"C's" Plastic Bag

Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoy your newsletter. 

I was especially interested in the plastic bag totes.  I've been making these all winter long for sale at our local farmer's market this summer.  Thought I might share a few ways I make these bags.  I agree with the way the pages are prepared for cutting except I've found that I can make a stack of 5-6 bags and can easily cut them with electric scissors. 

My husband is my "production manager" - he then puts the strips together and rolls them into balls for me. 

As for patterns, I sort of make them up as I go along.  I've used granny squares as well as using a variety of afghan stitches.  I've found that I can make strong bags that will hold up under a lot of weight by making panels - 2 bigger ones for the front and back and 2 smaller one's for the sides.  I then put them together as if I were putting an afghan together.  I make a double bottom and sandwich a thin board, heavy cardboard, etc between the 2 bottom pieces. 

Because I've had so many requests for them, I sometimes add a pocket.  People who have been testing my bags have asked for the pocket for their wallets, cell phones, etc. 

The great thing about these bags is that they have some give to them so you can really load them up with groceries and once emptied, they return to their original shape.  Most of the bags that I get here are either brown or white so I add a little color by using different colored trash bags.  As long as I cut those stripes a little wider and incorporate them in with the grocery bags, the strength is just fine.  And you can get some nice color combinations by using the trash bags.  I've been able to find pink, yellow, blue, mint green, etc.  I made one bag by making a lot of smaller different colored squares and then put them together using the black trash bags - looks like an afghan and my husband says it's the best one yet! 

This has been a great winter project for both me and my husband. Debbie C. Orleans, IN