Did you know that worldwide, over 1 million plastic bags are consumed every minute? And that in the UK alone, over 10 million bags are consumed in a year. Most are not biodegradable and take years and years to degrade in landfill sites. Worst of all, marine and other wildlife can mistake the plastic bags for food, then suffocate. Just ONE recyclable (home made) shopper will save around 80 plastic bags being used. Imagine what you can do with 3 or 4!
So constantly striving to save the planet and reduce my waste, I salvaged the Rice Krispies box from the recycling, and re-visited my attempt to make it into something more useful. I found much to my releif, that yesterday I was possibly a little too ambitious - my ideas exceeding my capability (or technical aptitude!) and I therefore reverted back to a slow walk (instead of a fast sprint). I used a 750g packet and got 2 patterns from it as you can see from the pics, a large bag and a smaller one (well neither are really what you could call "large"). Straps can be made using the side gusset template - so cut on a fold for long straps or cut 2 for shorter straps. Or you could insert eyelets and cord for the straps ... or even ribbon ...
Anyway, once i'd decided just to make plain bags, with plain seams, no pockets or other fancy bits like flat felled seams, and with a few online conversations along the way, I came up with these three lovelies (snap, crackle and pop?), and a saving of 240 plastic bags in the bargain! ... They are plain and unlined, two of them have gussets, 2 have long straps. I say they are naturally beautiful despite their lack of bling. Suitable for small shopping trips or even wine bottles (they all hold 2 or 3 each), or as gift bags for your friends, I used less than half a metre of fabric between them, which makes them a very cheap date indeed. With more time spent on each - a pretty lining or perhaps a matching coin purse, they would look even more beautiful and a little more posh! ... I got the idea for the cereal box from Morsebags.com who give instructions and patterns on making shopping bags from recycled fabrics such as old curtains or duvet covers, and they will even print and send special labels for you to put on them!
So constantly striving to save the planet and reduce my waste, I salvaged the Rice Krispies box from the recycling, and re-visited my attempt to make it into something more useful. I found much to my releif, that yesterday I was possibly a little too ambitious - my ideas exceeding my capability (or technical aptitude!) and I therefore reverted back to a slow walk (instead of a fast sprint). I used a 750g packet and got 2 patterns from it as you can see from the pics, a large bag and a smaller one (well neither are really what you could call "large"). Straps can be made using the side gusset template - so cut on a fold for long straps or cut 2 for shorter straps. Or you could insert eyelets and cord for the straps ... or even ribbon ...
Anyway, once i'd decided just to make plain bags, with plain seams, no pockets or other fancy bits like flat felled seams, and with a few online conversations along the way, I came up with these three lovelies (snap, crackle and pop?), and a saving of 240 plastic bags in the bargain! ... They are plain and unlined, two of them have gussets, 2 have long straps. I say they are naturally beautiful despite their lack of bling. Suitable for small shopping trips or even wine bottles (they all hold 2 or 3 each), or as gift bags for your friends, I used less than half a metre of fabric between them, which makes them a very cheap date indeed. With more time spent on each - a pretty lining or perhaps a matching coin purse, they would look even more beautiful and a little more posh! ... I got the idea for the cereal box from Morsebags.com who give instructions and patterns on making shopping bags from recycled fabrics such as old curtains or duvet covers, and they will even print and send special labels for you to put on them!
4 comments:
Love the bags, very cheerful fabrics. I keep some in the car for shopping but some shops look at you as if you are mad when you say 'no thanks' to the the plastic bags...ah well we must keep trying!
Enjoy blogging
Hurrah for recycling!
The bag are beauitful.What a great mind to think of making from cereal box. Iam so happy i found this blog.Posting it on mine so others can find you too.
Hugs
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