Making tote bags

Kia ora bloggers,
Through the term Te Waka Ako have been making things that help our environment. Our classroom made tote bags to reduce plastic bags, the other 2 classrooms made soap and christmas cards out of recycled paper. We are making these things because we are having a Gala Day that is happening soon. There are 2 different ways to make a tote bag. You can make a tote bag out of fabric or make a screenprinting bag. To make a fabric tote bag you need: Sewing machine, any type of fabric, scissors, pins, straps. It takes a lot of practise to sew the fabric and straps onto the bag because you need to correct the length and placing of where the pieces need to go. To make a screenprinting bag you need: Squeechy, ink (any colour), frame, sewing machine, pegs, scissors, pins. 

1. Grab your fabric and cut it out evenly so it looks like a rectangle.

2. pin the sides together so you know where to sew in a straight line.

3. Start sewing your bag together but don't sew the top of the bag.

4. Iron down your bag until it's flat.

5. Grab some straps and make sure you have 2 straps that are 70 cm long. 

5. pin the straps onto the bag.

6. Sew your straps on in a squared shape with a cross in the middle. 

7. Ready, set, finished!!!.

( Remember this takes practise )

It takes a while making a tote bag at first but when you get used to it then you can make one faster. We are selling these to fundraise money but the important reason why we are selling these bags is that it helps the environment because we are reusing these things. I have learnt that the more things that we reuse the less our world becomes polluted. Tote bags are sustainable because we are not harming any of our animals habitats and it can go on and on again.

I think that we are doing good so far because we are reusing things and working very hard. Our teacher says that if our tote bag is really finished we have to say to ourselves if our tote bags are sustainable enough for people to put their things in. The environment has changed my thinking because we are mostly doing this process for our world. 

If you are reading this post please comment below and also come around to Waikowhai primary school on the Gala day coming up soon. For more information come and see the posters hanging up on our school classrooms.

    See you later!!!!