Re-Useable Shopping Bags

[OakLeaf]

My favorite shopping bag is the one my mom made for me. I suppose as shopping bag designs go it's rather elaborate, with its nice flat bottom and box-like folded corners. I don't know if she actually used a pattern or just made it up. But anyway, it's beautiful and I've been using it for some 20 years now.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I know you're kidding, but I saved ALL the sewing-related whoozits that my late mother had. So much better made than stuff we buy now. I wish I could have kept her 1950s Kenmore sewing machine, too; I'm sure you could sew sheet metal with that thing.

Very true!

I used to sew a lot, then haven't had a sewing machine for the past 12 years or so.
A few weeks ago, someone gave us an old 1970's Sears Kenmore machine that had a broken pedal and had lost its table that it fit into. It wobbled on 3 'legs' since it was not intended to stand alone. It had some other weird issues too.
We bought a manual for it. My husband made a new plate for the pedal and got it working, and he made a another leg for it so it could stand alone without wobbling. We took things apart and logically figured out the other little problems it had and fixed those. There were a couple of strange adjustments that someone had done to the working parts long ago, but we corrected them. Then we cleaned and oiled it and adjusted the tension.
Now it works great!! It's got all the fancy stitches too. I bought new needles and bobbins, etc. I just hemmed up some jeans shorts.
Many of those parts inside machines today are now made of plastic instead of metal, and I think this machine must surely be better made than the ones today.
So now I have a nice smooth running 'recycled' sewing machine.

[Miranda]

I know you're kidding, but I saved ALL the sewing-related whoozits that my late mother had. So much better made than stuff we buy now. I wish I could have kept her 1950s Kenmore sewing machine, too; I'm sure you could sew sheet metal with that thing.

Now my work table -- that I found in the garbage and hauled home on my dog's Radio Flyer (which I use instead of a cab) so just in case it was made in China I get a pass.

Pam

I didn't think of making my own bags too. That's a great tip. I am a hack at sewing. But, I could probably make a bag. My mom's old Kenmore was a 1970s model. In my basement, in need of work. Wouldn't let DH throw it out.

BUT, the best is my late grandmother's sewing machine. It's still at my mom's. I told her she has to put it in the will to me lol. It's a Singer manual foot pedal style (late 1800s as far as I can tell). OMG... it's just *beautiful* though old and worn. Still pedals to sew though.

That was my only grandma living that I knew. I have a farm bonnet she made me as a child we would wear in the garden together (sun protection). That woman could sew you up a whole mess of re-useable shopping bags in no time flat (eyes closed probably lol).

I think my bag makes a good "misc junk collector" spot in the car too. Versus making the purse so heavy to carrry.

[AnnieBikes]

I am a quilter and have made a bunch of bags over the years. I never get plastic at the grocery store and these are great. They are definitely kept in my car and I leave them near the back door so I remember to put them back in the car.

Here is a link I found for all kinds of different bags. If you plan to stuff them and they are heavy, I would use webbing all the way around to the bottom. Look at them and find one you like. There are some really simple ones and some more elaborate ones, but I really like the #10, using a heavy fabric, denim (recycle old jeans), or canvas.

http://tipnut.com/35-reusable-grocer...free-patterns/

PS. Am I dumb or what? I want to start a thread and cannot for the life of me find where to do that. Can someone help, please!!!

[msincredible]

PS. Am I dumb or what? I want to start a thread and cannot for the life of me find where to do that. Can someone help, please!!!

In the forum you want to post in, go to the button called "Forum Tools", it is on the top right underneath the page numbers.

Click on it and you will see an option for "Post a New Thread".

[AnnieBikes]

Thank you so much msincredible. I appreciate your help so much!!

[PamNY]

First, AnnieBikes, that's a great link. What interesting ideas for fabric use.

Second, today I went to the Greenmarket and as I was passing the compost dropoff area, I noticed two reusable bags that had been used to transport compostible stuff. I suppose they are sturdy, but I doubt if they are washed off and reused.

Alas, the moral dilemmas never end. I stopped short of retrieving them.

Pam