Monday, May 07, 2007

My latest projects....




(Forewarning, the blogger won't allow me to do recognizable paragraphs today, so I'm going to bullet-point this post so it's easier to read, hopefully.)

  1. Well, here are some examples of my latest projects.... Cotton net grocery sacks. The pill bottle gives a bit of size reference, in case somebody's curious of how big they are.
  2. A couple of weeks ago it was announced on the radio that a couple of our state legislator's are looking to put a $.15-a-bag tax on plastic grocery sacks. (Both to increase revenue for the state, and to "encourage" people to Bring-Your-Own-Bags when grocery shopping.) I'd gotten 6 of these type bags made for myself, starting with a vastly different pattern with my first bag, then changing things till I've come up with a completely different pattern all my own (though it's a basic net, I didn't copy from anybody else, and how I do the strap/handle is different from any other patterns I've seen). By the time I got to my 6th bag and was getting started on DD's swim bag, I'd come up with a definite prototype, which is what I used in making these 3 bags (and the 4th that I just finished yesterday, that's not shown here).
  3. Anyway, I figured that I'm not going to be the ONLY one in my area who'll be wanting reusable bags instead of paying a bag tax, so I decided to make a bunch of these to sell. As I was making the yellow & white one, a coworker expressed an interest in the bags, but said she likes red. Which is why I've got that brilliant red one made. So I'm hoping that when she sees it today, she'll go ahead & buy it from me. Several other coworkers have also expressed an interest in these, as have a few of my fellow jurors. My origional intent was to make several to take with me to a locally owned & operated gift shop just a couple of miles from my house, and see if the 0wner would be interested in selling these in her shop. I'm going to ask at least $20 for them, though that price may be adjusted a bit depending on the consignment percentage the gift-shop owner wants per bag. I'm willing to go as high as $25, but not any higher. I think that $20 is about as high as most people are going to want to spend.
  4. It takes about 8 oz of cotton dishcloth yarn, of which brand I've been using the Lily Sugar & Cream. That means at least 3 balls of yarn (for solid colored bags), 4 balls of yarn in the verigated or ombre colors. And at $1.89 per bag, I can't make the bags for much less than 8 bucks in materials. Most people price their handicrafts at approx. 3 times the cost of materials, which would bring these bags up to almost $24 per bag. As I said, I don't think I'll sell as many if I charge more than $20 a bag, so as long as I get at least twice the cost of materials, per bag, I think I can work that way. And maybe I'll find people that'll buy them without having to go through selling on consignment. Seeing as I use several myself, if I have a supply of them on hand to sell, I may be able to just sell them to interested individuals as I'm out and about around town. We'll see.
  5. And seeing as their cotton bags, they're very washable. Except for that red one up there (which I'm going to advise the buyer to wash seperately with cool water the first time or two, to avoid bleeding onto other items), one can simply toss them into the washer & drier with one's towels or jeans & they wash up beautifully. Technically crocheted (or knitted) items are supposed to be blocked while wet & dried flat, but these are the sort of thing where you just scrunch them up in your purse or jacket pocket till they're needed anyway.
  6. I figured that by making DD a swim bag in this pattern, she'll be able to simply come home from the pool, take her shampoo & brush out, and toss the whole darn bag into the wash, suit & towel & all. She seems to have a hard time remembering to either take things out of the bag or to bother to toss her swim things in the washer at all. This bypasses a step by allowing her to just toss the entire thing into the wash.
  7. Anyway, I figured that it's been a while since I've shown off some of my crocheted goodies. So there ya are.... Some examples of what I've been working on lately.
  8. Have a Blessed Day!

18 comments:

Michelle said...

Those are awesome! I should get some yarn and make some bags. My problem is that I tend to go grocery shopping impulsively (I'm already out somewhere and decide to grab some things I need while I'm out) and so would need to keep them in my car. Hmmm...

Good luck with selling them! :-)

I hope it's warmed up out there...I saw the temperature yesterday and just shuddered. (That said, it's gotten warm enough down here that when talking to Dad on the phone last night I mentioned that the day was unusually cool with a high of only about 80 that day.)

Turtleheart said...

They look great! I love bags like those. I have 4 store-bought one (I think they were about $15/ea) and I've used them so much for so long now that they are starting to show some wear and tear. I have a pattern to make my own, just haven't gotten up off my butt to do it. LOL

Good Luck with selling them! Be sure to let people know that since they're so much stronger than flimsy plastic bags, they'll hold lots more (mine hold up to 25 lbs/each). They'll need fewer bags than plastic and they can carry more!

