Making Full Use of Reusable Bags

I have been receiving lots of reusable bags. The handles of some of them are not strong enough to handle load and some have issues at the seams.  I think the best way to make them last is to use them as inserts for crochet bags.  I decided to use this 22x17cm bag for the project.

And this is the crochet bag pattern that I chose to make.

I have to increase the stitches so that the insert fits in perfectly.

I turned the reusable bag inside out, so that the print will not show, before inserting it into the crochet bag.

When you use a thick yarn and choose a crochet pattern with large holes, you use less wool and complete the bag faster. If you do not have a reusable bag to use as an insert, you can weave your old scaves or leftover ribbons and whatever suitable material that you can weave through the holes.  

Use your imagination to personalise your crochet bag.  I would not mind using cut strips of plastic bags as weaving material as I have always try to make use of discarded material in my handwork.

Will you be ashamed if you decorate your bag with plastic bags?

I can also change the design of my crochet bag by sewing a granny square on it so that I can use it as a pocket for holding stuff like cards or a set of keys.

I like keeping empty bottles with grooves on them. They make it easier for me to cut the bottles neatly to the height I want. I use this 1L size oval shaped container to store all the brushes I used in my kitchen.  Sometimes I will also leave my knives with the brushes to drain them after washing. 

Check out how I decorate the empty containers I used for storing my stuff. The one decorated with granny squares was actually a lantern I made for my children. These 5L cooking oil bottles are great for storing my packets of coffee, onions and tubers.

Other than using them as storage containers, I also use them like a pail for soaking in water:

-my laddles to soften food stuck on them to make it easier to clean.
-my vegetables like celery, beans, tomatoes, bell peppers. I place a prestle or a cup on top to make sure that the vegetables stay in the water.

Recently, I discovered that it is a great way to keep the shape of my crochet bag.  I made it because my sister told me that, while at work, she don't like to carry her handbag out for lunch and that she is looking for a small bag big enough to hold just her keys, handphone and a packet of tissue.  The first one I made did not hold its shape well once she puts her stuff in.

I like this version better.

She can decide how much of the bottle she would like to cut off to hold her stuff. The cord I used as a handle was taken off a shopping bag.  

So, she can easily change the colour with cords she can find from her own collection of paperbags. She can even use her shoes laces.

I chose a pattern with large holes so that she can slip receipts through them as it will be easier for her to remove them to show the staff when her dishes are ready for collection.  She can also personalise it by inserting one of those drawstring bags we often received with gifts.

I hope she will consider inserting cut strips of plastic bag through the holes to match her outfit like I did for this bag I made with leftover wools.