Artigianati.com

by JACKIE BURRELL

Despite their locavore leanings and hybrid cars, many Californians still find themselves snatching up wispy baggies at the supermarket and guiltily swearing they'll reuse them ... later.

It's not just Californians, of course. Those petroleum-based bags have become so prevalent, U.S. consumers throw away 100 billion plastic bags a year. That translates to 500 billion on a global scale - or a million bags per minute, tossed like used tissues.....

.......

FITS TO A TEE

This creation, designed by Martha Stewart's crafts team, is a perfect project for a novice sewer or T-shirt hound because it turns soft, old shirts into hip, ridiculously easy grocery totes. Sling it over a shoulder and proclaim "I (Heart) NY," or declare your allegiance to Oski. Either way, a single seam and some scissor action transforms an old T-shirt into a chic bag in two minutes flat.

Nutshell: Turn the shirt inside out, and sew the bottom closed. Turn right side out and lay flat. Cut off sleeves. Enlarge the neck hole by cutting a larger semicircle (use a mixing bowl as a template).

More: View the how-to video at www.marthastewart.com/article/good-thing-t-shirt-bag.