Back to School :: Secret Note Lunch bag

When I was little my mom would slip little notes in our lunch occasionally.  We usually bought school lunch, so to get a paper bag with a note in it was really special.  

In this era of reusable bags, I came up with a way to integrate a note into every day - or a great place to stash milk money and other reminders for your little ones.  The note is hidden on the inside to everyone at the lunch table doesn't have to know - in case your kid "too cool" for notes from mom.

Instructions and bad photos of step by step after the jump.

You'll need

1/4 yard waxed cotton

scrap of oil cloth (at least 2" x 3")

sewing machine

1 yard seam binding

iron

Step 1 :: Cut waxed cotton into three strips, two measuring 4" x 12" and one measuring 6" x 30"

Step 2 :: Iron largest piece of cotton into the shape of a bag - find the center and iron a crease two inches away from either side of center.

Step 3 :: Cut a piece of oil cloth to use as a pocket - I found 2"x3" works best - and stitch to one side of the large piece of fabric about four inches above the crease.

Step 4 :: Right sides together, sew two 4" wide strips of fabric to 'base' of large piece of fabric.  Iron out seams.

Step 5 :: Right sides together, sew up sides of fabric to create the bag.  Iron out seams.

Step 6 :: Fold seam binding in half and iron.  

Step 7 :: Place seam binding over the top of the bag catching the raw edge in the middle of the folded seam binding.

Step 8 :: Stitch on seam binding.

Step 9 :: Write a note, make a sandwich, place in a backpack.