Plastic Bag Doormat Rug
Several people have asked me for a rug pattern crocheted using recycled plastic bags or plarn. So what better way to kick off the after Christmas crafting but by doing a reader suggested project. Someone suggested a doormat which sounded like a great project. I wanted my doormat rug to be rectangle in shape and have a pretty pattern. So I modified the typical granny square pattern to make a rectangle-shaped rug. It turned out pretty good but my corners are a bit pointed. I’m not sure if that was because of the plarn or my pattern but the rug is very functional. It works great for muddy shoes as you can just rinse it off when it gets dirty. If you must wash it, remember use a gentle cycle in your washer and do not dry it in the dryer as it will melt.
My Recycled Plastic Doormat Rug
If you need instructions on how to make plastic bag yarn or plarn, here is the link to my picture tutorial. If you have never made yarn from bags, it will walk you through the process. For everyone else, you’re all set now so go and have fun making yourself a recycled plastic doormat!
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Free Recycled Doormat Rug Pattern Using Plastic Bags
with Placemat Variation
Size: 21 inches wide x 17 inches rectangle rug
Hook: N (9 mm) crochet hook
Materials:
Large ball of white plastic bags cut and tied into yarn (plarn)
Small ball of blue and grey plastic bag yarn (plarn) used for center motif
Rnd 1
With center color (white shown) Ch 15, then in 3rd ch from hook work 2 Hdc, ch 2, 3Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc. *Sk 2 sts in ch, 3 Hdc in next ch st, *Repeat between * to end st on ch. In end st work 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc.
Working down other side of chain, Sk next 2 sts in ch, *3 Hdc in next st, Sk next 2 sts*. Repeat between * to end. Sl St into top of ch 2. FO. (12 shells)
Rnd 2
With next color (blue) attach with Sl St into ch 2 space in corner.
Ch 2, 2 Hdc in same sp, ch 2, 3 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in other corner, ch 2, 3 Hdc in same corner space.
Work 3 Hdc in between ea shell to corner. Work 3 Hdc in corner, ch 2, 3 Hdc in same sp.
Work 3 Hdc in next corner sp, ch 2, 3 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells down side. Join with Sl St to top of ch 2 at beginning. FO. (16 shells)
Rnd 3
With next color (grey) attach with Sl St in ch 2 in corner.
Ch 2, 2 Hdc in same sp, ch 2, 3 Hdc in same corner sp. 3 Hdc between ea of the next shells, then in corner sp work 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc. Work 3 Hdc between ea shell on side down to corner.
In corner sp 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc. Work 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells, then in other corner work 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc. Working down side, work 3 Hdc between ea shell and join with Sl St to corner sp.
Rnd 4
Continue working with grey, ch 2, 2 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc in corner sp, then 3 Hdc in ea sp between ea shell. In corners work 3 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc, continue in pattern back to beginning. Join with a Sl St to top of ch 2. FO.
Rnd 5
Attach white in next corner with a Sl St. Ch 2, 2 Hdc, ch 2, 3 Hdc in ea corner. Work 3 Hdc in sp between ea shell. Join with Sl St at top of ch 2 at beginning and Sl St over to corner and continue in pattern.
Rnd 6 – 15
Continue with white and work in same pattern until desired sized reached.
At end of 15 rounds, rug is approx. 21 inches long and 17 inches wide.
Tip: To flatten your rug, apply low heat from a blow dryer and gently form and flatten.
Placemat Variation
Clickable
Follow rug pattern above and complete just 10 rounds. Placemat is approx. 16 inches wide x 11 inches.
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
Ea – Each
Rnd – Round
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
Sm – Same
Sp – Space
St – Stitch
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. Ā©2007-2008
****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: doormat, free-pattern, plarn
Dec 26, 2007
Creative one Cindy. Now i found a lovely place to keep my door key š
Dec 26, 2007
You have great ideas for recycling those bags… very innovative…
Dec 27, 2007
I like your work and I also really like everything that includes recycling.
