Plarn 2

 To make a reusable grocery bag instead of a shoulder bag, change the size of your bottom strip. I didn't count the chains, just made it almost 6 inches long for the width of the bottom. I think working that first row on the chain stitches is the hardest part of starting a new project, so I work across the shorter end.

 Then, work even sc across the rows until it's the desired length. The "nubs" are where the joining knots aren't quite as tight.

I like 12 inches deep for grocery bags. Many of the cloth reusable bags stores sell are 6 x 12 on the bottom and 12 to 14 inches deep.

 

 

Different measurements make different shaped bags. I'm still cutting strips for this bag, the stripes of different colors are slightly different colors of bags from the same store. 7 x 11, it will probably be 12 deep.

 I put 2 straps on my grocery bags. When it's the right depth, mark the 4 corners with safety pins. Instead of working across the short ends, I start a strap in a corner of a long side. I make them 15 sc wide to be a bit stronger than the handles of the shoulder bag.

23 inches long straps

 

 I join the strap so that the outside edge of it is even with a corner. Then work across the end to the next corner and make the second strap. Join and finish off.

 Different stores have different color bags. I'm waiting for more bags to finish this shoulder bag.

 The writing on the bags is in different colors, too. Eventually, I'll have shoulder bags in white with blue and red spots, or blue, or red, or multi colored spots.

I keep the bags from different stores separate, so that so far, my grocery and shoulder bags have been of simple color schemes. Stripes of different colors would be easy to do.