Make a reusuable shopper
Make a t-shirt tote bag and say goodbye to plastic bags!
Every year in Australia, over 2.5 billion plastic bags are used. They can take hundreds of years to break down, contribute significantly to litter in urban and natural environments. And finally, plastic bags are particularly harmful to marine life. Animals such as turtles, whales, and seabirds often mistake them for food, leading to ingestion and often death.
We should try and avoid using single-use plastic bags as much as we possibly can. And having a cool, re-useable shopper in our pocket is a great way to do it!
Supplies you will need:
An old t-shirt (the thicker the material the sturdier the bag)
Sharp scissors
A washable marker
A bowl
A ruler or book to draw a straight edge
And an adult to help
Method:
Cut the sleeves off your t-shirt
The thinner section of material which is left to the neckline, will start to make the straps of your bag
2. Cut around the neckline
Trace the outline of a bowl around the neckline to get a nice neat ‘scoop’ shape. If you’d like, you can turn the shirt inside out before drawing.
3. Draw a line along the bottom
Use a ruler or book to draw a straight line along the bottom of the shirt (again, you can turn the shirt inside-out) - at least 1 inch from the bottom.
4. Cut tassels along the bottom
Cut tassels or stripes all the way along the bottom - using your line as the stopping point. The tassels should be equal in size, around 2cm deep each.
5. Tie knots in the tassels
Tie opposing tassels together in a tight double knot. For extra strength then cross-tie the knots together
6. Decorate and use!
Turn your bag back the right way (so the tassels are inside). Add any embelishments or use a fabric marker to decorate - and it’s ready to use!
Please do send us any snaps of your homemade shoppers - we would love to see your creativity and share with the community. You can email to hello@genkind.club