23 May 2013

New BYOB 2.0 Pattern

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
We are all too aware of the need to "reduce, re‐use and recycle", especially when it comes to plastic bags, yet millions of them are still used every year. However, we knitters have solutions! Using the skills of our hands we can make bags that are not only functional but decorative and long‐lasting too.

So I wanted to let you know that I have just uploaded a new version of my BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag pattern onto my website.
BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
This is the BYOB 2.0 and the pattern now includes instructions for four different sizes of bags, including a new Junior size – after all you can never be too young to start saving the planet!

There is a Large size for all the big, bulky items and I find these great for items such as cereal packets or packs of kitchen rolls. Then the Medium size is about the same as a standard supermarket shopping bag, so is great as an everyday bag.

The Small size is also a very useful size, and I like using this one for bread or fragile items such as bananas that need to be separated from other items.

Then the final size is the XS size and this is perfect for junior shoppers, or could also be used for smaller items such as mushrooms or a box of eggs. I also sometimes use these to protect jam jars or bottles of olive oil when they are packed into larger bags. They do help to stop that annoying “clinking” of bottles as you’re driving home!
BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The bags have a good-sized base that is easy to load at the check‐out, and the lower Seed Stitch section ensures that small items will not drop out. Then the central area features an openwork design which is strong but also flexible enough to accommodate bulky, awkwardly shaped items.

The upper handle is knit in Seed Stitch and has a separately worked hand‐grip. This is soft to hold and has extra reinforcing stitches at the sides for strength.

​The pattern can be purchased from my pattern store here and is available for immediate download.

I also have news of another bag pattern that I have just uploaded to my site. This is the BYOB Market Bag and in my next blogpost, I will be starting a tutorial series which will go step-by-step through the working for this new bag, starting with pre-washing the yarns! Yes, that is the first step I always take, and I will show you why next time…

So until then – Happy Bag Knitting,

Moira 
Keywords: Patterns/Bags,
bag, bags, BYOB, Bring Your Own Bag, cotton, knitted bag, shopping bag, blue, turquoise, pink, white,

15 May 2013

One picture says it all...

Plastic pollution, photo by Gaetano's workshop, in blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
That sinking feeling. We've all experienced it. You are in the line at the check-out and look for your reusable shopping bags, but they are still in the car. Or worse, you left them at home. It's not so bad if your car is just outside the shop so can run and get them, but so often you just accept the plastic bag offered instead, gently cursing your memory.

So how do you remember to "Bring Your Own Bag"?
BYOB Bags by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
What works for me is to put a set of bags together, with a couple of linen bags for the heavier goods and some knitted BYOB Bags for all the awkward shaped items. Then I can hang them up by the door ready to grab on my way out.

When I get back home, I can unpack, have a cup of tea and then pack up a new set of bags so they are ready for my next expedition!
BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
But that still leaves the issue of remembering to take the bags out of the car, so here are some other ideas:
  • After you finish knitting your bags, take three strands of left-over yarn from the last bag you worked on and braid up a little loop to put onto your keychain. As you remove your keys from the ignition, the colourful braid will remind you to take your bags too.
  • As you claim your shopping trolley, place the shopping bags straight in. Now if you see you have a trolley that is empty when you start your shopping, you can immediately go back and retrieve them. ​ ​
  • Write "Take Bags!!" at the top of your shopping list so that you will see this before heading out, and again as you begin looking for your items.
Picture
Another way is to make a knitted bag that becomes your principal bag that you always carry wherever you go. That will act as a memory jogger since this knitted bag will remind you to take your other ones too.

The bag in the photo is the Southampton Book Bagone of a set of five fabric-lined bags in the Southampton Collection.
Plastic pollution, photo by Gaetano's Workshop, in blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Alternatively, you could look at this photo from Gaetano's Workshop. He writes:​
"Taken during a walk in the forest, this photo shows the lack of respect by certain individuals for Mother Nature. On this remnant of a partially decomposed plastic bag we can still divine the word 'Merci' (thank you)."
If nothing else acts to help remind you to take your bags to the shops, then perhaps the memory of this image will.

Thank you, Gaetano, for your permission to include this photo here. For more of his work, please visit his Flickr page. This image is in the set: "Nature et Paysages".

Happy Knitting!

Moira 
Patterns/Bags,
mesh bag, knitted bag, market bag, shopping bag, tote bag, no plastic bags, cotton bag, fabric-lined bag, shoulder bag,

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