Recycled Plastic Grocery Tote Bag
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.
Directions:
Ch 28
Rnd 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Work 2 Hdc in end st, then continue around other side of chain by working a Hdc in ea st to other end then work 2 Hdc in end st.
Rnd 2
Hdc in each st around to first end, work 2 Hdc in the 2 end sts, then Hdc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Hdc in the 2 end sts. Do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Hdc’s in rounds as this creates a seamless bag.
Rnd 3
Hdc in each st around to first end, work 2 Hdc in ea of the 3 end sts, then Hdc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Hdc in ea of the 3 end sts.
Rnd 4-10
Hdc in ea st around the entire bag bottom. (End so that you are at side of bag.)
Rnd 11
Starting at side of bag * Ch 1, Sk next st, Hdc in next st *
Repeat between * – * to end of round.
Rnd 12-35
* Hdc in next ch 1 space, Ch 1 *
Repeat between * – * to end of round for open mesh area of bag.
Rnd 36
Begin at side of bag, work 2 Hdc in ea ch 1 space around bag.
Row 37
Hdc in ea st around back to starting side. Work a Hdc in 5 sts past beginning. (This starts the handle.) Ch 1, turn.
Row 38
Hdc in the next 10 sts at side. (Handle is now 10 stitches wide.)
Ch 1, Turn.
Row 39 – 42
Hdc in ea next 10 sts. Ch 1, turn.
Row 43
Sk 1st st, Hdc in ea st to next to the last st. Leave last st unworked. Ch1, turn.
Row 44
Hdc in ea st across. (8 Hdc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 45
Sk 1st st, Hdc in ea st to next to the last st. Leave last st unworked. Ch1, turn.
Row 46
Hdc in ea st across. (6 Hdc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 47
Sk 1st st, Hdc in ea st to next to the last st. Leave last st unworked. Ch1, turn.
Row 48 – 77
Hdc in ea st across. (4 Hdc) Ch 1, turn.
(Complete 30 rows)
Row 78
2 Hdc in 1st st, Hdc in ea remaining st to next to last st, then 2 Hdc in last st. Ch 1, turn.
Row 79 – 80
Hdc in ea st across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 81
2 Hdc in 1st st, Hdc in ea remaining st to next to last st, then 2 Hdc in last st. Ch 1, turn.
Row 82 -83
Hdc in ea st across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 84
2 Hdc in 1st st, Hdc in ea remaining st to next to last st, then 2 Hdc in last st. Ch 1, turn.
Row 85 – 88
Work Hdc in ea st for 4 rows. Attach with a Sl St to body of bag matching center of handle to side of bag to match opposite side. (Make sure you attach strap handle securely to bag. If necessary, reinforce with additional Sl Sts to bag body.)
Using J hook, Sc in ea st along edge of strap handle all the way up handle to other side and Sl St across to other edge of strap handle. Sc around other side of strap handle back down to create a smooth edge on strap handle.
Finish off and weave in ends.
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
Dc – Double Crochet
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
St – Stitch
Trl – Triple Crochet
This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy of 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: free-pattern, plarn, recycled-grocery-tote, recycled-tote
May 22, 2007
With this same technique you can also make cushions:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/marina_gryciuks_1.php
Best
Paula
May 27, 2007
[…] Recycled Plastic Grocery Tote Bag […]
Jul 13, 2007
I think “plarn” is just about a perfect term :-).
I’m looking forward to making one of these to give to our local IGA to use in one of their promotions for recycling.
thanks for all of your hard work!
Aug 15, 2007
Love these – just found your site and I love it all! I haven’t crocheted since I was about 9 years old, but this all makes me want to start up again. Big thumbs up, well designed, great instruction and very useful.
Sep 02, 2007
Thank you thank you thank you for this pattern! I have lots of plarn raw material to use up. This is just excellent.
Sep 07, 2007
I absolutely love your site! I went home and cut up plastic bags on my lunch hour!!! I can’t wait to be the envy of many at my local supermartket. Thank you so much for such an informative, well displayed and easy to follow site. I will definitely be visiting here again!!!
Oct 18, 2007
[…] Reclaiming Plastic Shopping Bags for Good (TreeHugger) Or make forever grocery bags out of them. My Recycled Bags.com – Recycled Plastic Grocery Tote Bag […]
Nov 15, 2007
What a fabulous idea! I can’t wait to try it! Now to learn how to crochet….
Dec 10, 2007
Thanks for the great pattern! I discovered plarn through a friend of mine, but I thought I was going to get to design my own bag–this will be much easier. These great bags can also be used for beach trips as it is very easy to clean sand out of–just hose them off, or rinse in the bathtub!
May 24, 2008
[…] a recycled grocery tote … If you are a crocheter, below is the free pattern to create this …http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/05/18/recycled-plastic-grocery-tote-bag/Plastic Grocery Bag Carry All – FREEPlastic grocery Bag Carry All – Loom – FREE. New Download […]
Jul 18, 2008
Thanks for sharing this pattern, and all the recycled crafting resources. I’m truly inspired, and have been spreading the good word (as well as sharing the link to your blog!) Keep up the good work, and keep the faith. 🙂
Mar 04, 2009
Hi, AWESOME idea, as now they may start charging for grocery bags in my area near Aspen Colorado. Question, I want to get started – about how many bags are needed for one bag?
Please reply to my e-mail. thanks.
Mar 04, 2009
This bag pattern takes about 50-56 bags. I know it sounds like a lot but it does work up pretty quickly as you crochet. Best wishes on your bag.
May 09, 2010
My neighbor use to make these all the time She asked me
if I could find the pattern on the computer. Wasn’t hard
to do. Soooooooo shes been making em every since. Shes 85.
I made copies of them for my daughter and her mom in law.
Everyone is thrilled find a use for these bags. ( I made
a copy for myself also)
Sandy
Aug 27, 2010
Hi,
Make one for yourself and make sure to use it everyday, and you will get people asking about your tote. This is great free advertising.
Nov 12, 2010
[…] van plastic draagtasjesVoorbeeld van een Handtas gehaakt van plastic draagtasjesVoorbeeld van een gehaakte tas van plastic draagtasjes.Op de video zie je hoe een plastic draagtasje in een lange reep wordt […]
May 20, 2011
I made a hat to match the bags and it came out pretty well. Hugs my head because it stretches just a little and the air blows through it so it’s not too hot. Great for working in the garden, strolling on the walking trail or cycling.
Apr 23, 2012
[…] of haakt er vervolgens een gerecyclede tas van. Enkele voorbeelden van het hergebruik van plastic: Gerecyclede boodschappen tas en Strandtas haken en meer voorbeelden plus […]
Dec 02, 2014
I happily honor creative copyrights. I have worked as a musician/vocalist and still have many friends who pay the bills from their awesome songwriting and performing, so I respect the hard work and time put in to a site like yours. This site makes it possible to get patterns and new ideas for my needlework which I learned around age 11. Thank you for making this possible. —sharon
Dec 06, 2014
Sharon – Thank you for your comments and honoring copyrights. Best wishes on your recycled projects.