Easy to Make Ditty Bags...and Groundhogs Day

I mentioned awhile ago that David had asked me to make some new ditty bags the next time I had the sewing machine out. He uses them for holding various parts and tools. I use them for things like clothespins and sewing supplies. I had cut up the old bimini and salvaged some good-sized chunks of useable Sunbrella fabric which provided ample material for the half dozen new bags he'd requested. For those of you who don't know what a ditty bag is, here's Wiktionary's definition. Though the origin of the term ditty bag is not clear, it appears to be a nautical term used in the 1850s as a slang for the cloth bag which sailors used to carry their personal items. It might derive from the British naval phrase commodity bag. Not sure how “housewife” got mixed up in the definition. Anyhow, David uses ditty bags lots and needed more.

When there's a dearth of ditty bags, David uses Zip-Loc bags which wear out quickly. The ditty bags eventually wear out, too … but after several years, rather than weeks. In particular, he needed a new ditty bag to hold his vast collection of sockets (you can never have too many!). He also needed one to manage his supply of stainless hose clamps in various sizes. If I make more, he'll always find a use for them. This is about the easiest project you can do using used or leftover fabric and you can make one, from start to finish, in 15 minutes … max.

This is not rocket science. I don't even get out my measuring tape. I eyeball the size and cut, providing for a ½ seam allowance and a 1” tube along the top edge for a drawstring. In this case, David wanted a couple of bags about the size of a ZipLoc gallon bag, so I got out a bag to figure the approximate size. I fold the fabric in half to save myself cutting and stitching on one side.

Fold over and stitch the short ends of the rectangle first to give a finished edge. Then fold over about 1” along the top edge and stitch it so there is a long tube for the drawstring.

Stitch the side and bottom seams starting about 1” down from the top, so that you have access to the drawstring tube.

Turn the bag right-side out and then draw a piece of small line through the drawstring tube using a large safety pin. We usually tie the ends of the line together in a knot.

Voila! You've got a ditty bag.

Notes: I had a shortcut because the finished bimini edge provided a built-in drawstring tube for a couple of the bags.

Sometimes the bags are leftover fabric from another project … like pillow covers, etc., in which case they become rather colorful, but easily distinguishable.

For sake of identification, David sometimes labels the bags.

By the way, in case you forgot, it's Groundhog's Day. Not from the USA? It's an fun holiday to determine if we'll get an early Spring or not. Check out Punxatawney Phil's official website. We plan to watch the movie, Groundhog Day, tonight to celebrate. Any opportunity to celebrate!

In Search of a New Duffel

 

About once a year when the kids were young, we encouraged them to go through their old toys and clothes and box them all up. We'd head off to the Mile High Flea Market, secure an 8' x10' spot, lay out our tarps and display all of our treasures for sale. As soon as they'd made a few sales, the kids would disappear and return with all the new treasures they'd found. Who can forget Brad's life-sized stuffed black panther or Brennan's coconut head collection? As we headed for the Broad Acres Flea Market (Your one stop for shopping and entertainment) in North Las Vegas, we couldn't help reminiscing a little bit about the “old” days.

The parking lot was crowded early on a Saturday morning. Some folks go to the flea market to browse Not us … we had a mission. We needed to find a sturdy duffel (read that: a large duffel able to withstand over-stuffing and rough handling on three connecting flights) for our return trip to Australia. Yes, we do plan to return to Australia in the near future and this is proof of our intent. Prices we had seen on duffels seems extraordinarily high though the last time we bought one at Wal-Mart for cheap ($20), it was flimsy and unwieldy and didn't even make it through the whole trip (thank goodness for duct tape). We were hoping to find a sturdier used one in good condition for cheap. Our parsimonious natures always kick in when it comes to spending money for lugging stuff back to the boat.

It was hot … 105F (40.5C) as we purchased our $1.50 entry tickets and headed through the Broad Acres gates. They touted “over 1,100 vendors”, but there was no where near that number this morning. We only needed one used duffel, however, and surely within this flea market universe there had to be one vendor willing to part with a slightly used one for under $10! We were counting on it.

