From the page: A PET bottle holds more value than it seems
Idea 9
Woven strip ecobag
Weaving strips is an ancestral technique — fiber basketry has existed for thousands of years precisely because interlacing distributes weight across many threads at once. With PET strips, the logic repeats: each crossing divides the load, and the plastic handles the weight of groceries surprisingly well.
What you need
- 8 to 12 2-liter PET bottles, preferably smooth and of the same color or matching colors
- Craft knife and strong scissors
- Ruler and permanent marker
- Stapler or rivets/holes with a punch and thin wire (or nylon cord)
- Adhesive tape to hold the strips while weaving
How to make it
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1
Cut the top and bottom off each bottle so only the cylinder remains, then open the cylinder with a vertical cut — you get sheets of flat plastic to turn into strips.
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2
With the ruler and pen, mark and cut strips about 3/4 inch wide, all the same measure — uniformity is what makes the bag straight and pretty.
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3
Assemble the weave for the front of the bag: stretch the vertical strips side by side and fix the ends with adhesive tape on a table, then pass the horizontal strips through, alternating over and under — it's the same weave as a mat, and it's what gives the strength.
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4
Make two woven panels of the same size (front and back) and join three sides with firm stitches of wire, nylon cord, or well-clenched staples — reinforcing the corners with folded strips keeps the base from sagging under weight.
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5
For the handles, braid three long strips into a hair braid and fix the ends inside the bag, reinforcing with a double strip inside — the handle is the point that suffers most, so the more fixing points, the better.
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6
Turn the bag inside out to check the stitches, adjust anything loose, and run your finger along the corners to smooth them — PET edges can scratch, so it's worth folding a thin strip over each exposed edge.
Finishing touches
Mix bottle colors to form geometric stripes in the weave, like someone weaving patterns. And remember: the more crossings per centimeter, the firmer the bag — tight weaves can even carry heavy grocery bottles.
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