers for healthy, homemade options in reusable containers. So with the motto of “reuse & recycle” I made a few sandwich wrappers for our lunch box or to tuck into the tote during a busy day on the run. And to think, I made the wrappers from remnant materials I had on hand and a wee bit of time.
Reusable sandwich wrapper & 2 snack- fruit baggies
Materials:
- remnant fabrics
- sew-able Velcro® cut into 1 inch and 2 inch strips.
- sewing pins
- ruler
- fabric pencil
- scissors
- sewing machine & supplies
- sewing pattern…meh, you don’t need one!
1. Choose two fabrics from the remnant box that are 13 x 13 inches or larger in size. I wanted a material that was microwave reheatable. (You can choose to use a plastic or plastic-like material which would make it leak-proof). I chose a weaved fabric for flare on the outer shell and a smooth fabric for the inner lining that will face the sandwich, and not stick to the sandwich.
outer layer
2. Measure your fabric to 13 inches in width and 13 inches in length and mark with pencil to cut each remnant into 13 inch squares. (Next go around, you may want to go larger i.e. 14 inch squares up to 16 inch squares for adult use.) Fold your square from one corner to the other and you should have a perfect triangle. If not, just do some trimming. Do this with both fabrics.
3. Place the fabrics right sides together (printed sides facing each other, dull sides facing out) and pin 1 inch from the edge.
inner layer
For the octagonal shape, snip off the corners in a diagonal cut between 1-1/2 to 2 inches from the corner’s tip. Mark one corner with the pencil to leave open, do not sew completely shut. This will later become your wrapper top. Now you’re ready to sew!
4. Sew your fabric pieces together along the edge starting at the right side of the opening. Since I used a weaved, fraying fabric, I preferred to sew about 1/4 inch from the edge using a 1-1/2 size zigzag stitch set on the machine.
Sew around the edge, pivoting at each corner for crisp corners, until you reach the beginning edge of the opening.
5. Turn your fabric right sides out and use a skinny dowel rod or pencil to assist pushing the corners inside out. Press wrap with a warm iron.
6. Fold in the edge of the opening to align with the sewn fabric’s edging and press. Sew the fabric edge shut.
7. To add the Velcro®, fold the wrapper like so… (See the placement & the white stitch lines on the velcro.*)
Use something the size and shape of a sandwich if it’s easier for you to fold. Now mark the placement of the Velcro®. Pin the 1 inch strip to the underside of the upper flap. Place the 2 inch strip to the top side of the lower, middle flap. Sew strips in place, a square and diagonal sewing lines make it easier to sew and much more resistant to tugging.*
That’s it, you now have a reusable, microwave-reheatable sandwich wrapper! As a bonus, the wrapper can double as a place mat for quick cleanup.
And for those who are sewing challenged, I’ll let you know when we place them in our future online store.
Next time, the snack-fruit baggies. 
Note: If my instructions are not clear, please feel free to let me know so I can update for clarity.