Need I say that I think crocheted mesh bags totally ROCK?!?!

whimsical brainpan said...

What an excellent idea Kati! They look great!

Kati said...

LOL Turtleheart, I think that unfortunately the strength can almost be a problem, with them. They DO hold so much, in fact, that it's easy to overload them and hurt oneself trying to lift a bag that it too heavy, even if the bag itself will not break with that that heavy of a load.

My first net bag of THIS sort of net is almost twice the size (stretched out) of the bags that I'm making now. It's damn near too heavy to haul around, when loaded even half-way. One probably could fit 50 pounds worth of cans in it, but one would earn a hernia in trying to lift it. LOL

Shelli, they're REALLY easy to make!!!! (I'll even email you my pattern, if you'd like, seeing as you're my sister! *wink*) Or, if you want me to make you a couple... As Turtleheart has said, one really doesn't need more than a couple, as they hold much more than normal plastic bags. And I know that you approach grocery shopping with more of an European view of the activity anyway, so you'd probably only need 2 bags, 3 at the most. Part of your Christmas present for next year, maybe???? ;p

Kati said...

Hey Whim (you must have posted as I was commenting to my Sis & Turtleheart)!! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Great idea. I love reuseable bags for grocery shopping. Right after reading your entry I read http://saudistepfordwife.blogspot.com/ about using woven baskets instead of plastic. Everyone must have the same idea today!

FoxTayle said...

Those are awesome! Kudos to you for taking creative initiative and making those bags! And they're earth-friendly, too!

Anonymous said...

Hey Kati,
I still love the water bottle holder that you made for me... reminds me of these bags! Love ya!
- Mom

Kati said...

Heather, I stopped by SSW & left a comment. Hers is an interesting read. I love being able to read about things from other cultures, and it's kinda funny to see what cultures have in common, even while recognizing some of the differences. Thanks for mentioning her blog!

FoxTayle, thanks for the comments! I actually sold the red one yesterday to the same coworker who mentioned liking red. So I'm pretty happy about it right now! ;)

Mom, I'd completely forgotten about the water-bottle carrier. LOL Yeah, I guess it really is the same idea, different shape & size. Maybe I'll make you a couple of these for part of your christmas present as well. ;)

Roberta said...

The bags are cute and useful. There is not a real big push for them here though- we are wasteful I guess. I always tend to forget the bags at home. I would be interested in your pattern and might give it a go.I certainly have enough yarn around here. Great idea!

Em said...

Very nice work! And I applaud the use of the same bags over and over as an environmental measure.

Gina said...

You are so talented! They are lovely. We have been getting a lot of use out of the beautiful things you sent Lyndon. People comment on them. I love telling people my friend in Alaska made them! :-)

Anonymous said...

There beautiful Kati! I usually sew my bags out of whatever I can find lying around the house(old sheets, towels, etc). I never thought of kniiting some.

You did a great job!

Brightest blessings

Heb

Princess Banter said...

Awwwwww how lovely!!! And what a clever idea too -- for shopping :) Well done... love the colors!

Ella said...

Very nice, good luck with them!

BB
Ella

http://luna-chyck.blogspot.com/

Kati said...

Roberta, and Em, and Gina, and Heb, and Princess Banter, and Ella.... THANK YOU ALL for the lovely comments.

Roberta, may I ask how you found my blog??? It's nice to have you stop by!

Em, thanks. I got sick of the constant empty plastic sacks being found in the wierdest places around the house. Though I still seem to find them, so maybe our lingering supply keep multiplying themselves. ;)

Gina, I'm glad to hear you're using them.... It's rather hard, the people that don't seem to recognize that such things are meant to be used & loved & worn.

Heb, oh, there are patterns online all over the place for knit & crocheted bags. Take a look around. Cotton yarn holds up so well, too!

Princess Banter, I'm also loving the colors. I figure that if somebody's going to reuse them for quite a while, they might as well have bags that are fun to look at. And since they're cotton, they're washable. No dull bags in MY house!!! *wink*

Ella, Thank you!

Connie Peterson said...

What a wonderful idea and kudos to Alaska for even THINKING about a tax on plastic bags!!!

If you wouldn't mind (as I am your crone!!!), could you email my your pattern? I might be able to bribe Joy into making some for me ... I am sick of plastic bags and it's difficult to get paper ones (they are more reusable) ....

Have a great day and I hope you are warming up ... we were 80ยบ today (giggle!) ...

Blessings

Unknown said...

Hi, I got the pattern from Mom and will be making her one as soon as get done making her other stuff.
Joy
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JNLANG