Frugal Crafts
(featured column)

Country Bag Holder 

by Melissa Veler

Make your very own country bag holder, using plastic canvas and yarn, for under $8.00!  More...

Supplies needed:

5 clear plastic canvas sheets (.20 each)

2 spools of “Red Heart Yarn,” your choice of colors (1.66 each)

1 medium grade plastic canvas needle (2.00)

Instructions:

Using the first four sheets of plastic canvas, you will need to cut each canvas counting 44 holes from bottom edge. Make cut to right of the 44th hole. Using caution not to cut into your 43rd area but do not leave any excess to the left of your cut. Cut exactly on the line.

On your 5th piece of Plastic canvas you will need to cut two exact squares in the center (for the top and bottom opening of your bag holder), containing 44 across and 44 down. Counting 10 from all edges make an incision to cut a perfect square in the center of both pieces. You should have a remaining 10 holes on all four sides of each piece.

Now for the fun part. Taking your 1st cut panel you thread your needle with your primary color. Starting in the far left corner you enter from the bottom, up diagonally to the next hole. Bringing your needle down to the next bottom right hole and up across to the far left empty hole. Making an X. Do not pull your yarn too tightly. You want a full look. Continue this process through the entire sheet and all of your other pieces. When tying off upon running out of yarn, slip your needle under two complete X’s and simply cut it off near where it exits.

Now about choosing your front panel, we are going to name the Bag Holder. You can do whatever you like using X’s to form your letters. I prefer “The Ole Bag.” You can do this in your alternate color.

To attach your pieces, take two panels and thread your needle with your alternate color. Starting from the bottom of your pieces, we are going to take our needle through the outer hole and into the other panel’s equal outer hole. Repeating this process until you make it all the way to the top two holes. It is time to tie off again. This time we slip our needle down through two complete X’s and tie a knot into our yarn (on the inside of what will be your frame).

Repeat this process with all your large panels. You should have a complete rectangle when completed.

Now it is time to attach our lid and bottom. Holding the bottom panel against your rectangle you simply repeat the same process around the entire bottom piece. Tying your knot on the inside this time.

Repeat this same process with your lid. Upon completion you should have a 3D rectangle with a hole in the top and one in the bottom.

Your done! Now simply attach to wall or cabinet with two screws (not nails for it wont hold over time). Put your plastic grocery bags in the top and pull out when needed through the bottom!

*  *  *

Copyright © 2004 by Melissa Veler

Want more money-saving tips?  Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!