Well, the Swiffer covers struck a chord with some people. One person suggested making them out of flannel. Good idea for people who sew, not so good for my friends who don’t. But I like the idea.
Then I got on an HGTV discussion board thread about shopping bags. The Taos Town Council is about to consider whether to ban those ubiquitous plastic shopping bags. I hope they do and I say Hooray! because I have way too many of them. And not only do I dislike the fact that they end up in the landfill, but I really hate seeing them along the side of the road and particularly caught up in trees like wayward kites.
In Mozambique the children use plastic shopping bags to make kites and they really fly well. In other places they tie them up tightly into soccer balls. I digress…
However, do I remember to take my mish/mash collection of alternate bags with me when I go shopping? Usually not.
Paus4quilts on the message board gave a link to a great tutorial for making bags just like the plastic ones, only out of fabric, so they’re easier for the check-out people to fill them.
Not only that, but they (the bags, not the checkers) can be folded up into a small, attached pocket for ease of transport when empty. One would fit nicely into a purse. One person keeps hers all together in one bag made of bright colors, hung with her coat to grab when she goes out. Great idea.
I think they would be great made out of lightweight, strong, colorful rip-stop nylon.
I have some knit market bags on my list of things to make, but I really like the idea of these eco-friendly, cute plastic bag clones.
It’s the wave of the future. Yes, you can buy the inexpensive re-usable bags now being offered at many stores, but I like the idea of making and showing off my own whenever I shop. You could even get fancy and embellish them….Well maybe not, they’re just for shopping after all.
