VCR Tape Designer Bag
This is my first vcr tape designer bag. This bag was a custom order from a customer of mine that sent me a picture of a specific purse she wanted crocheted from recycled vcr tape. I crocheted the shell and added the two handles as outlined in the description that accompanied the photo. I lined the purse and also added a removal insert that I created from plastic canvas to give the bottom of the bag a sturdy base.
I took several photos of the project as it progressed. I hope you will find the photos useful as you craft this recycled vcr tape bag. You could also use the crochet pattern below to make the bag using plastic bags (plarn) or bulky yarn. Just adjust your gauge and work the pattern to create your own unique recycled designer bag.
Free Pattern for Crocheted Video Tape Designer Handbag
Materials needed:
2) VHS video tapes recycled into yarn
4) 3/4 inch D rings
1) 1 inch Button
2/3 yards of fabric for lining
50 inches of 3/8 inch cording
1) Magnetic closure
1) 15″ long by 4″ wide piece of plastic canvas for bottom insert
Small amount of super glue
Hooks: N (9 mm) and J (6 mm) metal crochet hooks
Description: VCR designer handbag measures 15-1/2 inches wide, 10 inches tall and 4-3/4 inches wide at base with 22 inch handles.
Directions:
Using N hook with 2 strands of vcr tape held together, Ch 28.
Rnd 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end st. Work 2 Hdc in end st. Then continue around other side of chain by working a Hdc in ea st down to other end st. Work 2 Hdc in end st.
Rnd 2
Hdc in ea st down to the two end sts. Work 2 Hdc in ea of the two end sts. Hdc in ea st down the other side of chain to the 2 end sts. Work 2 Hdc in ea of the two 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 ea st down to the three end sts. Work 2 Hdc in ea of the three ends sts. Hdc in ea st down to the other end. Work 2 Hdc in ea of the three end sts.
Rnd 4
Hdc in ea st and work 2 Hdc in the four end sts. Hdc in ea st down to the other end, work 2 Hdc in ea of the four end sts.
Rnd 5
Working in back loops only, add another strand of VCR tape and Sc around the strand and into ea st of round to create bottom of bag. This will help create a strong bag bottom. Drop extra strand of VCR tape at end of round. (This is an option to make your bag bottom stronger, you can skip this option if you want.)
Rnd 6 – 25
Hdc in ea st working in both loops now. Shell is complete at end of rnd 25. (End so that you are at side of bag.) Sl St into the next several sts to make a nice smooth ending edge. FO.
Straps:
Make two.
Click to supersize any photos
Cut a piece of cording about 25 inches long and using 2 strands of VCR tape held together, Sc around the cording to create your strap. Leave long vcr tape tails about 12 inches long on each end for securing the D rings to the strap. Sc around cord to 25 inches length. Fold over end on the D ring and hand stitch in place with about a 1-1/2 inches overlap over the D ring.
Use the tail to wrap tightly around the strap to hide your overlap and to secure the strap ends. Pull end under wrapping to hide your ends. I added a small amount of super glue under my wraps and to make sure the wraps would hold when I finished the strap ends.
Finished end after wrapping
Click to supersize any photos
Center Flap
Row 1
Using 2 strands of vcr tape, attach with Sc into shell at the 5 inch mark from the side. (See photo)
Mark 5 inches at center. Sc across to other sides mark which is approx. 12 Scs.
Row 2-4
Ch 1, turn, Sc in ea st across.
Row 5
Ch 1, turn. Work 2 Sc tog over the first 2 sts, then Sc in ea st across to the last two sts. Work 2 Sc tog over the last 2 sts. (1 Dec worked on both ends of flap.)
Row 6
Ch 1, turn, Sc in ea st across.
Row 7
Repeat row 5.
Row 8
Repeat row 6.
Row 9
Ch 1, turn. Work 2 Sc tog over the first 2 sts, then Sc in ea st across to the last two sts. Work 2 Sc tog over the last 2 sts.
Row 10 (Buttonhole row)
Ch 1, turn. Work 2 Sc tog over the first 2 sts, Sc in next st, Ch 2, Skip 1 st, Sc in next st and then work 2 Sc tog over the last 2 sts.
Row 11
Ch 1, turn. Work 2 Sc tog over the first 2 sts, work 3 Sc in Ch 2 space of buttonhole, then work 2 Sc tog over the last 2 sts. FO.
Flap edging
Using J hook
Attach your yarn (2 strands of vcr tape) at top edge of flap with right side facing you.
Sc evenly around edge of flap to make a nice even edge. FO and weave ends under on inside of the bag.
Lay the shell over the lining. Use my lining tutorial for more information on how I line a crocheted bag.
Add lining to bag and make four 3/4″ wide fabric holders to attach your D rings to lining. Machine sew the fabric ends onto the outside of your lining before you insert it into your crocheted bag. I added two pockets and a magnetic closure to my lining. Once your lining is completely done, hand-stitch the lining to the video tape shell around the top edge.
Fabric ends added to D rings
I made a template from the bottom of the bag using newspaper. I then used my template to cut a piece of plastic canvas for the bottom of my bag. I covered it with the lining fabric and inserted it into my finished bag.
Sew button under buttonhole opening on 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
Dec – Decrease
Dc – Double Crochet
FO – Fasten Off
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
Tog – Together
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. ©2010
****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: crochet, crocheting, free-pattern, recycling, vhs-tape
May 02, 2010
This is great!!! I wonder can we do it with cassette too? I have plenty of them here but i am afraid they are too thin for me to crochet. Have you tried one?
.-= Craft Passion´s last blog ..My Interview With Kwong Wah =-.
