DIY Macrame Bag & Why You Should Have One

Let's face it: everybody shops. Whether you are an avid shopper or grocery store only kind of person, you need to "get stuff" at least every once in awhile. And with that comes the bags - so many bags. If you are anything like me, you have a large collection of plastic bags under your sink or in your pantry. That's good! It means they are not automatically going into the landfill and will likely be reused at one point or another, but it's not great. Considering you are here reading this post, you probably already know that.

"What is great?" you ask - well reusable bags of course! I have all sorts of bags I use for shopping but the macrame bag is by far one of my favourites. I typically use this bag for produce and so far, it has worked quite well for this purpose. However, I did realize that produce items such as broccoli, cauliflower, and the like were not working in my macrame bag causing me to avoid purchasing them even though they are a favourite in our home! So, recently I purchased a pack of 5 mesh bags (pictured above) from a company trying to do their part in the reduction of plastic waste. If interested, you can find them here.

One of the best things about this bag is how functional it is. I use it for more than just grocery shopping. I have used it for my textbooks, and I plan on having it accompany me to the beach often this summer - just think, no more sand in your bag! This bag is diverse and stylish ... 

By now, I am hoping you see the value in having one of these bags around. For those of you that need more statistics and numbers to get on board and not just the personal testimony, let me help you out (you can find more information here):

• Plastic constitutes approximately 90 percent of all trash floating on the ocean's surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile
• Virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form (with the exception of the small amount that has been incinerated
• Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. More than one million bags are used every minute

Now for the fun part! (Note: If you would like a macrame produce bag but would prefer not to make one, they are available for purchase at $35, send me an email if you are interested!) 

DIY Macrame Bag Tutorial

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

- Macrame Cord (I used this, but any 3-5 mm cord would work)

- Scissors

- Fabric Measure

- Cup of Coffee or Tea (okay this isn't needed, but it's always nice to treat yourself when creating)

* You will notice I also used painters tape to hold the project in place, this isn't needed - do NOT go and buy some just for this - but it is helpful if you already have some around your home.

Step 2: Measure and Cut

- 18 pieces to 96 inches long each

- 1 piece to 80 inches long

Step 3: Getting Started

Set out the smaller cord. Fold the 18 long pieces in half, then knot them around the main piece. Make sure you spread them evenly (less than an inch - I did just over half an inch between each) and pull them tight. Your bag should now look like this:

Step 4: Lots of Knots

Next, you will want to start your knots. I didn't get the greatest picture of this (sorry!) so hopefully the description is clear. 

First, Take the leftmost strand and pull it to the side (you will not touch this piece until the very end!). Then, gather the next 2 leftmost strands - they should be from different knots - and tie them together. This row of knots should not be too far down from the top or the holes will be too big and your stuff will fall through (1 inch give or take a little). 

The knot you are making is a basic over-under-through knot - holding both strands together the entire time. Carry on along the line until you complete the row.

Over-under-through Knot

Once you have completed one row, you will go then go back to the left and start again. This time, instead of taking the first two strands, you will take one strand from each knot and continue to tie them together (don't forget you are still not touching that one leftmost strand).

Keep following these steps, evenly spacing the knots, until you get 9 rows.

Taking one strand from each knot to tie together.

Step 5: Making Connections

Once you have completed all 9 rows, take your bag and fold the original, shorter piece in half. You should still have the extra cord that has not been used yet. Take this piece and weave it through the two ends, knotting as you go. This will serve to connect your bag.

Side note: As a perfectionist, when I did this step I kept getting annoyed that it wouldn't look perfect. Trust me, you will not notice once the bag is done - it sits against your back so no one will see it!

Don't mind the awkward looking book in the bag - I wanted to show you how the connection should look when done and I needed the contrasting colour behind the bag. Note the one strand coming down, tying the bag together and the two pieces going up, not connected. (I made the mistake of tying these together originally, I later went back and untied them so that I could tighten the opening of my bag at will.)

 Step 6: The Bundle
Take a small, extra piece of cord and tie it around the hanging pieces of cord in both the back and front, making them into a nice bundle. Trim those little danglers if desired.

 Step 7: Strap to the Finish
The extra cord from the main line can now come down and be tied around your bundle (preferably in the same place as the previous knot). This will create a nice shoulder strap or backpack.

Step 7

Step 6

And there you have it, your own Macrame Bag. Use it for produce, books, beach days, or really anything you feel like. Enjoy!