Because of all the help I had and the large supply of plastic yarn I was able to knit a bag for Kate (my oldest son's lovely girlfriend). She saved up brown Stop & Shop and Shaws bags for me to use. I had one blue/green Walmart bag and a few yellow Best Buy bags as well. I tried for a variegated effect. Kate loves it and it has already been put to good use. She thinks it looks like a straw bag!
My supply of bags is pretty much limited to the white with red and blue Market Basket bags and white with black Walmart bags. Now I have three bags to use for grocery shopping and I am currently working on a fourth. I think I have the size pretty much perfected. The very first bag I made was way too big. The temptation for the store's baggers to overfill the bag was too great and all I ended up with was a bag that was too heavy to lift. It was amazing to see all that they could fit in to that bag though :)
I am working on writing up the pattern. Maia kindly gave me permission to do so. Her Baby's Got a Brand New Big Bag was my inspiration for knitting the plastic bags. I really only modified her bag slightly. Hopefully I'll have it ready soon...so if you are interested in the free pattern please check back here soon.happy knitting :)
I love the brown bag! It does look like a straw bag...and this does it for me; I have to knit one now!
ReplyDeleteAs I began reading your post I was thinking that I wish you could offer the pattern. I'm so glad it worked out for your to do that. I'll be looking forward to seeing it soon. And bless middle son for helping out, too.:)
Now, where are all my Hobby Lobby bags...
Most of the bags from my grocery store are a medium blue. My produce market's bags are black, so I don't think I'd use those. The blue ones would be nice looking with some of the odd white ones thrown in too.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are really pretty! When you first described them, I thought, "Okay . . . not my cup of tea . . .". I'm really impressed! How well do they hold up? I would think they'd be much more sturdy.
ReplyDeleteThey are just amazing. I don't think I'll ever knit one up, but I sure would love to have a couple for shopping.
ReplyDeleteHow much do they hold? Are they sturdy in terms of how they are going to last you?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a picture with one filled to carrying capacity. They really look great. I'm knitting a cotton one, but the plastic is such a great idea.
That does look like a straw bag!
ReplyDeleteThanks for working on writing up a pattern, too!
what nice bags! our grocery store has brown bags... not very exciting!
ReplyDeleteThose are awesome looking! I need to remember to gather my bags up sometime and make something like this. Maybe when you've got your pattern posted I will find my inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the variegated look, but understand getting colorful bags can be a challenge. I'd love to see your bag in action, perhaps a photo after it's filled up from a shopping trip?
ReplyDeleteI'll try to take pictures the next time I shop!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the sturdiness goes...if you notice the picture with the trio of bags...the bag on the far left is the first of the smaller bag that I made and I have used it MANY times now and except for the handle stretching a bit (you can see that in the picture) it is no worse for wear.
I will post the pattern soon. Just wish the stores would change their colors a bit so I could get a better selection of colors ;) Kate told me that even Stop&Shop has switched over to the white bags...white must be cheaper to produce!
I guess we know that you're not much of a "drinker" since there aren't any bold black stripes! ;) But its too bad there aren't store's with more distinct bag colors to offer. I guess it costs them more.
ReplyDeleteThose bags are great!! I have tons of bags that I could do some with. I'll be excited for the pattern. My plastic bags are all pretty boring, but I bet they are very functional!!
ReplyDeletethey are all so great! good for you saving the enviroment! doing your part!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear from you again! Missed your posts! Love the bags! You're so greeeeeeen!
ReplyDeleteWow those are great!!! I've been saving up colorful bags and working on something similar but it hurts my fingers to knit with the plastic so I only do a few rows at a time. You are a plastic bag knitting machine!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought you could make such a pretty and useful bag from plastic grocery bags. They all look great.
ReplyDeleteI'm with tea--love the straw bag. :) thanks for the tip regarding recyclable bags too--I would've never known!
ReplyDeleteawesome
ReplyDeleteCute bags! Those would be perfect for the farmers markets too!
ReplyDeleteI knit A LOT of plastic shopping bags, dresses and evening gowns, mostly. One white plastic wedding gown. Knitting continental has kept my hands from getting too beat up.
ReplyDeleteBefore the plastic grocery bags were around, my Grandmother used to use the plastic bags bread came in. She would make rugs, out of them - mostly crochetting.
ReplyDelete~Luey