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    Home » House Stuff » Cleaning, Fixing & Organizing

    How to Open a Potato Bag.
    Or any bag that closes with string.

    October 22, 2012 by Karen 98 Comments

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    When someone sends me an Ask Karen question I answer it with the lightening speed of a sloth eating a brick of saltwater taffy.

    So when Leslie sent me a message last winter about how to open a bag that's sewn closed with string ... I got to work.  I got to work cleaning the fridge, and brushing my cats, and making a house of cards out of Oreo cookies and avoiding any sort of organized exercise program.

    I also taught myself to do origami out of homemade fruit leather.

    After I'd exhausted all methods of avoidance, I set my mind to figuring out exactly how to open a bag that's sewn closed with string at the top.  Because who hasn't been completely frustrated staring down at a bag of potatoes KNOWING if you just pull the right string ... it'll open like magic.

    So I dressed myself in a suit made of cabbage leaves, went to the grocery store, crouched down low, and practiced on all of their potato bags.  With my clever camouflage I remained inconspicuous for more than 3 minutes.

    Then I got kicked out of the grocery store.

    After months of research, vandalism and fridge cleaning ... I figured it out.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    This video is for you Leslie.  I would like to extend an early "You're Welcome".

    ~ karen

     

    How to Open a Bag

     

    How to open a bag that's closed with string (like a potato sack). It's easier than you think.

    I cannot overstate this Leslie ... you're welcome.

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    1. Mary

      October 23, 2012 at 9:35 am

      That's exactly how I do it. And I actually lol'd for real! Thanks for a good start to my day.

      Reply
    2. Gina

      October 23, 2012 at 9:34 am

      Ha, I just go directly to your second method for the same reason.

      Reply
    3. Lisa

      October 23, 2012 at 9:33 am

      You are a hoot & it works for me! Just FYI though, sometimes on the bottom of the sewn bags is a thick paper binding along edge that has the same stitching running down the middle of it, however when you "simply" pull that string magic happens & it comes right off. Not all bags have this nifty option but it's a dream when they do. Love your videos!

      Reply
      • Nancy Blue Moon

        October 23, 2012 at 12:08 pm

        You are right Lisa..That kind of bag is very easy to open..My cat food has this and it opens in a zip!! Why can't they sew them all this way??

        Reply
    4. Leslie

      October 23, 2012 at 9:30 am

      Oh Karen!

      Thank you VERY MUCH! That is hilarious! I've been watching for this post for months.

      You've made my day! My week actually!
      Still laughing!
      Leslie

      Reply
    5. Jamiek

      October 23, 2012 at 9:26 am

      Scissors - Y-E-S!!!

      Reply
    6. SuzyMcQ

      October 23, 2012 at 8:57 am

      Your nails look great. Also enjoyed the occasional cackle in the background.

      Reply
    7. Sally

      October 23, 2012 at 8:26 am

      The whole time I'm watching this, I wanted to scream with frustration, because of course, it should have worked. I'm yelling, "just get the scissors!", and then of course..... What a great laugh! Thanks for sharing, as usual.

      Reply
    8. Erin

      October 23, 2012 at 8:17 am

      Hey, if at first you don't succeed, hack at it with scissors...

      Reply
    9. Jules

      October 23, 2012 at 8:14 am

      hahaha! I was so curious in the beginning thinking this would be a revelation on how to open them..your approach is perfect..

      Reply
    10. Tina

      October 23, 2012 at 8:06 am

      OH thank you. My first big laugh of the day and it very much appreciated! LOL

      Reply
    11. Mary Kay

      October 23, 2012 at 7:54 am

      LMFAO - Great start to my day!!

      Reply
    12. marsha gaspari

      October 23, 2012 at 7:49 am

      bahahahahahahaha Bloody brilliant.

      Reply
    13. Erica Filpi

      October 23, 2012 at 7:48 am

      Karen thank you for the laugh.

      Reply
    14. Cindy Marlow

      October 23, 2012 at 7:44 am

      Yet another Karen video that totally ruins my mascara. I need to read your blog BEFORE I do my makeup!

      Reply
    15. Karen Anderson

      October 23, 2012 at 7:15 am

      HIlarious! That is EXACTLY how I opened the last bag of birdseed that I bought..only with a bit more swearing and finally stabbing it, Psycho shower scene style, with the closest thing I could grab--gardening clippers. Opened perfectly.

      Reply
    16. Tricia Rose

      October 23, 2012 at 6:41 am

      Oh Karen, I got all excited! thinking you had the answer! (guess you do...)

      Reply
    17. Jamieson

      October 23, 2012 at 6:32 am

      Now I see where your chickens inherited their graceful moves in "will they eat it?"
      (PS It's early and I'm still in bed next to my sleeping husband, so I had to watch the video in silence. It adds a certain frantic 'je ne sais quoi'.)

      Reply
    18. Mary

      October 23, 2012 at 5:50 am

      So-o-o funny! Great way to start my early day. This always happens to me, too.

      Reply
    19. Laura Bee

      October 23, 2012 at 5:30 am

      Hahaha! I had this skill when I was 12 & we had chickens. I lost it over the years & now have to use this method on my potato bags.

      Reply
    20. Rhonda "SmartyPants"

      October 23, 2012 at 5:13 am

      Wow--I stopped watching reruns of "Greg the Bunny" just to see this post. Your build up increased my anticipation so much I actually put off my nightly snack of raw cookie dough that I always eat while reading the latest "Art of Doing Stuff" blog. Man, what a let down. I totally expected a flaming can of lighter fluid, a hacksaw, or at least a bandaged finger (we all know about your tendency to self-harming posts). What I do love, Karen, is the color of your nail polish -- ooh, la, la. Pray tell, what is the color named?

      Actually, thank you, thank you very much. If you had been successful, you would have been forced to address the absurdity of what happens on the off chance one should actually find the frickin' right string to pull: 'Now what do I do with this stupid piece of string?'

      You rock, as always!

      Reply
      • Karen

        October 23, 2012 at 9:51 am

        Hi Rhonda - It's Rimmel - Stiletto Red. ~ karen!

        Reply
        • Rhonda "SmartyPants"

          October 23, 2012 at 4:47 pm

          I love you -- Rimmel, same brand I use. Isn't it great to get such great colors for such a wee price? Thank you, thank you again. I'll be flashing my Stiletto Red nails before nightfall.

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