Plastic one-use bags, I have a love-hate relationship with them. I've been trying for years to kick the habit, and am about 60-70% of the way there. Realistically, the best way to be free of these environmentally unfriendly things is to ban them. There are many places all over the world that have already done so. That's why I was so excited to learn of UnBag Bend. It's an initiative to ban one-use plastic bags here in Bend, Oregon.
UnBag Bend has been making reusable bags from old t-shirts to help educate and spread the word. Today a few friends gathered with their sewing machines, and we stitched up about 200 bags from recycled t-shirts. These bags will be distributed throughout the Bend area. In each bag will include information about the UnBag Bend project.
If you have extra, unused t-shirts, just cut off the arms, leaving the arm/shoulder seam intact on the t-shirt, and cut off the neckband. Make the top (neck) opening large enough to be able to take things in and out of your bag. Then sew the bottom hem of the shirt together. We took four passes on the sewing machine to make sure the bottom of the bag was nice and strong. No need to sew the arm or neck area, as t-shirt fabric does not ravel or fray.
I hope you'll make some of your own reusable bags. They're quick and easy and so very useful.
For more information about UnBag Bend, here is the UnBag Bend Facebook link and a link to an article in the Bend Bulletin and an article in The Source and in Bend Magazine. Check it out!
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