Recycling Plastic Bags - The End!
Finally the Recycled Plastic Carryall is finished! To be honest I got a bit bored towards the end, I’ve got a very short attention span and knitting 42″ of plastic for the gusset was almost the final straw. I don’t think Chris wants to look at another plastic bag either!
For the record, we used Asda plastic bags, as in the picture below. Chris cut across the bag just below the handles, then stopped at the bottom where the gusset starts to narrow towards the bottom. The total usable area was approximately 37cm x 30cm.
Each side used approximately 13 bags to complete, the gusset took 16. I made the handles using Tunisian Crochet and used approximately 5 bags for the two, starting with a chain of 7, the end result is like woven plastic fabric and very tough and strong. I also used a piece of thick cardboard at the bottom to give a flat base. I stitched it with the seam on the outside to give it some definition…and style! And I used upholstery strength button thread, hard to use, but as tough as old boots!!
We tested the bag with a 2 litre bottle of water, it held that fine, also 2 pints of milk and a loaf of bread weren’t a problem, though it did stretch quite a bit. So I would say for carrying purposes, it’s best to stick to lightweight use!
By Vickie, August 12, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Shana, the bag is really pretty! I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t “pretty.” I couldn’t imagine used grocery bags ever being pretty, but by golly, you DID it! You and Chris together did a great job. Kudos, chicklet!
By Shana, August 12, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Aww thank you, on his blog, Chris compared himself to Edward Scissorhands, don’t think he was far wrong!!
By Pbquilter, August 13, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
I love that. Thanks for sharing.
By Jen, August 16, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
I popped on over from Post Mortem.
This looks great, and what a good thing you’ve done for the environment. I don’t know that I could have your patience — our extra garbage bags go to scooping kitty poop, though I’ve made a market bag out of cotton.
By Shana, August 16, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
eek one of the phantom thread killers!!
Towards the end, I didn’t have much patience left, I was growling under my breath! But Chris had worked so hard cutting all the bags up I couldn’t let him down…well I could, but I don’t like sleeping on the floor!
By christina -annadownya, August 22, 2008 @ 6:26 am
That is SO kewl. I want one! Great job. I agree btw, it does look very pretty too. =^)
By Shana, August 22, 2008 @ 7:38 am
I shall be checking all your Ravelry projects to see if you’ve made your bags yet LOL
By ria (tonyfan20 on ravelry), August 24, 2008 @ 3:14 am
that bag came out really good!