Silver Linings

Ugh! They suck!

I have been buying the reusable grocery bags. They’re a dollar and the grocery stores plaster their names all over them. Sometimes I forget them when I go to the store though. I know people keep them in their car, but 1) I don’t have a car, and 2) When I go with someone that does, we sometimes forget to put them back in the trunk. >_<

So, before I bought the reusable bags, and even now, I have a bunch of plastic bags stored up in a cabinet in the kitchen! You can go to the store once, forgetting your reusable bags, and they'll give you about twenty plastic bags. They add up quickly!

There are two stores near me that actually have a recycling bin for them in their stores, which I love. These stores are Acme and Whole Foods. If those aren’t around you, I’m sure there are other chains that do this as well. Check around your neighborhood. Help the environment and recycle those plastic bags!

Another great way to recycle those bags is to crochet or knit a reusable grocery bag out of them! That’s what I’m doing for the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC). If you’re a member of Ravelry and love HP, then I would suggest you join the group. It’s a ton of fun! For Transfiguration class that’s what I chose to do!

I first saw this done on a show I used to watch called Knitty Gritty, on the DIY Channel. Used to because it has since been cancelled. This show helped me a lot with my knitting. I had learned the year or so before I started watching this awesome show. The website has videos from parts of the episodes, which is good. This was a really great show. *sigh*

The project I’m referring to is the Recycled-Plastic Carryall. When I first saw it I wanted to do it, but just never did for some reason. Now that I’m doing the project in the HPKCHC, I figured this would be a good time to try it!

I am changing a couple of things from the original pattern linked above. Instead of cutting off the handles of the plastic bags, using leather for the handles of the finished project and multipurpose polypropylene string to sew up with, I’m going to use all plastic. Why not? I’m trying to use as much as I can! My idea is to make i-cords to use as the handles instead and just sew it up with more plastic bags. I may add ribbon to spruce it up, but not sure yet. I have to see what I have in my stash.

I want to see everyone do this! It’ll help the environment as well as give you a new reusable bag! Who wants to join me? How many can we make in June? Get those pesky plastic grocery bags from where you store them and start creating!