The Bagshare Project: Patterns

Patterns

We make a very fast and easy bag we call the 'Jiffy' bag.
It takes no more than 6 minutes to make with a handy shoulder-bag handle. Contact Leni to learn how to make this. (A video will be added soon.)

-- DOWNLOAD THE JIFFY-BAG PATTERN

For those who want a heavy-duty shopping bag with two hand-held handles

-- DOWNLOAD THE 2-HANDLED SHOPPING BAG PATTERN

For heavy-duty seams that won't fray, check out instructions for the French Seam

-- DOWNLOAD THE FRENCH SEAM INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO CREATE RE-USEABLE, REVERSIBLE MALT BAG SHOPPING BAGS.

Super-Jiffy No-Sew Method! (Click on image for printable version)

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BagShare Chapters

Amherst Survival Center

The bags are used for their Food Pantry.
All ages are welcome
contact Roxy Schneider at rcs1@comcast.net

Athol, MA Sew
Ongoing

Contact Heidi Strickland at heidikleiner@gmail.com for dates and times

Easthampton Sewing Center
Eastworks, Space # 330
116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton, MA
All are welcome
Please R.S.V.P. leni@lenifriedprintmaking.com

Pittsfield Chapter
Tyler Street Lab
730 Tyler Street, Pittsfield, MA
Events posted on calendar / Check out our Facebook Group
More info at tylerstreetlab@gmail.com

BagShare Venues in Massachusetts

The following places host The Bagshare Project in Massachusetts.
If you forget to bring your bag you can borrow one. If you forget to return your bagshare bag, you can return it to any of these locations.

• Richard Salter Storrs Memorial Library, Longmeadow, MA
• The Old Creamery Grocery , Cummington, MA

• Emily Williston Public Library, Easthampton, MA
• Cornucopia Foods, Northampton MA
• The Millstone Farm Market, Sunderland, MA
• Kidstuff, Florence, MA
• Acadia Herbals, Northampton, MA
• Northampton Tuesday Market
• Amherst Winter farmer's market
• Amherst Survival Center, Amherst
• Northampton Survival Center
• Gaylord Memorial library, South Hadley, MA
• Mom's House, Amherst, MA
• Cushman's Market, Amherst, MA
• Meekins Library, Williamsburg, MA
• Pittsfield Farmers Market, Pittsfield, MA
• The Hampden Public Library, Hampden, MA
• Williamsburg Market, Williamsburg, MA

*Mixed Nuts Food coop (pending)
*Hampshire College Farm center (pending)
*Lilly Library (pending) Florence

PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE BAGSHARE'S IMPACT:
The Creamery used 49,000 paper bags annually.
Since Earth Day of 2008 they became disposable bag free!
The offer the customer reused cardboard boxes or bag share bags when they forget their own. They have saved $5000 per year and 70, 15 year old trees per year.

It takes a 15 year old tree to produce 700 grocery bags.

= Denotes a venue that's completely Disposable Bag Free!

What is the BagShare?

The goal of the BagShare is to transition stores to going disposable bag free.

How the BagShare Works
Volunteers sew and donate cloth bags to stores, libraries, farmer's markets, and other venues that want to reduce their bag waste.

And ID tag is sewn on the front of each bag, designating it as a 'Use and Return' bag. The bags are borrowed when someone forgets their own bag and and returned to any BagShare location.

Sewers sign & date each tag with their name or alias!

To purchase tags, contact Leni at 413-634-5591.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Here are a few samples of matrials we help keep out of the landfill:

Scrap fabric: donated from individuals and businesses

upholstery samples from furniture stores

Malt bags: from local breweries

Misprinted tote bags from silkscreen companies

Pre-made totes: donated by individuals and businesses. Banks and other venues donate extras from fundraisers and promotional events.Turn them insideout, sew the BagShare tag on the outside and VOILA!

Handles: can be made from re used seat belts! Contact our local Auto salvage yards and ask them to cut out the seat belts before the cars are crushed.

(send us your ideas to re-use so we can expand the list!)

The Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction has been holding bag sews!

The Bag Share Project has been meeting at the Hampshire County Jail since the winter/spring of 2008. Volunteers come to the jail to run sewing circles and teach new sewing students how to sew. Participants in the project also study the ecological effects of disposable products and consumerist habits. On June 13th, 2008, the jail had an art exhibit in its VR Gallery, for which Bag Share Project participants sewed a collection of art bags that are still part of the Bag Share Project’s permanent collection. Through the project over 200 people have learned how to sew on sewing machines. So far the men and women participating in the project at the jail have sewn over 500 bags.

These bagsews are not open to the public but if you would like to volunteer contact Leni

Pages

Patterns

BagShare Wish List

BagShare Venues in Massachusetts

What is the BagShare?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Who sews for The BagShare?

How you can help