Basket case

I used to lug this bag to and from the local pool many years ago when the Child was having 'water-appreciation' classes. As she was just four months old at the time, appreciating it was about all she could do until it came to her first dunking. Anyway...

This bag then became a grocery bag, until the strap broke. It then sat in cupboards around the house for ages just taking up space, and was almost thrown out on more than one occasion. Until I saw a tote bag with jute webbing handles for sale. I had jute webbing. I had a bag. Now I also had a solution.

Whether as a repair job or to sew on a bag you make yourself, jute webbing is a great alternative as it's nice and sturdy. Not to mention good looking.

If you've never come across it before, jute webbing is made to tie small trees and shrubs in place. Look for it at hardware and garden shops where its sold by the roll (roughly $15 for about 20 or 30 metres from memory; I've had mine for ages), or by the metre.

Tip: The most common jute webbing comes in just the one colour but there's also some with two red stripes, which would make great handles on an otherwise plain Frenchy-style tote.