T-Shirt Tote

Thanks for so many of you that were concerned for my well-being yesterday after my harrowing escape. I am recovering but I will always be wary and make sure the door is propped open before entering another unmanned garden section!

Now, on with the show! My mother's friend Sonya sent me the neatest idea for making tote bags for groceries and other things. It is from Martha Stewart (of course!) and she uses an old t-shirt to make a really easy (and really spacious - I was surprised!) tote bag if you don't want to buy any or really like the idea of being crafty AND recycling at the same time!

I made one in about, oh, 5 minutes tonight as my 'test' bag and I have to say I am really impressed! I used a large t-shirt and couldn't believe all I could fit in it! I tried to lure the cats in to see if they would fit but they wouldn't have any of it. Ok - so here's my finished tote -

Yes that is a plant sticking out...the cats wouldn't stay still to put in it.

It's kind of hard to see the cuteness of the bag from these pics. The t-shirt was really old and soft (it was from middle school - enough said) so it wouldn't stand up very well (unlike Martha's perfect bags - of course).

So here are the quick instructions on how to make one of these beauties -

1. Turn a t-shirt inside out and pin the bottom seam closed

2. Sew a seam across the bottom to close it off - forming the bottom of your bag

3. Turn shirt right-side out. Cut a larger hole at the neck line (I used half of a large mixing bowl to make a half-circle to cut).

4. Cut sleeves off straight down the seam

5. Fill with various groceries and/or cats. They like it - trust me.

Here is the link for Martha's instructions and a video where she walks you through the VERY complicated steps (haha) Tote Instructions

I really like mine but I think I am going to make a smaller one for when I only have to get one or two things at the store. The only downside I have found so far is that they are pretty stretchy if they are older cotton shirts so probably wouldn't be best for heavy items. Maybe using an old tank top would be good for a smaller one! I wish I was the one that thought up all of these ideas!