We skirted around the perimeter in the full sun and walked full circle checking the outside booths. We had no hats, water or sunscreen … big mistake. What were we thinking? We know better. We quickened our pace to avoid melting into the asphalt pavement and retreated to the inside aisles seeking shelter from the sun where we could and ferreting out booths with luggage as we cruised by. We saw hula hoops, lots of Jesus statues, used tools, an alley of appliances, lawn mowers and knock-your-socks-off amplifiers, a whole booth of brassieres, and one of cowboy boots, miscellaneous mops, coconuts and a myriad of other interesting offerings. No duffels.

After traipsing up and down endless aisles (with much complaining on the part of the first mate), we spotted one. An Hispanic fellow about our age had a disparate grouping of used household stuff, old cell phones, a laptop and other miscellany laid out carefully on a blue tarp. There, propped up at the far end of his booth was a sturdy-looking duffel. I checked the heavy duty zippers … they all worked. I checked the tote handle and wheels … all sturdy and in working order. No holes or wear spots. I turned the hard part over to David, chief relentless negotiator.

“How much for the duffel?” David queried.

“$12”, the vendor smiled.

“How about $5?”, David smiled back.

“No, Senor. $10.” Still smiling.

“Would you take $7?” David retorted while I started towards another booth.

“I will take $8.” One more unconvincing smile crept onto his face.

David paid the man and walked away dragging our duffel behind him.

Mission accomplished. Now all we have to do is pack it.

By the way, lest you leave without a bit of trivia, there's quite a bit of conjecture as to the etymology of the term “flea market”. The theory I like best was published in the 1998 winter edition of Today's Flea Market (yes, Virginia, there is such a magazine). Albert LaFarge, in his article “What is a Flea Market?” wrote "There is a general agreement that the term "Flea Market" is a literal translation of the French “marche aux puces”, an outdoor bazaar in Paris, France, named after those pesky little parasites of the order Siphonaptera (or "wingless bloodsucker") that infested [old clothing and] the upholstery of old furniture brought out for sale."

Yard Sales... Weekend Bliss

 

Right up there next to Thrift Shops, Op Shops for our down under friends, are yard sales. Yard sales, boot sales, estate sales, garage sales, rummage sales, block sales … I don't care what you call them … count me in. Lin pours over the local paper beginning on Thursdays and we look for all the local listings of sales for the weekend. We rule out the ones that emphasize baby clothes and toys. We plan the route carefully … we're efficient.

We're up early, review the travel plan and we're off to rummage through what some people would call unwanted “stuff” … maybe even trash. We are, of course, searching out the treasure. Do we have anything specific in mind? Of course not. Treasure isn't always identifiable in advance. You know it when you see it. As we make our way to the first yard sale, we notice lots of posted signs for other sales along the way. The anticipation rises.

We arrive at the first sale by 8am. There are already cars parked along the street. They've got a Garage Sale flag flying which probably means they do this regularly. No prices are marked. We have to ask for prices on everything we're interested in. $5 for a necklace? Is she crazy? Does she want to sell this stuff or not? We check everything out quickly, but we've already moved on. This one is a bust.

The next one has lots of antiques. They're cleaning out a barn full of old stuff ranging from kegs of nails to 1980's TVs and “vintage luggage”, read that luggage with no wheels, no handles and in rough condition.

Actually, it's not about the conquest, but rather the chase. We love looking at every little thing to determine if we've found the deal of the century. Lin got a lovely Delft compote for $2 last year. This is not David's cup of tea, so it's good he's not here to endure it. We bought all of our camping equipment a couple of years ago on Craigslist or at yard sales. David's idea of yard saling is a quick glance and a question to the owner. “Got any camping gear?” “No? ... okay, thanks” and moving on. Lin and I need a bit more time to look and digest the fact that they don't have anything we need or want.

Finally, we find a place that has reasonable prices and things we might need. Lin picks up a new yard rake for $5. I walk around with some fabric for ten minutes or so and finally put it back where I originally found it. I can't justify where I'll put it in my luggage to take back to Australia. The next sale, however, nets me a package of cool nautical-motif napkins, some artists brushes and a package of birthday balloons marked David … all for 75 cents. Cheap entertainment, I'd say!