Ventbag

The problem – One million plastic bags are used globally every MINUTE!
On average, every UK citizen uses 300 plastic bags each year.

The solution – Morsbags – started in January 2007, there are now over 100 local groups or ‘Pods’ through out the UK and abroad making and giving away morsbags – fabric shopping bags made by volunteers using recycled donated fabrics. There are instructions for making the bags on the site and lots of useful hints and tips on their forum. The bags are always given away free.

I have registered us as ‘Ventnor Bags’ on the Morsbags website for anyone in the area who would like to try and help us cut the use of plastic bags. If you would like to make these bags as a group, TG, WI etc or as individuals please go to www.morsbags.com and apply to join the Ventnor Bags Pod so I can keep a tally of how many bags are made and given away or contact me to let me know how many you have made.

Bembridge already has a very active group making them, they have made and given away near to 300 bags and are in the top ten in the list of pods who have made the most bags. If you are over that side of the Island you can join their pod – Bembridge TG Baggers via the Morsbag site or you could always start your own local pod.

Please consider donating any old duvet covers, sheets, curtains, fabric offcuts, sewing thread, spare sewing machines etc that you no longer need to our collection point – The Ventnorian shop, Spring Hill, Ventnor or contact us and we will collect. We especially need two hand sewing machines as we have several outdoor publicity/information events coming up where there will be no electricity. If you have one that you no longer use that you would like to give or lend to us we will be very grateful.

We are starting group bag making sessions in Bonchurch, Upper Ventnor, St. Lawrence and Ventnor town if you would like to join us. Let me know where you would like to sew and if you would prefer an afternoon or evening group. If you can sew a straight line you can make a bag, if you can’t sew you can still get involved by cutting out bags, pressing bags or making the tea to keep the baggers going, it is fun and you will make new friends.

We are looking for a free venues (as no money changes hands and the bags are always given away free) to hold our bag making sessions at, preferably with disabled access, if you know of anywhere we could use please let us know.