Mike, One of my hobbies is breeding zinnias, and I use "hairnets" that I make from mesh fabric that I bought in the fabric department of Wal-Mart. The material is inexpensive and has an open mesh that allows easy air circulation and sun exposure, while keeping bees from getting at the flower. The nets don't harm the flowers or plants at all. Interestingly, I have seen butterflies sipping nectar from the zinnias through the mesh, but they don't go after the zinnia pollen, so I am glad that the butterflies can feed through the mesh. The nets are basically approximately square "sacks". I fold over a rectangular piece of the mesh and secure the top seam and side seem by weaving a piece of black yarn through the mesh. I alternate sides with the yarn about every ½" to ¾". The seam doesn't need to be really closely stitched. Obviously I leave the bottom open to allow the "hairnet" to fit down over the flower. I use black mesh and yarn because the black nets are less conspicuous in the garden. I just started using these nets last year and they have revolutionized my zinnia breeding. I used to have to race the bees to get at the pollen on my selected breeder zinnias, but now I can relax and get the pollen over a period of half a day, and have an abundant supply of good pollen. The bees are amazingly aggressive at grabbing any available zinnia pollen. The nets also keep the bees from randomly pollinating my selected breeder flowers. Here is a picture of one of the nets on a zinnia. This zinnia was in rather poor shape because it is one that I grew from a cutting this fall and I just used it as a "model" to wear a net for this picture which I just now made. My breeder zinnias typically look much better than this one, as you can see for yourself by looking at their pictures in the It can be fun to breed your own zinnias message thread in the Annuals forum. I make the nets in several sizes to accommodate different sized flowers. You shouldn't have any trouble making these nets to your own specifications from needles, yarn, and mesh fabric from a local fabric store. MM

I haven't planted them but make sure they are apple/cedar rust resistant. I found out the hard (or should I say expensive)way about apple cedar rust.

The look on the kitten's face is precious.

Make it all the color of the top and bottom. Sew your middle color over on the center. Measure where you want it down from the top. Turn and press the middle piece 1/2 inch under on top and bottom and stitch with a double seam like you see on jeans. Then sew up the sides matching the center seams. If you want a flat bottom. Turn the bag inside out, match your side seams with the center of the bottom and pin it across making a triangle, then stitch across from side to side. The strap can be strapping you buy at a fabric store or made from your material. If you make it from your material, back it with heavy interfacing. Sew it together and turn it out the right way--the rubber end of a pencil can help with this. Keep the seam at one side of the strap and stitch in 1/4 inch on both sides. The straps can start at canter bottom and go all around the bag. Overlap on the bottom by a few inches. Sew the strap on on both sides of the strap. Following the stitching lines already there if you are using material. I suggest you do some measuring to make sure the strap is the right length. A heavy card or plastic covered in your lining material will keep the bottom flat. I hope this helps If you have trouble post again and I'll try to help