Sunday, April 22, 2012

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.

16 comments:

  1. Hi Tammy, We sound so much alike! In past years when I had a loom, I wove placemats, dish/hand toweling, and all manner of household linens including one inglorious attempt at a wool coverlet which we still have. We also collect vintage sewing machines mainly Singers. Tho not officially signed up on this venue to follow your blog, we're recent FB friends thru the FMQ challenge which is my method of following. Would love to win one of your beautiful bags!
    Pat in OR

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  2. I am so glad I am a follower. Loved your bags and tips.

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  3. Oh Tammy I reuse and reycyle everything ...I make my own garden scrub... fabrezz...the list goes on..I think as we get older we see more need and we are not in such a rush to buy stuff...Happy Earth Day Stay green
    I will post your giveaway on my facebook page..xoxo

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  4. Hi! I recycle and compost fruit peelings! I'd like to learn to sew so I could "recycle" old blankets and such!

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  5. Pretty pretty bags! I love using reuseable bags for grocery shopping and for book bags for my kids and I.

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  6. Hi Tammy, it's great to meet you. I've been a recycler for years, and a sewer/quilter for just about as long. If I don't keep something then it goes in the bin for recycling collection or given away on Freecycle.com rather than sent to the trash dump. Thanks for sharing your great blog!

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  7. Love using my handmade grocery bags, especially the two I made of old jeans...so sturdy and with a little batting in them, they hold their shape. I like your idea of making smaller bags for fruit, etc. I've made a host of household cleaning concoctions. At the moment, I am attempting making orange cleaner...one more month of fermenting to go. Nice seeing you on the FMQ challenge! :)

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  8. GREAT giveaway! We compost, recycle, carry our own shopping bags. But my husband recently started vermiculture. What is that, you ask. Worm-farming is what I call it! We have over 1000 Red Wigglers, living in a tote in a closet that convert all our kitchen waste into worm-poop. It is awesome fertilizer!

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  9. I use reusable shoppers all the time...what I need to make next is reusable vegetable bags in organza or other light fabric then I would be all kitted out :o)

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  10. Hi, I must have missed this giveaway when it was first posted. Great idea. cheers x

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  11. Great bags Tammy. I always carry my own bags to the grocery store, and we have a great recycling program here including compostables and all recyclables.

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  12. I recycle as much as I can. I usually have a minimum of 4 bins of recyclables for pickup. I'm a follower and your bags look great!

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  13. Love the bags! I always say I'm going to sew some up, but that's never happened. Maybe now I won't need to!

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  14. Years ago when visiting Germany, I noticed that shoppers always brought their own reusable bags and so I started doing this at home in the US, too. You actually have to purchase plastic bags in German stores if you forgot yours! This is a great incentive to use recycled bags!

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  15. I love looking at your antique machines! Quite a collection. I have an antique that I don't even know how to thread.

    Of course, enter me in your giveaway.

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  16. Great idea with the bags Tammy. A few years ago our supermarkets started charging for plastic bags, encouraging us to bring along recyclable bags for our groceries (they also sold the recyclable bags). Most have relaxed that policy a bit but it encouraged everyone to start using the recyclable bags which has been very positive. Like the washer idea on your pattern.

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Your comments give me quite a thrill. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and please have a super duper day! Unfortunately, anonymous comments are no longer allowed, there was just way too much spam.