Step One: Cut a feed sack about 20 inches from the top, preserving as much of the design as you like. Step Two: Measure and cut a rectangular bottom from the left over piece of feed sack and pin it in place. Step Three: Stitch the bottom all the way around; to improve rigidity, cut a piece of stiff cardboard to fit into the bottom of the bag. Step Four: With the bag still inside out, fold back the top 5 inches. Step Five: Fold the top again to create a 2-1/2 inch hem and stitch it down. Step Six: From a second feed sack cut a 2-inch strip along one fold (unfolded, the strip will be 4 inches wide by 32 inches long). Step Seven: Fold in the two outside edges to create a 1 inch wide strap, and stitch along both sides. Step Eight: Cut the strap in half. With the bag right side out, sew on the two halves for handles.

Making a reusable shopping bag from a polywoven feed sack takes about an hour. Begin by cutting off the bottom of the feed sack, giving you an open ended bag body measuring about 20 inches high, depending on how you want the design centered on the finished bag.

Set your sewing machine for long stitches, no fewer than about 8 per inch (#8 on the stitch adjuster). You may also need to adjust your tension. A polywoven feed sack is pretty stiff; sewing one takes some getting used to.

The bottom of your bag will come from the cut-off bottom of the original feed sack. Pull the string from the sack bottom (with the bottom between your knees, stitched side upward, and the label to your right, pick at the strings on both sides until they pull free). Cut open the sack bottom at the seam along the back, then measure and cut a rectangular piece for the bottom of your bag.

To determine the size, measure the front of your bag from corner fold to corner fold and add one inch. Then measure the side from corner to corner and add one inch. Cut a rectangle of those two dimensions. For a 50 pound sack of Purina Layena, the measurement would be 16 inches by 6-1/2 inches. To help you cut this piece straight, follow the weave visible on the reverse (not printed) side.

Turn the bag inside out and pin the bottom along the front and back (long sides), using the feed sack's original folds as a guide for the corners; then pin the sides and stitch the bottom all the way around. If you want to be fancy and create a boxier bottom, you could instead pin and stitch the bottom from the outside of the bag (rightside out), then bind off the seam with double-fold bias tape.

A rigid bottom will make your shopping bag less saggy. Cut a piece of sturdy cardboard a little smaller than the bottom of your bag; for this project the cardboard would be about 14 inches by 5 inches. Use the cardboard as is, or make it moisture resistant by covering it with a scrap cut from the left-over part of the feed sack, taped in place with shipping tape or duct tape.

With the bag still inside out, fold over the top 5 inches, then fold it under to create a 2-1/2 inch hem at the top, and stitch it down. The double layer will give you a sturdy base for stitching on the handles.

For handles you could use nylon or polyester webbing from a defunct backpack, or purchase webbing (also called belting) from a harness shop, or purchase webbing or wide twill tape at a fabric outlet. If you have a piece long enough (about 8 feet), sew it together to make a continous loop and use it like a sling to support the bottom of your bag. Sew the handles at the top, as far as your sewing machine will reach, then hand stitch or spot tack the rest of the way around.

If you don't have anything handy to repurpose for handles, and you don't feel like spending money to buy something, make your handles from a second feed sack. Pull the bottom strings from the second sack and cut a 2-inch strip along one fold (giving you a strip that, when unfolded, is 4 inches wide and 32 inches long). Fold the two outside edges to the inside and sew along both edges, ending up with a 1 inch wide, 32 inch long strap. Cut the strap in half and, with the bag turned rightside out, sew on the two halves for handles.

You now have an attractive, roomy, sturdy bag to hold groceries, poultry supplies, fireplace kindling, or anything else you might want to carry around.