But I need shopping bags for fabric I hope to sell at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo. Question is, what will work the best. Here are my requirements:
- Must be sturdy.
- Should be colorful-a business called So Many Colors can't have drab bags!
- Should have the business name or web address on the bag.
- Should do whatever else possible to promote the business and help establish a business identity.
This was my plan last night. I even ordered some of the Magic Foam Judi mentioned. Then, this morning I wondered if I could make and dye tote bags. They'd show off LWI dyeing, would certainly be colorful and I could iron on fabric labels with my company name and web site.
Each tote would sew up quickly and I could certainly speed things up with a production routine. However, I always seem to underestimate the time it will take for any project. Over the years I've learned to estimate the time I think it will take then multiply by three. And should I spend any precious time over the next three weeks sewing totes when that is not my product? Probably not.
Dharma Trading Company is my source for cotton interlock and cotton/lycra knit fabric so I took a look at what they have in PFD totes. Some didn't have great reviews but I did like this one:
The biggest question is how well cotton duck does in low water immersion dyeing. I've asked if anyone has experience with it on the Dyers List forum. I also have two old totes which I think are cotton so I'm going to wash them and try dyeing them tonight.
So far I've invested a good eight hours researching shopping bag options and tracking down techniques. OMG! But, I'm going to look at it as a worthwhile investment which should help define my brand and make a memorable impression on customers. What do you think?