Weekly DIY Roundup: Reusable Shopping Bags!
Back in February there was a Threadheads episode all about reusable shopping bags, but I think it's always a great topic to revisit, and I've just discovered a new idea I want to share. Turn your old tank tops into shopping bags with a couple super easy steps! Anitra of the Coffee Pot People blog made up this tutorial, and then I made one sideways so the strap holes are centered and it works fabulously!
Another great recycled tote bag project was in Readymade magazine awhile back - this one uses old rain jackets for a great durable, waterproof shopping sack.
For a basic sewing pattern to use any fabric, check out morsbags, which has downloadable pdf and doc files, as well as a how-to animation. Morsbags encourages "sociable guerilla bagging" - make a bunch of simple bags with your crafty buddies, and give them to shoppers to help them avoid using plastic!
There are tons of great knit/crochet bag patterns out there, like the knit Saturday Market Bag by Jodie Danenberg:
And Elisa's Nest Tote on purlbee.com, knit pattern by Elisa of the 2nd Floor blog:
Amy Singer, editor of Knitty online knitting magazine designed the fantastic Everlasting Bagstopper:
And Lion Brand has a free pattern for their Eco-Friendly Expandable Shopping Bag:
For you crochet lovers, Haley Waxberg wrote patterns for two crochet net bags, the bigger Eco Warrior bag, and then the smaller version for quicker trips.
If you want to really go all out saving plastic bags from killing the earth, try making a knit or crochet bag using plastic bag yarn! The gooseflesh blog has a tutorial for my favorite way of making plastic yarn. And Victoria Woodcock has a knit bag pattern on allfreecrafts.com.
And Cindy of My Recycled Bags has a pattern for a crochet market bag:
If you need more ideas, tipnut.com has a list of 35 reusable grocery bags - sewing, knit and crochet. And I'm sure there are tons more out there, I just wanted to give you a variety of my favorites. Have fun making yourself some bags, and when you forget to bring your reusable bag and are stuck with plastic, save them to either knit/crochet with or fuse+sew them, as explained in this great Etsy Labs tutorial.
Have fun, and share more ideas in the comments!
recycle, sew, green, crochet, knit, bags, reusable, totes, plastic
There a lots of different styles of reusable bags. Check out www.YouShouldGoGreen.com for cotton, hemp, and nylon bags, and also biodegradable plastic bags for use in the home! This site has great prices and awesome service!
There is another one on my site! Tipping my hat to the ever classic hobby of quilting!
Some of my favorites:
* Singlet Style Shopping Bag
* Wallet-Sized Fold-Up Re-Usable Shopping Bag
* < a href="http://www.chicaandjo.com/2008/03/21/make-your-own-reusable-shopping-bags/
">Make your own reusable shopping bags
* < a href="http://www.thecreativethimble.com/Downloads.html">Let's Go "Green" Fabric Grocery Bag
I just use those sports ball nets for holding stuff!
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ol-images/sf/uploads/11-16-market%20bag1.jpg
looks kinda like that, but just all tan.
I really love these ideas!! For people who don't want to make their own reusable shopping bags, and need something small, light and inexpensive, check out chico bags (http://www.greenfeet.com/ItemMatrix.asp?GroupCode=6012-00145&MatrixType=1&utm_source=gf-google&utm_medium=sse&utm_term=REUSE_SHOP_BAG&utm_campaign=6012-00145&utm_campaign=ChicoBag-Reusable-Sh). They are only $5 and fold up into the size of a golf ball! They are great and to carry around in your purse because you'll never know when you need a bag on hand!