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Tutorial: Reusable fabric shopping bag

May 22, 2014 by Anne Weaver

Tutorial: Reusable fabric shopping bagLynnette from Running With Scissors shows how to make a reusable shopping bag you can use to reduce the number of disposable plastic grocery bags coming into your house (and evening into a landfill).  It has a flat bottom to hold bulkier items.  See how those milk cartons fit so nicely?  They’re quick to sew up, so you can make yourself a set of them to bring all of your groceries home in.  Go to Running With Scissors for the tutorial.

[photo from Running With Scissors]

 

Why should you make your own shopping bags or totes?  Plastic bags are from the same source as all plastic: crude oil. So what is wrong with crude oil? The manufacturing process emits considerable amounts of pollution, and the product is not biodegradable. On land, plastic bags are one of the most common types of litter worldwide. As plastic bags are lightweight and float easily, this means they can travel long distances when picked up by the wind this includes landing in the ocean. Then wildlife gets tangled or ingests the bags, both in the sea and on land.  Make a difference and make your own shopping grocery bags.  Have plastic bags you need to re-use? Consider making these DIY upcycled plastic bag crafts.

Next Pattern:

  • Sew Your Own Reusable Shopping Bags
  • Burlap Shopping Bag - Free Sewing Pattern
  • Lined Drawstring Reusable Gift Bag - DIY Sewing Tutorial
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Have you read?

Monday Musings: My Fabric Stash is Judging Me (A Love-Hate Relationship)

I have a problem. Well, several problems, but today we’re talking about the 37 yards of fabric currently taking up residence in my closet. Some of it’s been there so long it could legally vote. That beautiful linen? Bought for a specific project in 2018. The designer wool? “Too nice to cut.” The rainbow of quilting cotton? Well, it was on sale.

Every time I open that closet, I swear the fabric whispers, “Remember when you were going to make that dress?” The guilt is real. But so is the joy of petting my hoard like a fabric dragon sitting on her treasure.

Last week I tried the KonMari method. I got as far as “does this spark joy?” before buying three more yards of floral voile. Some habits die hard.

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