Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Recycled Crafting


Granny Square Motif Tote

May 27, 2007 2 comments
MedMotifTote


Recycled Plastic Granny Square Tote Bag

This week’s recycled bag is a medium sized tote bag crocheted using a granny square stitch. It is a 12 inch square motif that was made using white and blue plastic bags. A few months ago I had crocheted a small purse very similar to this pattern. I have had several requests for a larger bag that could be used as a tote or book bag so I created this larger version. As always here is the free pattern below.

Granny Square Motif Tote Pattern

Size: Approx. 12″ square bag with strap 3/4 inches wide and 20 inches long
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern
Materials: Large ball of white plastic bag yarn (plarn)
and small amount of blue plastic bag plarn for center Motif

Recycled Plastic Grocery Tote Bag

May 18, 2007 20 comments
GroceryBagoutside


Crocheted Grocery Tote Bag

Want to make your plastic bags recyclable? Want to bring your own bag to the grocery store? Want to have your own green eco-friendly shopping bag? Well crochet or knit those plastic bags into a recycled grocery tote bag.

Here is the link for the tutorial for creating plastic bag yarn. Recently this plastic bag yarn has earned the nickname of ‘plarn’ to describe it. I love the term and hope it catches on. Crafting tote bags has become very popular. It’s a wonderful way to save our trees and our landfills. I have several free crochet and knitted patterns available at the patterns links page here so check out your options and make yourself a reusable grocery tote bag!


Inside of Tote Bag

This bag features a roomy expandable heavy bottom, an open mesh upper tote and a wide sling strap handle. If you are a crocheter, below is the free pattern to create this recycled tote for your next shopping trip.


Outside Expandable Bottom

Crocheted Plastic Grocery Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bags cut into strips and interlocked to create a ball of plarn yarn — Approx. 56 bags.

Hook: N size metal crochet hook and J for edging

Description: Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide at top and 15 inches long with 7 inch oval expandable bottom and 28 inch sling strap handle.

Cassette Tape Evening Bag

May 12, 2007 12 comments
CassetteCloseup


Cassette Tape Evening Bag with Cozy

This week’s free recycled crochet pattern features an evening bag crocheted using cassette tape and ribbon yarn. The front flap is V-shaped with a Gold button embellishment and a Velcro button for a closure. I had some materials left over so I decided to make a little cozy to go inside the evening bag. You could use the cozy to hold your ID or a credit card. I did not put any embellishment on the front of the cozy but one could be added if desired.

I used two strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand Trellis ribbon yarn. You hold all three strands together as you crochet. I have found that using just cassette tape as your “yarn” isn’t as smooth to crochet with as other materials. But adding the ribbon yarn really gives your “yarn” a smoother, stronger texture and the crochet hook moves easier.

Closeup of material — Click for full-full photo

I used Champagne #51666 for the ribbon yarn and it really set off the cassette tape to create a pretty evening bag. I tried several times to take some clearer pictures of the completed project but the light just doesn’t do these materials much justice. Trust me when I say that the combination of cassette tape and ribbon yarn is beautiful together. Plus it’s a wonderfully eco – friendly recycled craft!


Cassette Tape Evening Bag Pattern

Purse measures 7 inches wide and 5 inches long. Cozy measures 3 inches square.

Materials:
2 cassette tapes (90 min. tapes)
1 ball Lion Brand Trellis Champagne ribbon yarn (115 yards)
1 button for embellishment as shown on bag
2 small black Velcro buttons

Hook: Metal J (6 mm) hook

Chain 28 using 2 strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand yarn (for purse).
Pattern is crocheted using 3 strands of material held together throughout project.

Recycled Hook Case

May 5, 2007 5 comments
Hook Case Inside

Crochet yourself a hook case from recycled plastic bags!

This project is another installment on my to-do list that I have blogged about recently. If you are not familiar with my to-do list, it is a list of items that I plan to crochet using plastic bags. Once I complete each project, I post the free pattern here at My Recycled Bags for everyone’s use. This week I decided that I needed a crochet hook case and it was on my list to do so… Here is the completed project and free pattern. An inside look of the hook case which holds four crochet hooks.


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Recycled Hook Case Pattern
Hook case measures 5 inches wide and 10 inches long.

Material: One small ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips.
One small button if desired to embellish purse front.
One Velcro stick-on button.
Lining – 6 inch x 5 inch piece of muslin

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook



About Me

Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. Welcome to my blog site that is dedicated to recycling and crafting. I love to crochet and create crafts and other useful things from recycled materials. I share many free tutorials and patterns for creating recycled projects as well as other handmade items.


Here is a direct link to all my free patterns available here on My Recycled Bags.


Thank you for stopping by to visit and for your interest in My Recycled Bags!