Crafting with Chip Bags

A few years ago, a good friend asked me to make him a wallet.  He was a mailman, thus subjected to the elements daily and wanted a sturdy one that would last, possibly out of Tyvek material.  I didn't have Tyvek material but I did have a whole stack of potato chip bags that I was saving.  I also had a roll of heavy duty clear vinyl nearby.  The idea for the potato chip bag wallets was then born!    These wallets are one of my most surprisingly popular items.  

I thought it would be interesting to show how those wallets are made.  Without further ado, here is an inside look on how they come to be.  

First, each bag is thoroughly washed with soap and water, just like a regular dish.   I squirt a little soap in and fill them with water.

Next, I scrub out any leftover grease/crumbs, and rinse the bag out.  

I then cut along the bottom and down the right-hand side of the bag for easier drying and pat it dry.  This cuts down the drying time and the bag dries completely.  

Once the bag is fully dry, I cut out the panel and pocket pieces, per my special and secret pattern.   The pieces are then sewn into vinyl and the wallet is sewn together.  

These bags can be hard to sew with many machines because of the heavy vinyl.   My Brother machine will gladly sew them, but my vintage Singer will not.  The stitching is always loose and off on the Singer machine.   If you decide to make one of these bags, try a few machines for the best result (or just order from me! :))