Bag it Forward

Bag It Forward is a creative and environmentally friendly volunteer activity where you can transform old or unworn t-shirts into reusable tote bags.

These tote bags will be distributed to neighbors visiting Harvesters’ partner agencies, to provide them with sustainable way to carry their food items home each time they visit.

This initiative not only supports our community members but also promotes environmental sustainability efforts by reducing the use of plastic bags and recycling old t-shirts.

How It Works: 
Just gather up you your supplies and follow the tutorial below. This activity is great for individuals, groups, kids, or adults! Once you have completed your bags, bring them to one of Harvesters facilities and we’ll get them out to our partner agencies!

• Lay the t-shirt flat on a table.
• Cut off the sleeves along the seams. If you’d like to fold the t-shirt in half, you can cut both sleeves at once so that they are identical. Or, if your material is too thick to cut them both at once, you can cut one, then fold it in half and use the cut side as a guide for the next sleeve.
• Cut out the neckline to create an open top (you can use a bowl or plate as a guide for a smooth curve).

• Turn the t-shirt inside out.
• Determine where you want the bottom of the bag to be (at least 3-4 inches up from the bottom hem) and trace a line across with the ruler. Keep in mind that depending on the fabric used, your tote is likely to stretch and become longer when it gets filled.
• Cut slits at the bottom of the t-shirt up to the line marking the bottom of your bag, including the side slits. The slits should be cut 1-inch wide. You’ll want to cut both the front and back layers together, so they match up for the next step.
• Take your first pair of front and back strips and tie them into a knot. Then tie two more pairs. Now if you lift your bag, you’ll see that although the pairs are pulling the bag together, there’s a hole between each pair. This next step will close those holes.
• In the first photo above, you see three sets of strips that have been tied in knots. Now you’ll want to grab one strand from the middle set (the one with the arrow pointing left) and tie it in a knot with one of the strands on the left set. Then take the other strand from the middle set (the one with the arrow pointing right) and tie it in a knot with one of the strands on the right set.
• Now tie the next, fourth, set of front and back strips and tie the remaining strips on the right (or third) set to one strip of that next set. Follow these simple steps until all the strips are tied.
• Turn the bag right-side out again, and you’ve got a tote!