May 02, 2010
@Craft Passion,
I have crocheted with cassette tape before. It is thinner and does tend to break more easily than vcr tape. I do hold 2 strands together as I crochet with cassette tape. You might try using 3 or even 4 strands together to give it more stability.
May 02, 2010
Beautiful! You are a plarn wiz.
.-= Kristy´s last blog ..May Day =-.
May 04, 2010
Hope you got soem additional hits this last weekend. I attended an online videography workshop and shared your link as an example of the future of VCR tapes. I know at least one person visited because they asked if it was MY bag. 🙂
.-= Moonshadow´s last blog ..Pre-Forrest, Return of the Sparrows & Blackbirds =-.
May 06, 2010
The tape crochets up into a really lovely subtle colour, and the bag is a great classic shape. I’m still a little unsure about crocheting, I think I need to find a kindly person to show me some of the basics as I can never quite get things to be square! But I am bookmarking your great patterns so that when I know properly what I am doing I can experiment with plarn!
May 06, 2010
Excellent as always Cindy!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Carnival #166 – My Raised Beds and Pea Trellis =-.
May 10, 2010
This bag is so cute. I keep looking at it and I can not believe this is made of VHS tapes. You are very clever. One of these days I am going to try one. Thank you for sharing your wonderful patterns.
May 17, 2010
Wow! I can’t believe someone else has thought of this! People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them my whatever-it-is is made out of VCR tape/plastic bags/cassette tape. Your work is much better than mine, of course. My stuff never turns out the way it is in my head. 🙁
I’ve been hoarding used white-out tapes for a while. I’m thinking of making something with them once I’ve saved enough. Have you ever thought of using them?
I also have piles of cloth scraps that I unravel into threads and tie to make a really long string, then crochet 2 or 3 strands together to make yarn. You can use different colors to make this really cool multicolored yarn or just keep it one color!
Hope I’m not imposing too much with this comment! But I’m just so excited to find this site!!
May 17, 2010
[…] presents VCR Tape Designer Bag posted at My Recycled Bags.com. RecycleCindy says, "Create this designer bag by recycling your old […]
May 17, 2010
[…] presents VCR Tape Designer Bag posted at My Recycled Bags.com. RecycleCindy says, “Create this designer bag by recycling […]
Jun 09, 2010
I discovered your unique idea about crocheting with vcr tape several years ago. I want to share a story with you.
I have several vcr tapes I have had for years. I thought I would be able to use them, but I find that there are some things on them that are fun to go back and look at. One day, I went to a yard sale that my son and his roommates were having. I wasn’t finding anything I really liked but I didn’t want to leave empty handed, so I bought 4 prerecorded vcr tapes for a dollar. When I got home, I looked at the labels on the tapes. When I saw the one that said, Wrestling’s greatest moments, I realized, these were vcr tapes that my son took with him when he moved out of the house! I still didn’t have the heart to tear them up! LOL
Jun 21, 2010
Six ingenious things to make from scraps…
Breathe new life into old objects and reduce landfill waste by diverting leftover odds and ends that would be relegated to the dumpster into useful items. Call it repurposing, call it recrafting, call it creative reuse, or call it trash transformed. No…
Jun 25, 2010
Wonderful work! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Jul 03, 2010
Very very cute! I love it!
Never thought of it before!
Good thinking! Very creative.
Maybe I’ll have to give it a try!
Jul 14, 2010
Cindy, your items are awesome! I am amazed at the fact that one can use VCR tape and such. I do like using ‘plarn’. I have soooo many bags full of bags. But, I’ve never actually tried crocheting with t-shirts, ripping out the yarn from old sweaters, using VCR tape, etc. Plus, I love how you keep your site updated!
I have a question for you though. Like most people who use plarn, you don’t want the bags in landfills, and I COMPLETELY agree. Which is why I ask this: what do you do with the handles and bottoms of the plastic bags? Do you have any patterns which use up the little scraps of plastic as well as the handles and bottoms? Thanks!
Great job with the bags! 🙂
Jul 15, 2010
Lily,
Thanks for all the kind comments. As for those scrap plastic bag bottoms and handles, I put them in a bag as I cut my plarn strips. I have used the plastic scraps to stuff toys and for packing material inside boxes I ship. I have also taken the cutup pieces in the bag to the plastic recycling boxes at my local grocery store.
Aug 22, 2010
Amazing!!!
Oct 12, 2010
Beautiful work. How do you get the different colors? Isn’t all VCR tape the same brownish color??
Oct 13, 2010
@Daphne:
This bag is completely crocheted from VCR tape and is a black color. The camera flash does give it a colored look but it’s really just black VCR tape.
Apr 25, 2011
This is beautiful. You are so creative.
Jan 09, 2012
That is lovely!
Nov 05, 2012
That’s fabulous!
I’ve made a few smaller bags and a shopping bag from VCR tape, but I always do just freehand form to get the shape, so I never end up writing the instructions… the bag you made has a perfect size.
I usually add some paracord inside the handles to make them stronger.
And there’s no harm in using more than 3-4 strands of audio cassette tape at once. I made a bag using 8 to get a thicker tape. VHS have always the same black, but while crocheting with audio cassettes, I discovered they have at least 3 shades. You could also use just 1 or 2 strands of cassette as an accent to some other yarn.
Dec 21, 2012
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Dec 05, 2020
We have LOTS of VHS tapes and need to dispose of them. Do you purchase tapes for your crafts? Will you accept donations simple so we can purge them?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
Dec 07, 2020
@Vicky – I’m sorry but I have way too many now. It is hard to find places that take the tapes or recycle them. I would suggest trying to recycle them at a local recycling center and Goodwills do take them in some areas. Try offering them for free at a yard sale or on Craigslist. Thanks for thinking recycling rather than the landfill.