DIY: Reusable cotton tea bags
Here's a project I've loved making and which I think will appeal to all loose tea lovers. We all know that industrial tea bags aren't always good for the environment, or for our health, because of their sometimes dubious ingredients. So today, let's get out the needle and thread and get sewing to create your very own reusable tea bag! It's quite rewarding to make them yourself, and the result is both useful and cute. What's more, it makes an original, simple and thoughtful little gift.
A little tip: to avoid chemical infusions, choose an organic fabric.
Material
For 1 bag:
2 pieces of 10×12 cm cotton fabric
1 large needle
string
a pair of scissors
a sewing machine
or
a fine needle and light thread
a bell
Manufacturing
1. Start by cutting out two 10 cm x 12 cm fabric rectangles. Plunge them into boiling water for a few minutes to clean and sterilize them. Leave to dry completely.
2. Fold an edge of 10 cm by 1 cm onto each rectangle, then sew a straight seam, leaving enough room to pass the string later.
3. Thread the string through the needle, then insert it into the sewn fold of one of the rectangles.
4. Thread the string through the fold of the second rectangle, making sure that the fold runs in the same direction as the first rectangle.
5. Place the two fabrics against each other, fold against fold, then pass the string a second time through the fold of the first rectangle to join them together.
6. Remove the needle, then gently pull on both ends of the string to check that the closure is working properly. It should tighten to form pleats.
7. Loosen the opening, then place the two fabrics together, aligning the edges. Sew the three sides together, leaving a small margin to prevent fraying.
8. Turn your fabric inside out so that the folds of the opening are inside out and therefore visible. Sew all around again, leaving a slightly wider margin.
9. Turn your fabric over one last time. You shouldn't see any seams on the sides now.
10. Finally, tie a bell to the end of the string to secure the bag.If you don't have a bell, other ideas like a small bread apple, a cinnamon stick, half a slice of dried orange, an acorn or an aniseed star work just as well.
Maintenance
After use, rinse the bag quickly to remove any tea residue. Leave to air-dry on a clean surface. You can store the bag in a glass jar or airtight tin.
