Monday, July 30, 2007

One Small Step Toward a Healthier Planet

Americans use 12 million gallons of oil to make plastic bags every year.

California alone generates 19 million plastic bags a year.

Every plastic shopping bag that has ever been manufactured is still with us today (unless it was eaten, and choked on, by an endangered sea turtle).

And they are taking over the cabinet under my sink.

This blog is for anyone who is interested in making shopping bags as a substitute for using plastic bags. You can knit, crochet, sew, weave, macrame, whatever. Just make a bag. Or two. Or a dozen. (Preferably made from natural fibers.)

And most importantly, USE them.

Looking for content:

I'm looking for links to free bag patterns, organic or other earth-friendly suppliers (yarn, fabric, etc.), environmental sites/blogs, etc. If you have something you want me to review, email me at makeabag AT yahoo DOT com

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi. Knitty just published a new grocery bag pattern. It's called the Everlasting Bagstopper. Here's the URL:

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTeverlasting.html

I was thinking about knitting it, but I don't know. Stuff might fall through the holes. Also, I really only knit stupid useless stuff, like my plastic grocery bag fish.

Keep up the good work. This is a good resource for DIY types.

Beth

Anonymous said...

Oh, and here's a shopping bag made out of knitted grocery bags:

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_needle_arts/article/0,2025,DIY_13768_3059465,00.html

I won't be making any for myself because we have a trillion canvas bags that my husband picked up for free at a bicycle event.

What I need are small drawstring cloth bags for bulk items like flour or rice. I wish I could find someone in the Bay Area who would make me some so I 1) don't have to do it myself and 2) don't have to order from out of town and 3) don't have to buy them at Rainbow Grocery where they're a little pricey.

:-)

Beth again.