Earth Day

We had absolutely miserable weather here yesterday. I'm big on traditions and one thing I wanted to do with Little Scoot was to do something on Earth Day each year. I think I'm relatively environmentally conscious, so I know that will be a quality that he learns. Maybe next year we'll be able to plant something or pick up garbage somewhere.

So for my contribution this year, I bought yarn. How, do you ask, does this contribute to Earth Day? Because I bought yarn to make BYOB bags - enough for four, I hope (three with coordinating colors - ie the MC of one bag is CC1 of another and CC2 of a third; and then I bought some multi-colored yarn for the fourth, where I'll probably skip the striping). I've wanted to make these since the pattern debuted, but just haven't felt (much) of a desperate desire to.

Well, I was inspired by Knit Picks' new Knit 1, Give 1 campaign to finally make those bags! I needed something a bit more economical though than the KP kits, which is why I went back to the BYOB. I chose Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn for its price and that it comes in tons of fun colors. If my planning works out as it should, I shouldn't have much in the way of leftovers.

I think the bags will make really great gifts for people (or add-on gifts, like using it in place of a gift bag or wrapping paper), since a lot of folks these days are more market-bag friendly. I've wanted to stockpile a few household-type knits for when I need a quick, small gift for someone, so this will be the start to that.

I personally bring as many of my own bags to the store as possible (I'm keeping one of the BYOB bags for myself!) and refuse bags if I get only a couple items that I can carry or stuff in my purse. When I do get plastic bags from stores, I find uses for them around the house when I can and if I can't, they get recycled.