Recycled Plastic Bag Sandals
Here is the long awaited recycled plastic bag sandals. Many people have been asking for just such a pattern and with the help of another recycled crafter Tera, I was able to finish up this sandal pattern. Tera’s original design has a back strap and I’m still working on that version. I will be adding that option later on another pair of sandals that I will crochet in a smaller size so that I will a few different sizes in this sandal project.
This version of the recycled sandals could also be used as an indoor/outdoor type slipper. I like it because I can just slip it on and go. Kinda like flip flops but I can still wear my socks too.
As always I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern and happy crocheting to all!
Recycled Plastic Bag Sandals
Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn aka plarn cut 1 inch wide – Approx. 40 plastic grocery bags
Here is my picture tutorial on how to make plarn from plastic bags
Hook: J (6 mm) metal crochet hook
Description:
Recycled Plastic Bag Sandals – Women’s Size 9-10 M
Directions:
Make 2 soles for each sandal.
Rnd 1
With plastic bag yarn (plarn) Ch 23.
Sc in 2nd ch from hook in each st down one side until the last 2 sts, work 2 Sc in the last two sts of side and work 3 Sc in the end loop (by the knot before going around to the other side.)
Continue around the corner and down the back side of chain, work 2 Sc in the next 2 sts, then work a Sc in each chain st down to the end st. Work 3 Sc in the very end stitch loop to finish the round 1.
Continue working in the round without joining unless advised to do so.
Rnd 2
Work 2 Sc in the next 3 sts, work a Sc in ea st down to the last 3 sts of first side, then work 2 Sc in the each of the last 3 sts of this side. Work Sc in very end st, and then continuing around the other side of the sole, work 2 Sc in the next 3 sts. Sc in each st down to the last 3 sts of the side. Work 2 Sc in each of the last 3 sts on side of sole.
Rnd 3
Work Sc in end st, work 2 Sc in the next 3 sts on side of sole as you continue around curve. Sc in each st down to the last 4 sts before end. Work 2 Sc in the last 4 sts of curve and in the next 4 sts on the other side of curve. (Basically you want to work 2 Sc in the 8 sts around the heel of the sandal.) Sc then in each st down to the other end, work 2 Sc in the last 4 sts of curve on last side of round.
Rnd 4
Continue around the curve by working 2 Sc in the next 4 sts of toe. (Again you will have worked 2 Sc in each of the 8 stitches around the toe curve area.) Now Sc in down and around the other curve of sole and back to the beginning of round. Continue around the next curve and down the sole approx. 25 sts from the top of the toe which was about 6-1/4 inches from the middle of the toe to this point. End with a sl st into the next st to finish off sole.
My sole had 86 stitches and was about 10-1/4 inches long. Remember make two soles for each sandal before joining them together to work the next section.
Toe Section and Assembly:
Rnd 1
Put wrong sides of soles together and attach plarn at the right hand side down about 22 sts from the center toe stitch. Use st markers to mark each side down 22 from center toe st. (This is approx. 5-1/2 inches down.)
Sc through both layers of the two soles around the complete sole edge. Don’t join but just continue to work in the round.
Rnd 2
Continue around the top of toe working a Sc in each st to the left hand side of sole where you have a st marker placed. (This should be down 22 stitches from center of toe st as explained in round 1 of toe section.)
Make sure each side matches each other for the length on each side of sole. It should be about 5-1/2 inches down from toe center on either side.)
Rnd 3
Ch 1, turn. Sc in the next 10 sts, *work 1 Sc Dec over the next 2 sts, Sc in the next 2 sts*, repeat between *around to the last 10 sts. Work a Sc in each of the last 10 sts. (If the stitch pattern doesn’t come out exact, that is okay, just work it so each side matches each other as closely as you can.)
Rnd 4
Turn, sk 1st st, work 1 Dec over the next 2 sts, Sc in each st down to the last 3 sts. Work 1 dec over next 2 sts and sl st into last st.
Rnd 5-6
Turn, sk 1st st, *work 1 Dec over the next 2 sts, Sc in next 2 sts*, Repeat between * to the last 3 sts. Work 1 Dec over the next 2 sts, and sl st into the last st.
Rnd 7
Turn, sk 1st st, Sc in ea st down to the last st. Sl st into last st.
Rnd 8-9
Turn, sk 1st st, *work 1 Dec over the next 2 sts, Sc in next 2 sts*, Repeat between * to the last 3 sts. Work 1 Dec over the next 2 sts, and sl st into the last st. (Again if stitch pattern doesn’t come out exactly even, it is okay. Just try and make each side even with each other. Check fit and make sure your foot fits into toe section. The plarn does stretch but you do want it to fit snug so the sandal doesn’t fall off your foot.)
Rnd 10
Sc completely around the heel, toe, and back to the first st at base of sole. Join with a sl st into first st. FO.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Beg – Beginning
Ch – Chain
Dc – Double Crochet
Dec – Decrease
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
St – Stitch
Tog – Together
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. ©2012
****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, free-pattern, plarn, sandals, slippers
Jul 07, 2012
These would be great in a nursing home for going to the shower and back 🙂
Jul 07, 2012
Wow, the sandals look awesome! It has been awhile since I did crocheting. I so intrigued to try making those sandals.
Jul 09, 2012
Cute sandals 🙂 I would love to have some like those.
