Making Your Own Reusable Shopping Bag: The Death of the Plastic Bag

The plastic bag as we know it is dead. We've gone from plain, old paper bags at the store to "paper or plastic?" to "is plastic OK?". What's next? No bags at all. Carry your own. With the escalating price of fuel, rising environmental issues, and the trend toward going green, shoppers have to take a serious look at how they bag their purchases. Some stores have already gone bagless, which is a quickly growing trend. It's time for shoppers to start carrying reusable shopping bags. It's simple. Buy or make your own reusable shopping bags, and remember to carry your reusable bags with you. Before long it will be an ingrained habit, and you won't have to think about carrying your reusable shopping bag. Going green is a matter of habit.

In the spirit of conserving money and fuel, many people have already started carrying their own reusable shopping bags with them. Most stores have reusable bags available for a nominal price.

If you prefer, you can make your own reusable shopping bag in less than an hour. Follow these simple instructions and go green.

Cut two pieces of fabric 32" X 18" for the bag and lining, and two pieces of fabric 18" X 6" for the straps. Fold the larger pieces in half so they are 16' X 18". Sew each piece separately down one side and across the bottom. To make the bag flat at the bottom, you can miter the corners by sewing across the inside of the bottom seam on both ends, forming a triangular flap.

To make the straps, fold the strips wrong side together in half and press. Open it up, and press the edges in to meet the crease in the middle. Fold closed again, so you have four layers, with no raw edges showing. Sew a straight line down the open edge. Turn one of the bags right side out, and slip it inside the other one so right sides are together. Pin the raw edges around the top inserting the straps between the layers. Sew around the top with ½" seam, leaving an opening of 4". Turn the bag right side out, tucking the lining inside. Press. Sew all around the top edge, very close to the edge.

Use your reusable shopping bag every time you go shopping. Hang it on the door knob, so you don't forget it the next time you go out. Make several reusable shopping bags and go really green!

The Sierra Club states: ..."one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by 109 tons and save $11,000 in disposal costs." If you make three reusable shopping bags and use them regularly, you will make a tremendous impact on the environment.

Just think, someday you'll be able to tell your grandchildren about the good ol' days...when stores used plastic bags for everything and no one ever carried a reusable shopping bag. The grand kids will think you're crazy.