AFIKOMEN BAG MADE WITH GROCERY BAG

Looking for the afikomen is the highlight of the Passover seder for kids, and with this eco-friendly craft, they’ll have a special place to put the afikomen before the grown-ups hide it! All you need is a paper grocery bag, scissors, a hole punch, yarn, and whatever you want to use to decorate it. There are endless possibilities for creativity, and it can be used year after year! This afikomen bag will surely become a family treasure for many Passovers to come!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-Paper grocery bag
-Scissors
-Hole punch
-Yarn
-Markers or paint to decorate your bag

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) Cut along the long edges of the grocery bag and also the bottom edge so that you have a single panel. It should be about 12” wide by 16.5” tall. Save the rest of the bag as you may want to use it for your decorating. And of course if you don’t use that piece, you can recycle it. (2) Fold the panel in half so that it’s about 12” wide by 8.25” tall. (3) Next, mark the spots where you will do your hole punches. Make sure that you allow enough room for the width of a standard piece of matzah, which is around seven inches. If you make your holes about a half inch in from each edge, there will be plenty of room for the afikomen. (4) Use your hole punch to punch through both layers of the bag along the right and left edges (see photo). (5) Cut a piece of yarn about 12” to 14” long — this is longer than you’ll need; however, it’s easier to lace the holes if you have a longer piece. (6) Starting on one side of the bag, put your piece of yarn through the lowest hole from the back and out to the front. Heading upward, pull the yarn a bit and put it into the next hole from front to back. Lace the yarn from back to front, and then front to back until you get to the end. Make sure that you have about an equal amount of an extra “tail” at both the beginning and the end. (7) When you have finished lacing one edge of the bag, tie a knot on each end (see photos) and then cut each “tail” close to the knot. (8) Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 on the other edge of the bag. (9) Finally, decorate your bag! You can use markers, paint, or anything you want. You can write the word “Afikomen” in English or in Hebrew and/or the word “Passover” or “Pesach.” You can also draw Passover objects such as a seder plate, cups of wine, and of course, matzah! Make sure you write your name and the year on the back, too. (10) Enjoy using your afikomen bag at your seders for years to come!