Jul 19, 2012
I’ve checked this site before… really cute projects! and the plastic bag slippers! OMG! Bean’s comment on nursing homes got me to thinking about my mom who is in one, i will make her some immediately as she hates flipflops.. and they ARE good for bathing…I’ve been making bags for several months now, round, oval or tote as gifts and they are popular! the quality of the bag really makes a difference… thanks for a great site for patterns.
Aug 16, 2012
A wonderful site and am very pleased with the designs, would appreciate a few knitted ones as I am a slow crochet person.
Aug 19, 2012
Jayashree — Thanks for the kind comments about my site. Unfortunately I have only crochet, sewing, and weaving designs on my site. I do not knit. If you go to Ravelry you can do a search and find some knitted patterns there for plarn and t-shirt projects. Best wishes and thanks again for stopping by my blog.
Aug 27, 2012
Great project. I have made dozens of bags and totes, snowmen, and baskets, but have not attempted slippers yet. Will be fun. Thanks
Sep 27, 2012
I would love to to follow your work. I am a volunteer and I teach teens and women at Villages to recycling and make a profit to increase their income. I hope you can give the opportunity to join this site.
Kind regards from Mexico.
Tila
Oct 22, 2012
[…] quelle del secondo sono in francese e fanno uso di simboli. Qui, il modello di un portasaponetta e qui, ecco delle ciabattine da doccia. Cindy, la curatrice del blog Myrecicledbags, si è specializzata […]
Nov 03, 2012
I love this pattern! I was just wondering if there was a way to make them smaller? For a size eight nine perhaps? Or really any tips on how to adjust sizes . . .
Nov 03, 2012
Kaylee, you could make the slippers smaller by reducing the number of stitches on the beginning chain. Maybe try doing just 19 sts for the beginning chain. You could also use an H hook which would make the base smaller too. Then just adjust the sts for the pattern to fit your reduced chain length. You could basically do the toe the same as it should fit your foot just fine. You just need to reduce the length of the overall base to get a size 8. Hope this helps and I’d love to hear how it goes out after you work the pattern for a smaller size.
Nov 22, 2012
I like “Recycled Plastic Bag Sandals”
Nov 24, 2012
Using just the soles, you can make any slipper you crochet ok to wear outside in dry weather – that’s a plus!
Feb 22, 2013
WOW These are AWESOME!!!
Will defiantly have to try this!!!
I’m so amazed! I’ve head of people making bags out of plastic bags but this is sooo cool!!!! Thank you for linking the “how to” link for making them into yarn!!! So cool!
Mar 08, 2013
These are awesome! I’ve been saving all kinds & colors of plastic bags for quite a while but having done anything with them yet. Maybe this pattern will get me going. Thank you for sharing all your patterns. I love them all!
Mar 16, 2013
How do the soles feel when you stand on them? Can you feel the knots in the crochet under your feet?
And do you have a facebook account, Cindy?
Mar 17, 2013
ForestJane – They feel pretty good and I’ve only worn them around the house. But another lady wears her’s to work and says there are very comfortable. I don’t feel the knots and they feel okay on my feet. I don’t have a facebook account for my site. Hope this helps and you will try the pattern. Let me know if you need any help with the pattern.
Apr 14, 2013
[…] Recycled Plastic Bag Sandals from My Recycled Bags – Makes Woman’s Size 9-10 M. Requires 1 ball of plastic bag yarn […]
Feb 21, 2014
I had a stroke and I cannot wear shoes without some kind of support. Can these be made with some kind of strap going across? I hope so I want to make them
Thanks
Feb 22, 2014
Gerry – Yes you could add straps to these sandals. There are a few other patterns for plarn sandals on the Web which you could use for a sample. I will email you with more details. Contact me back if you need any help. Best wishes on your health and the project.
Apr 28, 2014
[…] Plastic Bag Slippers- There’s nothing better than coming home from a long day at work and popping your feet into some comfy slippers…especially when you’ve made them yourself! […]
May 15, 2014
[…] am working on a new pair of crocheted plarn sandals. You may recall my first pair of recycled plastic bag sandals I crocheted. This new project is using grey recycled plastic retail bags cut 1 inch wide and […]
Jun 07, 2014
[…] Plastic Bag Slippers- There’s nothing better than coming home from a long day at work and popping your feet into some comfy slippers…especially when you’ve made them yourself! […]
Jul 27, 2014
[…] Plastic Bag Slippers- There’s nothing better than coming home from a long day at work and popping your feet into some comfy slippers…especially when you’ve made them yourself! […]
Dec 15, 2014
[…] even a free pattern for turning plastic shopping bags into a pair of slippers. I wish I had stumbled across this site and these ideas sooner. But, for now, I’m […]
Apr 23, 2015
[…] My Recycled Bags blog has the BEST way to use those old plastic bags that we get so frequently. Have you ever thought about making some SANDALS out of those bags? You can find her detailed instructions here. […]
May 05, 2018
How do I adjust sizes for 7-8 1/2?
May 10, 2018
@Martie – I sent you an email with some ideas on reducing the size of the sandals. Hope it helps.
Mar 14, 2019
I love the idea of slippers made out of bags. I’ve made sleep mats & shopping bags & would like to try the slippers. I have a small foot (6) & am not very good at readjusting a pattern like this for my needs. Could you give me any ideas. Should I just do a few chains & measure them to my foot? Any help you can give would be much appreciated
Mar 25, 2019
@Deanna – I would try a smaller starting chain and match it up to your foot as you work the base sandal piece. It may be a bit of a trial and error to reach just the right size for you. I know I had to start and frog my base piece a few times to get just the right length. I sent you an email with more info too. Best wishes and let me know how it goes.