Okay, so I wanted to try making a waterproof tote bag. Seemed simple enough, right? I mean, how hard could it be?
First off, I grabbed some waterproof fabric I had lying around. It’s this thick, kinda rubbery stuff, salvaged from an old inflatable raft. Figured it would do the trick. I unfolded it on the floor, and immediately my cat decided it was the perfect nap spot. Had to shoo him off like five times. That alone took about half an hour.
Next, the cutting. I used an old tote bag I already had as a template. Laid it out flat on the fabric and traced around it with a Sharpie. Looked pretty good, except the Sharpie bled a little on the fabric. Oh well, adds character, right?
Then came the actual cutting. This fabric was tough! My regular scissors just weren’t cutting it (pun intended!). Had to dig out my heavy-duty fabric shears. Even then, it was a struggle. My hand was cramping up like crazy. Cut out two pieces for the body of the bag and two long strips for the handles. They were all a little wonky but good enough.
Okay, sewing time. My sewing machine is an old beast, a hand-me-down from my grandma. It’s reliable, but it hates thick fabrics. I threaded it up with some heavy-duty thread and started on the sides of the bag. The needle kept skipping stitches! I messed around with the tension for ages, and it got a little better, but not perfect. Definitely some dodgy stitching going on. And this waterproof fabric does not like being pinned! The holes are super visible.
I managed to get the sides sewn up, creating the main body of the bag. It looked… okay. A little lumpy, a little uneven, but definitely tote-bag-shaped. Then I tried to sew the bottom. That was even harder! The layers of fabric were so thick that the machine was really struggling. I ended up having to hand-crank the machine for some of it. My arms are killing me!
Next up, the handles. I folded the strips in half lengthwise and sewed them up. They ended up being a little too short, but I was too lazy to make new ones. I sewed them onto the top of the bag, reinforcing the stitching a few times to make sure they wouldn’t rip off. Fingers crossed!
Finally, the moment of truth: testing the waterproofness. I took the bag outside and ran it under the hose. Water beaded up on the fabric, which was great! But then I noticed water seeping through the seams. Damn it! I should’ve known. I guess waterproof fabric doesn’t equal waterproof bag.
To (try to) fix this, I grabbed some seam sealer I use for camping gear and applied it to all the inside seams. It’s messy stuff, kinda like thick glue. I let it dry overnight.
The next day, I tested it again. Much better! Only a tiny bit of seepage this time. Not perfect, but good enough for carrying wet towels from the pool or some groceries in the rain.
Final Thoughts
- This project was way harder than I thought it would be.
- Waterproof fabric is a pain to work with.
- My sewing skills need improvement.
- Seam sealer is my new best friend.
Would I make another waterproof tote bag? Probably not. Unless I had a much better sewing machine and a lot more patience. But hey, at least I have a kinda-sorta waterproof bag now. And it’s definitely unique!
Oh, and the cat loves sleeping in it, even if it’s a bit damp.
