I’ve had this idea in my head for awhile on how to create a tote bag that fades from black to white using recycled plastic bags or plarn. Here is what I came up with. I used recycled black plastic bags to start and then grey bags to the dirty-white colored bags and ended with white plastic bags.

I used the ultimate plarn tote bag pattern to crochet the bag with just some minor changes. On round 3 at the curve of the ends, I crocheted 2 Half Double Crochets (Hdc) in the first stitch at the curve. Then I worked just 1 Hdc in next stitch and 2 Hdc in the stitch at the other part of the curve. Repeat for the other side’s end.

For round 4 curve, you want to identify the 4 stitches on the curve of each end. Crochet 2 Hdc in the first stitch, then 1 Hdc in each of the next 2 stitches and 2 Hdc in the next stitch. Repeat for the other end. This should give you a nice rounded corner on each side of your bag.

Now follow the original pattern directions, changing colors as follows:

Work 7 rounds of Half Double Crochet (Hdc) in each shade. I actually counted the number of bags each color stripe took to complete. Using regular-size plastic retail bags, it took 11 plastic bags cut 1 inch wide to do each color stripe except the final round.

Change colors every 7 rounds until the final color round. To change colors, end your final stitches of the last round by finishing at the side with a Hdc, then a single crochet (Sc) and end with a Slip Stitch (Sl St) to make a smooth edge. Weave under the end a bit and cut.

Attach new color at the side of the bag with a Sl St and chain 1. Then just Hdc in each stitch until you reach the final few stitches of that color and just repeat the process of finishing and changing to a new color until the final round.

Final color round:
Work 5 rounds with white plarn. Then do handle openings and chain for the handles following the original pattern link. Then work the final 4 rounds of pattern which is rounds 27-30 in the original pattern to complete the handles.

Finished size is 13 inches x 13 inches with 9 inch handles. Total bags used in this plarn project is about 48 recycled plastic bags.