Cloth produce bags - what would be a good fabric?

502 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by lilyka, Jun 10, 2004

dharmama

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2004

Our CSA sent out an e-mail asking people to please bring their own bags when the come to pick up produce. I guess most people have been using the plastic bags provided and they are expensive (with prices going up even more as petroleum prices skyrocket) and well...just bad for the environment.

Anyway...I offered to make some cloth bags that people could buy to encourage people not to use plastic, and to raise some money for the farm.

Originally I was just thinking of using quilting scraps but now I'm not so sure about that because those fabrics are all dyed. Is that safe to use for carrying food?

So now I'm wondering if anyone uses cloth bags for produce or has any ideas about what kind of fabric to use that would be cost-effective, lightweight, easy to wash, and safe for carrying food.

Thanks!

~Erin

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tboroson

· #2 · Jun 9, 2004

Any fabric with dye that doesn't run should be fine, for instance any quilting cotton. But to be extra safe you can use an undyed cotton. If you're making these for sale, it might be worth investing in organic cotton. Try http://www.pics.net/cgi-bin/miva?~co...us/koolcat.hts

Are you looking to make large tote bags, like people use for grocery bags? I'd use a fairly sturdy fabric, like cotton duck/lightweight canvas. If you want something really light, to be used in place of the cheapo plastic bags that you might put tomatoes in for weighing and protection against other things in your grocery bag, try a lightweight muslin or even gauze.

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KathyS

· #3 · Jun 9, 2004

How about canvas for material? Not quite as cute as a quilted bag but defiantly strong and durable.

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dharmama

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 9, 2004

Quote:

If you want something really light, to be used in place of the cheapo plastic bags that you might put tomatoes in for weighing and protection against other things in your grocery bag, try a lightweight muslin or even gauze.

Yup...that's what I'm looking for! Thanks. I'll look around for muslin and/or gauze.

~Erin

PS ~Thanks for the link...that's a cool site!

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arooo

· #5 · Jun 9, 2004

I've been wanting to make a few of these for myself. I think I read somewhere that cheesecloth is good... what do you think?

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dharmama

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 9, 2004

Quote:

I've been wanting to make a few of these for myself. I think I read somewhere that cheesecloth is good... what do you think?

I'm not sure. Are there different "grades" of cheesecloth? The stuff I have (that I use for straining tea) is really stringy and falls apart easy. I usually use a piece for a couple of weeks - just gently rinsing in tap water between uses - and then toss it.

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mehndi mama

· #7 · Jun 9, 2004

Recycle old t-shirts.

First, cut the sleeves off, leaving the sleeve seam. Then cut the neckband out, kind of in a wide u-shape, starting & ending about 1" away from the sleeve seams. The stitch across the bottom of the t-shirt. You'll use the sleeve-seams for the handles, and the cut-away neck for the bag opening.

They're FAST, safe, and recycled - could you ask for more? (And yes, they're strong, provided you use strong shirts - I use mine for everything

)

Cutting up old jeans would be another economical alternative.

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arooo

· #8 · Jun 9, 2004

Oh My Word Mhendi Mama... you're a genious! I like that tshirt idea waaay better than stringy cheesecloth! My dh is going to be looking in the closet for his favorite ol shirts and wonder where on earth they went......

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mehndi mama

· #9 · Jun 10, 2004

I'm glad you like the idea

We ran out of tote-bags one day, and as I always have a lot of poly-cotton t-shirts around that I can't use in my diapers, I decided to put them to use.
You can always finish them nicely by boxing the bottom corners & hemming the handles - make a bunch & you could sell them at the co-op!

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arooo

· #10 · Jun 10, 2004

what does "boxing the bottom corners" mean?

I was folding some waaaay-stained onesies this morning, and looking at them thinking of your tshirt idea... you could do the same thing by cutting the top of the onesie at the armpits and sewing across to make the bottom of the bag... and then you have the little snaps to open and close as a handle or hanging loop..... who knows what I'd use them for, but it is fun to start looking at things this way....

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mehndi mama

· #11 · Jun 10, 2004

To "box a corner", you'd turn the bag right-side out, and match up the bottom seamline with the side seam (or where the side seam would normally be, if the shirt hadn't been made with tubular fabric). Flattened out, you should have a triangle shape, with the apex being where the two seams meet. Sew across the triangle, about 2" from the apex - the point is to make a rectangular bottom to your bag. If you look at any tote-bag, or tote-bag pattern, you'll see either these sewn-across corners, or the corner part will actually be cut off so there would be a seam there.

I have the feeling I'm being terribly confusing! :LOL

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lilyka

· #12 · Jun 10, 2004

What an excellent idea for those t-shirts!!!

I was going to suggest asking grocery stores for thier mesh backs or sheets that come with procuce. you can just run a tread around the bottom and cinch it up an tie. I don't know if you ever made a dunk bag in girl scouts but same principle. same exact thing actually :LOL think like the bags oranges come in. they weigh almost nothing, are 100% recycled and if you hit the riht stire they are free.

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