Christmas 2007, my wish list had on it "Reusable shopping bags." My mother and brother both got me some fantastic bags that I love and use constantly. I love the fact that I can easily fit $100+ worth of groceries in 4 bags or less. And they are easier to pack than plastic and hold more!
If your not a huge fan of advertising the local establishment - in this case Walmart. It's really easy to cover it up in a fun, chic way. Here's what you'll need ...
2 - 50¢ reusable shopping bags from Walmart
1 fat quarter in a coordinating pattern or shade
ruler
rotary cutter and matte - or scissors and ruler
blue bobbin thread - as close as you can come to matching the color of the bag - if you care, if you don't, any color will be fine.
coordinating or matching thread for the top.
Iron
Sewing machine
* Iron out any wrinkles or creases in your fat quarter.
* Cut the fat quarter into four strips 4.5" x 22".
* Sew two strips together along the 4.5" edge, matching the design of the fabric as best you can to hide the seam. Finished strip should be 4.5 x 40ish
* Trim any excess so seam is 1/4".
* Iron down 1/4" - 3/8" of raw edge, on both of the long sides of your strip of fabric.
* Pin fabric strip over printed Walmart logo, starting and stopping, in the side gusset panel of the bag. Use a ruler to measure ~ 5" from the top of the bag to insure your fabric strip straight all the way around your bag. I found that the exact measurement varied from bag to bag, as the logo must have shifted a bit during the printing/sewing process.
* Trim fabric leaving 1/2" overlap, plus 1/2" to turn under. Pin in place.
* Sew fabric to bag, sewing, 1/8" from the edge. Sew down overlap flap.
* Reinforce pre-stitched side seams of bag and handles if desired.
* * * so why did I make these? read on ... * * *
A couple weeks ago our primary presidency was reorganized. Late Friday night, after GR gets home from "errands" (our buzz word for him doing church work) while I'm working on the computer, he sits down next to me, and says ... "I've been meaning to talk with you about something." "As my husband, or as my bishop?" "Bishop."
Our new primary president asked me, her first councilor (eeek!), to work with our nursery leaders. We have nearly 18 children between our two nurseries and our budget is quickly getting eaten - literally - by these little ones. So in an effort to provide some variety in the weekly snack time menu, I "created" these nursery snack bags, adding the strip of fabric to hopefully keep it separate & easy to identify, from any reusable bags nursery families may have at home.
Each Sunday, a tote bag will go home with a child from each of the nurseries so they can bring a special healthy snack to share with their nursery friends the following Sunday. We're still planning on providing basics like cheerios & animal crackers, but this way each of the children can share their favorite snack and participate a little more in their nursery experience.
