One Small Change

Photo: insulatingfirebrick.com

Make the most of your oven's heat by placing several firebricks inside as you bake. The firebricks will absorb the heat from the oven and once you're done, continue to emanate heat long after your oven is off. Just prop your oven door open to allow the heat to escape. Of course, you'll want to use extreme caution with this method if you have young children in the house. Firebricks are more expensive than regular red brick, but cost under $5 in most locations. Not a bad expenditure for lowering your fuel and energy consumption. Thanks to my friend and colleague Jennifer Margulis for sharing this idea!

How to: Drawstring Produce Bags

By Kris Bordessa

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You’re not still using those flimsy plastic produce bags at the grocery store are you? You are? Well, let’s just fix that right now, shall we?

If you have a sewing machine and can sew a straight seam, you can make these. Of course, even if you don’t have a sewing machine, technically you could make these with a needle and thread, but that might be a little more effort than you’re willing to put out. Instead, find a friend with a sewing machine who will ~~make these for you~~ teach you to make these in exchange for a nice cuppa or lunch.

Start by cutting two pieces of fabric, about 12″ x 14″ and then take a peek at my instructions for sewing mini bags (there are plenty of photos). You’ll essentially use the same technique, making French seams for a cleaner finish.

With wrong sides facing, sew a straight stitch along three edges using a 1/8″ seam allowance. I chose to leave the opening on the 12″ side of the bag, but you do what makes the most sense to you. Turn inside out and press seams. Now use a 3/8″ seam allowance to again sew all three sides. This seam is essentially securing the loose ends inside of the seam.

Turn your bag inside out and hem the opening by folding the fabric over twice (about a half-inch each time) and then sewing around the edge.

Turn the bag right side out and admire it. Beautiful. Easy. How cool are you??

Now for the drawstring part. Use your scissors to carefully snip a 1/4″ cut in the outside of the top hem. Do this twice, on opposite sides of the bag. (It’ll be easier if you avoid making your snips near the seams.) Make sure you don’t accidentally cut through both layers.

Pen for reference only. The snip doesn't show up well in photos.

Cut two 24″ lengths of cording or ribbon. Pin a safety pin to one end of the cord and use it to pull the cord into one opening, all the way through the top hem, and out the same hole.

Tie the ends together. Now do the same thing with the hole in the opposite side of the bag.

When you pull both cords simultaneously, the top of the bag stays closed without the use of a twist tie, making it suitable for carrying produce or bulk items.

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Tags: bags, how to, produce, sewing, shopping

Welcome

It’s one thing to think, “Hey, I’d love to be more self-sufficient!” and quite another to implement a lifestyle change that might require learning some new skills.

Attainable Sustainable is about bridging the gap between wanting change and making it happen without becoming overwhelmed. Nobody’s saying you have to go get a tractor and a cow. Attainable Sustainable is about discovering – one step at a time – how to make changes in your life to support a sustainable lifestyle.

Jennifer Margulis

I use these kinds of bags -- they sell them made from organic cotton at our Co-op. But my one problem is that I can't SEE inside them. Don't get me wrong, I don't use the plastic produce bags. I hate them. But the other day I bought bagels and then FORGOT about them, b/c the cloth is not see through. I will make them into bread pudding tomorrow (yum). But my 10-year-old who's been wanting bagels is out of luck (sigh.)

Your readers might be interested in this post:
http://jennifermargulis.net/blog/2012/01/what-trying-to-eliminate-packaging-has-taught-me-about-marriage-life/

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Living Large

I'm not a sewer, but you make this look pretty easy!

merr

Great idea...these remind me of the gym bags we made many (many) years ago in "home ec!"

Sonia

It seems most people don't realize you mean these bags to be used as keepers of the produce in the fridge....

To everyone above who thinks these are for you to take to the store and put your produce in them before taking to the cashier... the weight of the fabric and the cord will make a difference at checkout in the price per pound or ounce....so these are for when you get the produce home and get ready to store them in the refrigerator.

Your produce will last longer and not get slimy as easily.

Kris Bordessa

Actually, Sonia, that's not true. I DO mean for people to use them to purchase veggies/fruits at the store. The weight of the fabric might make a small difference at the checkout, but it's a price I'm willing to pay to avoid those plastic bags. Note that SOME stores will pre-weigh your bags and mark them with a tare weight so that you pay only for the produce, not the bag.

MyKidsEatSquid

Have you encountered the checkers giving you a hard time at all when you use these bags. I've found even with my reusable grocery bags some checkers are better about taking them than others.

Madeleine @ NZ Ecochick

Fantastic post. I love cloth bags and use them all the time now I'll be able to make my own. Thanks.

Angie Abella

I like this idea. I do use plastic bags, and use them over and over and over (the T shirt kind anyway). The bags the way you mentioned, can be also used as a purse or a gift bag. :)

Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart

I've been trying to knit some mesh bags to use for a couple of months (trial and - mostly - error). My hubby keeps telling to sew some, and he is probably right, but I'm set on my method for a while longer.

Carley Ash

Roxanne - I bought some of those knit bags and it left marks in the more tender fruits & vegetables. The tomatoes looked like they'd been sitting on railroad tracks, and the marks cut into the flesh in some places.

Thanks, Carley, for the heads-up. If I can ever get a bag to turn out right, I'll be careful with more delicate items.

I was just wondering today if I could buy these. This is even better. Love it . Thank you.

Patricia @ Ground Control to Major Mom

Yes, I use those plastic produce bags -- for what it's worth, though, I (a) reuse the same plastic bags over and over again and (b) don't even bag when I have 3 or less or a particular item.

It's a pain in the rear for the cashier, but it keeps my bagging to a minimum.

I need to make these bags. I need to make them for everyone :-)

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