Happy Earth Day - Reusable bags Giveaway

I have been sewing reusable nylon and polyester grocery bags, smaller fruit bags and lunch bags for over twenty  years.  Most nylon is 60 inches wide and the sale price was 99 cents a metre.  I started making grocery bags before recycling was popular because grocery stores had switched from paper bags to plastic. The plastic bags are so thin that it was difficult to get my groceries from the store to my vehicle, vehicle to my house without at least one bag falling apart and spilling groceries everywhere.

The orange plaid fabric was purchased in Brandon for $2.00 a metre.  About a month later I saw the identical fabric at Joanne's in Fargo,  North Dakota for $36.00 per yard.  I like to give these bags away as part of a gift.  However, when  I saw how expensive this fabric was in United States I decided to keep these two for myself.  Besides that, they go great with my mustard yellow purse. 

The printed bag with the dark burgundy lining was made using a plastic grocery bag for a pattern.  It is made from 100% cotton drapery fabric.  It is quite heavy compared to the nylon ones, and a bit smaller.

The turquoise blue knitting (fruit) bag is over twenty years old. I made it before I owned a serger. Back then I would sew the seams together and use pinking shears on the raw edges.  The handles are 100% polyester grosgrain ribbon.

I also knit dishcloths, sew tea towels, dinner napkins and table cloths.  Some of the tea towels are made from 100% cotton recycled bed sheets purchased from local thrift stores for two to four dollars each.  Sometimes I purchase 100% cotton or cotton linen mixes from the bargain centre at Fabric Land. The most I pay for this fabric is $3.00 metre (39 inches). 

I usually cut out four to six bags at one time.

I use heavy duty washers instead of pins to hold the pattern in place in place for cutting.

I mark the fabric with a regular uni-ball pen as it doesn't matter if the marks come out in the wash or not.

Over the years, I have sewn and given away over 70 shopping bags as wedding, Christmas, birthday, thank you and housewarming gifts.  I machine wash mine and hang them to dry.  I usually make a fruit bag size one for my baby quilts.  I've also made daycare bags. 

Today is not only Earth Day, it is my son's 30th birthday.  To mark this wonderful blessed day, I'm having my first give away of four shopping bags to four of my fantastic followers.  If you are not a follower now, you are invited to join the fun.  To be enter the draw please leave a comment here telling me what you do to either recycle, reuse or reduce to save our wonderful planet.  Anyone can enter as long as I have a way of contacting you.  (Leave your email address in your comment if you don't have a blogger account.)  The winners will be selected by random draw on Sunday April 29, 2012 noon central time.  I look forward to reading your comments and sewing some bags.

Happy Earth Day.

 The winners have been chosen...
Thanks to everyone that left a comment.