I just made this drawstring bag from a produce bag. I had recently been frustrated, while traveling, at having a bag for incidental items that was impossible to see inside. I'd always have to empty it out or feel around carefully to find what I was looking for.
These produce bags are the opposite of that, they're very transparent, and you can see exactly what's inside it. Another benefit is that it has a mesh feel to it, it's a unique feel if you're reaching deep in a backpack, looking for something. And also it's very expandable, I could have almost doubled what I put in there.
And, of course, it's free and ultra-light.
It's kind of self-explanatory to make it, but to recap:
- Get the right size bag in a grocery store. Often bags of lemons will come in these kinds of mesh plastic bags.
- Cut the top off. Leave the bottom closed (usually they're closed with a metal staple type closure) or close it at whatever size you want with a knot.
- To add the cord, just weave with a cord through the mesh at the top.
- I used the toggle closure from an old jacket to close it off, then tied a knot at the end so the toggle can't come off the cord.