October 10, 2010

Man Bags

A couple of years ago I added some pockets to the now-ubiquitous reusable grocery store bags.  I originally had three of them. Now only one remains and it's got kind of a girly paisley pattern on it and that is certainly not helping my husband remember to take bags with him when he does the shopping. So I made some more. I used some more of that precious Echino fabric I bought on our Seattle trip earlier this year.


They are kind of urban and even lighthearted despite the color scheme. The pockets were originally added to cover up the painfully ugly logo printed on the bags. But it turns out the pockets come in so handy. We put our net bags for produce in there. And coupons.

Here's the other side. A little more color. But hopefully still manly enough. Are polka dots manly? Say yes.

These went so quick, and I love the chance to feature a little bit of special fabric without having to sew an entire bag myself. I want to collect this style of bag in every color and add pockets to them too! Now for goodness sake if you happen to see these bags out and about on a man, that is my husband, and you should definitely not compliment them (unless you are also a man, then go right ahead). See, if girls start complimenting him it will reinforce his assumption that carrying reusable shopping bags is not manly. So you can leave any compliments right here and then he'll never have to know that the ladies approve. I'm sure you understand.

17 comments:

Susan said...

Consider yourself lucky that the bags are black! In Australia ours are all bright shamrock GREEN! No hope about losing THEM! Your bags look great!

Fat Chick Design said...

Why didn't I think of net bags before!
I so hate plastic bags that you put your veg and fruit in, and now I can feel better and follow your lead!
Lovely shopping bags too, spots are manly, think of them as blobs of oil, or nail heads :)

Gene Black said...

Clearly the dots under the buss are cobblestones. Don't call them 'polka dots' if you want him to think 'manly' - just saying!

Mama Pea said...

You are hilarious. I love this post. The fabric bags are so much more functional because they hold so much more than the plastic ones, and they hold up better. If I see your hubby out, I'll be sure not to compliment him. Rather I'll ask him for directions or something and suggest something about him makes him look smart and like he knows what he's doing (I won't say it's the smart looking bag that he's carrying that made me think that).

DianeY said...

Sounds like my husband!

Gail Lizette said...

Love the bags! Hope your hubby does too :)

nocton4 said...

great bags x

Cal said...

Great bags, love the patch of fun fabric... from where were they originally? (whose logo did you cover?)

Susan J Barker said...

I have been doing these pockets for awhile now and they are so handy! The purchased bags I get are black too (Superstore in Canada) but Safeway, and the other stores all have their own colours, green, blue, red and grey seem to be the most common. I am slowly making and giving these to everyone I know for birthdays or other events and I love it when I see one of my friends carrying a bag I modified!

Sand and Sunshine said...

LOL! For the record reusable bags are manly as my own DH selected his and carries them without my yeah or nay as he was altogether sick of the plastic ones breaking and dumping tomato sauce all over the driveway.

Coupon hauling though... I try to only send the best ones as they can be forgotten. If he remembers he always uses any that I have that are for "a free item". hehehe

The Vegetarian Hunter said...

I totally understand! About the not complimenting and the polka dots are manly!
Yesterday hubby and I went to the fabric store and I bought this fabulous fabric of poppies on an orange background and then a complimentary solid orange with white floral circles. I tried to convince him that it was very manly because the orange is just like the color on his favorite football team - the BC Lions!
He looked at my eyebrow cocked and said "The Lions do not have flowers on their jersey".
I tried!

Gina said...

I think they are great.
My hubby isn't too fussy. He's quite happy to carry my brightly coloured bags. All exceptthe one withthe spiders on as he's not fussy on spiders

Love and hugs Gina xxx

bunbear said...

very nice bags! i do like the idea of the pocket and the mesh bags. great ideas!

Unknown said...

My husband gets mad if I forget the bags. he'd take the girliest bag ever just to save a bag.

I've been searching for the scooter print...

Anonymous said...

I love Echino and we always forget the great bags.

Pétra said...

I'd love to link to your post it's such a great idea! Pétra

Anonymous said...

Hello. I would really like to know where you got your net bags or how you made them please!

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