DIY Reusable Grocery Bags

There are many reasons why bringing your own bags to the grocery store is beneficial; they are good for the environment, easier to carry than plastic bags, and often allow you to save a few pennies (several stores, like Whole Foods, offer discounts to customers who bring their own bags). The other day I stumbled upon an entry in the blog Delia Creates, explaining how to make your own reusable bags. The process is easy and cheap (the bag is made out of an old T-shirt), and produces machine-washable bags that are perfect for produce. The design was inspired by the cotton tote bags that you may have seen sold at select grocery stores.

How To Make Your Own Produce Bag

You'll need:

scissors

old T-shirt

needle and thread

sharpie

ruler 

1. Lay out the T-shirt, and outline the shape of your bag with a sharpie.

2. Cut along the outline.

3. Sew the bottom and sides to create seams. I used a basic needle and thread so mine doesn't look very pretty, but a sewing machine would probably do a better job!

4. Trace the lines for where your holes will be, as well as a rectangle for the handle. Note: I made my handle too big, so I recommend starting smaller!

5. Cut out the holes and handle. 

6. Stretch out the bag to make sure the holes are to your liking. Then you're done!

Testing out the bag with bananas

You can play with different sizes and colors. If you don't have any old T-shirts, you can visit your nearest Goodwill (don't forget to show your student ID for a discount) and buy a $1 or $2 T-shirt. The price of a used T-shirt is certainly cheaper than the price of a brand new bag!