Dec 28, 2007
OMG this is great!!! and so neat! Im going to put the link to your site on my blog!
http://mamaxs3.blogspot.com/
Dec 29, 2007
These bags are so creative , I have seen them before and I know they are very strong bags, can hold lot more than you think, I may just have to make me a big tote bag out of some.
good job on all you bags
Jan 01, 2008
Ah that is a good one! Would be perfect for a mud room!
Jan 07, 2008
[…] of Wrapping Paper, posted at Stop the Ride! and Cindy of myrecycledbags.com has a new design for a recycled knitted plastic bag doormat. Adam at lifegoggles blogs about a very funky recycled can opener, and Green Deals Daily alerts us […]
Feb 27, 2008
Wow! You are BRILLIANT!!! Thanks for the great ideas! I love them!!
Mar 29, 2008
[…] Pie and Coffee How to knit a plastic bag Tote Bag = recycled Plastic Bags doormat My Recycled Bags.com Plastic Bag Doormat Rug I think Craftster had a tuts on ironing bags together to make a tote also Extreme Plastic Bag […]
Jun 03, 2008
[…] Plastic Bag Doormat Rug […]
Aug 12, 2008
My grandmother had an oval kitchen rug she crocheted out of plastic bread sacks in the 1960s. It’s fascinating to see new interpretations of what she called ‘make do’ crafts. Keep up the great work. š
Sep 18, 2008
Hi Cindy, thanks for your comment about my couch. I have been meaning to make some plarn for ages, now I know what I’m going to do with it! Love the doormat idea, very clever.
Sep 29, 2008
Fabulous idea – I think I might be tempted to have a go myself. Thanks for the great article.
Oct 25, 2008
I wanted to try a simple project with plarn and I need a doormat and was wondering how functional it would be.
Thanks for sharing this – I’m going to give it a try now for sure!
Oct 25, 2008
@Marie Anne,
Yes this is a very handy doormat. I’m planning to use one of mine as a boot mat for winter. They are very durable and of course are waterproof.
Feb 22, 2009
I don’t have a regular website myself, but I was looking for a way to recycle all the plastic bags I receive when I go to either the grocery store & forget my own bags that are neither paper or plastic to carry things home in and after searching found your website, Cindy. It had just what I was looking for: a way to make ‘PLARN’. Thanks so much for reviving my memory, and the pattern to make it. I had seen something similar to this in a ‘Family Circle’ magazine years ago, but it got away from me and I have been looking for it every since. I plan on making a lot of these either rugs for inside and beside the front door, as well as one that might be useful as a bath mat. At least it would be softer than what I’m using now, and I’m sure it would be a curiosity to my cat. Thanks for the update and memory boost for the plastic bagged yarn – PLARN. Great to know!
Apr 28, 2009
My Gramma used to do this. So I tried it, and it’s been going WAY better than I though it would. But there is one problem that me & my mom can’t figure out how to fix. It isn’t that big of a deal, but… So my question is: how do you keep it from being ruffly on the edges? Thanks for the help, if you can!
Apr 28, 2009
@Sarah,
If your edges are ruffling, you have too many stitches for it to lay down flat. Try decreasing a few stitches around so it lays down. If you are working this granny square rug, try applying some gentle heat from a blow dryer and shape it while its warm. Good luck.
Cindy
Mar 02, 2011
I’ve recycled my plastic bags into rugs using a loom made from a picture frame. Everyone loved them. Now I’m crocheting circular and oval rugs and people are so interested that I’ve started workshops.
Apr 18, 2016
That’s really cool, I’d like to learn how to do those! I used to work at a store that had those plastic bags and a customer came in once with a very unique purse – upon inspecting it a little closer, it was made out of those plastic bags! Those bags sure come in handy if you know what to do with them. I love the crafts people make out of them – very cute!!