Yay!! New Zealand will shortly be joining the ranks of countries that have banned single use plastic bags at supermarkets, including the U.K and Australia. BUT they haven’t banned the plastic produce bags in the fruit and veggie section (side note, does it drive anyone else crazy that so many fruit and veges are wrapped in plastic wrap? And don’t even start me with those plastic stickers, ugh!).
Happily, reusable produce bags are now being sold at supermarkets, but they’re not cheap. So if you are looking for a cost effective solution to cutting down your single use plastic then try these upcycled produce bags made from baby t-shirts!!
They take less than 10 minutes, no sewing required and will you cost less than a dollar if you use second hand baby shirts from a thrift store. They’re also light and washable, and when you’re done, completely biodegradable.
Here’s what you need:
- A baby cotton t-shirt. Size 0 – 3 is fine. Remember, you’re shirt will stretch!
- 30cm of T-shirt yarn or a shoe lace
- Scissors
- Ruler and pen
1.Cut the collar and the sleeves off your baby shirt.
2. Mark out where your holes will be. I made 3cm marks with a 3cm gap in between. Leave about 5cm between lines. As you move up, your marks should be in the gaps of the previous line.
2.Cut along your marks. These should go through both sides of the shirt. I found the easiest way was to fold the shirt longways 10cm from the left edge, then cut both sides of the shirt at the same time.
3. Now cut a small hole in the hem of the shirt. Take your t-shirt yarn, and thread through a medium sized bobby pin. You’ll use this to thread the t-shirt yarn through the entire hem. Once you’re out the other side, pull tight, tie a knot, and cut off the excess.
4. Turn your bag inside out if you don’t want the print to show and cut off the tag.
5. Fill with all the fruit and veggies!
What are your tips for cutting down plastic at the supermarket? Let me know by commenting below.