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Looking for a way to stand out in the lunchroom crowd? I’ve been seeing a lot of blog posts lately featuring bento bags, cute little lunch sacks that tie shut from the top. Bento bags are Japanese in origin, inspired by the fascinating art of Furoshiki. Similar projects are used to wrap gifts and to hold or transport things in and around the home – in the most beautiful way possible!
When I started scoping out bento bag patterns I noticed that they mostly started off with a small square of fabric. While you can totally cut fabric to size using one of the many fabulous bento bag patterns floating around online (this one is my favorite) I thought it might be fun to use a bandana instead!
I used bandanas with a classic print for this project, but if you poke around your local craft shop you are likely to find tons of different patterns, prints, and colors to choose from. If you prefer a different type of fabric, you can purchase 1 1/2 yards of any fabric you like and cut two 22-inch squares from it.
These pretty little totes are perfect for transporting bagged lunches. They’ll easily fit a small re-usable food container, a wrapped sandwich, or an as-is meal solution, like MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls. These super convenient frozen meals are a delicious way to enjoy veggie-cuisine on the go, making them a great choice for work or school day meals or quick lunches.
Morningstar Veggie Bowls come in a variety of flavors, each packed with vegetables and plant-based proteins that are 100% vegan, and boast an impressive 23g protein for every 150 calories. These super convenient meals make eating veggie-focused cuisine quick, easy, and tasty for vegans and omnivores alike. Find great green inspiration from Morningstar shoppers and bloggers at My Way to Veg.
Now on to the project!
DIY Bandana Bento Bags {Craft Tutorial}
Makes one Bento Bag
You’ll Need
- 2 Standard size (22″ x 22″) bandanas
- Matching thread
- Ruler or Tape Measure
Directions
- Fold one bandana in half, forming a triangle. If you have an iron handy, press the fabric to smooth it out and match the edges as well as possible. If the edges don’t line up perfectly, don’t sweat it. Just line everything up as best you can. Pin two open edges, then stitch both open edges closes, with the exception of 1 3-inch opening which will be used to turn out the piece.
- Repeat with second bandana, then turn both pieces inside out. Place the triangles on top of each other, as pictured. Attach the two triangles together by pinning and stitching the top triangles edges to the center. Flip the piece over and repeat this step on the other side of the piece, stitching a complete square in the center of the piece.
- Fold the piece in half with the four tips of the triangles meeting. Cut the bottom right and left corners off of the bag, from about 3 inches in. Pin and stitch along left and right edges and corners, as pictured.
- Turn the bag out and press corners and edges as needed.
- Fill the bag as you like, then tie shut!
I shopped for my Morningstar Veggie Bowls at my local Walmart. Look for all the flavors of Morningstar Veggie Bowls in the freezer section of your local store: Chik’n Pot Pie, Chik’n Tikka Masala, Italian Sausage Bake, Japanese Soba Noodles, and Moroccan Medley. Follow Morningstar on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more ideas.