Recycled Cassette Tape Granny Square Bag
Cassette Tape Granny Square Motif Bag
This week’s bag is a recycled little purse crocheted from plastic tan grocery bags and brown cassette tapes. This was an interesting and challenging project. Unfortunately I found out that cassette tapes come in several shades of browns after I was halfway done with my bag. I finally had to make my bag much smaller than I had planned. I couldn’t find the same shade of brown cassette tape that I started the project with so my purse became the little bag you see in this post. The strap measures about 37 inches untied. I tied it in a knot at the top to create a shorter strap. Variations of this bag can be made using all plastic bags or any other recycled materials that you may want to substitute. The overall size can be increased by adding additional rounds as desired. Have fun with this week’s bag and enjoy your recycling and crafting project.
Free Recycled Bag Pattern
Size: Approx. 6-1/2 inch square bag with 37 inch strap
Hook: E metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern.
(Any large size hook can be used but Motif size will vary.)
Materials: Plastic tan grocery bags cut in ¼ inch strips and 2 cassette tapes
With center color (tan shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
Rnd 1
Using tan plastic bag yarn cut in 1/4 inch strip yarn, Ch 2, (counts as 1 Hdc)
in ring work 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, Ch1, 3 Hdc
Ch 1, Sl St to top of Ch 2. (4 corners & 4 shells made)
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.
Rnd 2
With brown cassette tape attach in any Ch 1 corner space.
Ch 2, 2 Hdc, Ch1, 3 Hdc, all in the same ch 1 corner space.
*Sk next 3 Hdc, 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the next Ch 1 corner space.*
Repeat between * 2 more times, Sl St to top of the beginning Ch 2.
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
Rnd 3
Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space.
*Sk 3 Hdc, make 3 Hdc in between shells, Sk next shell, make 3 Hdc, Ch 1,
3 Hdc in corner.* Repeat 2 more times then Sl St to top of first Hdc.
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
Rnd 4-13
Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space.
Continue working in established pattern of
Sk 3 Hdc (shell), 3 Hdc in between each of the shells,
Sk next shell, until you reach the corner again
and then make 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc in each corner.
At the completion of each rnd, Sl St to top of the beginning Ch 2 and Sl St to corner space.
Then begin again with Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space and so on.
Complete 13 rnds.
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.
Tips:
(On second Motif, don’t fasten off. Just leave your yarn attached at corner to begin weaving the two Motifs together.)
For added strength along top edge opening of bag, Sc across front and back edge.
Make two Motifs. This bag is shown using tan plastic bags and brown cassette tape yarn but any colors or materials can be used as desired.
With wrong sides together and weave them together by attaching cassette tape yarn (or using tip above) at corner and work 1 rnd of Sc around 3 sides of the bag. (The right sides of the bag should be facing out when you Sc around 3 sides of bag.)
Don’t fasten off. Leave yarn attached to make strap handle.
Using tan plastic bag yarn, weave across diagonal spaces from top corner to bottom corner of front and back of back. Weave in ends on inside of bag.
Add strap handle: Using tan plastic bag strips, chain 130 and attach your yarn to opposite opening edge. (I use a Sl St to attach and then another Sl St into another stitch at opening edge to provide added strength for your handle.) Turn and work back up the chain by working a Sc around the chain until you get back to opposite end of strap handle. Adjust your Sc stitches around chain as needed to provide a smooth strap for your bag. The Sc slide a bit and this allows for you to adjust your stitches as needed. Attach your yarn into opening edge once you have your strap handle completed. Fasten off and weave ends under on inside of the bag.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
Rnd – Round
This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy at My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2007
****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.
Tags: cassette-tape-purse, free-pattern, Granny Square, recycled
Mar 15, 2007
Wow, what a great idea! Have you discovered the yardage (approximately) of standard cassettes? There were 30, 60 and 90 minute ones mostly when I used to listen to them 🙂
Your site is wonderful.
Mar 15, 2007
Thanks Debbie for the comment! I have not yet checked the yardage but do be careful as the colors do vary on the tapes.
Mar 26, 2007
amazing!!! really great idea. i love crochet + recycling =)
Mar 28, 2007
[…] This is such a cute idea. […]
Apr 24, 2007
Thank for the great inspriation. I have bloged a post about your site on my Blog. Keep up the good work!
Jun 21, 2007
[…] tape innards? Well, today I found my answer. Cindy over at MyRecycledBags, has come up with a neat crocheted purse made out of cassette tape… the brown ribbony […]
Sep 28, 2007
I like this idea of yours to recycle old cassette tapes into these lovely bags. Your patterns are perfect for me since I’ve a lot of old cassete tapes that are just cluttering up a part of my room.
Thanks for sharing this pattern.
Nov 12, 2007
cassette tape culture—-cassette coin purse—–Recycled Cassette Tape Granny Square Bag—-Sonic Fabric —- Some New Beads —…
Nov 22, 2010
I just found a box full of cassettes – what great timing that I found your article – however, I also unwrapped some Christmas ornaments which were wrapped in tissue paper & recyclable plastic bags – what a surprise the bags had deteriorated to no end! I am just wondering if that could happen with the cassettes especially if you mix them with recyclable bags! Thanks a million!
Nov 26, 2010
@Happy Grandma:
This can happen to plastic bags that are bio-degradable. In the USA most of them are not so you don’t have to worry. But if you are in Europe many of those do break down over time. I don’t know about the tapes but I do know that I’ve got some that are 30 years old and they still work.
May 11, 2011
[…] Granny square bag made from recycled cassette tape […]