Here are two plastic baskets I crocheted from recycled plastic packages and plastic retail bags. The red basket has several rounds from a large red hashbrown plastic package that I cut into plastic bag yarn or plarn. The blue basket has two large recycled toilet paper packages cut into plarn too.

All of the plastic package materials were cut into plarn using a single strand. I used the single strand cutting method as the plastic was so thick and it was easier to cut it about 3/4 inch wide in a single strand to crochet with it. For the plastic retail bags, I made plastic bag yarn using my plarn making tutorial which is done using the looping method.

I wrote up the pattern details and have listed it on my free pattern page. In case you aren’t familiar, I offer all my patterns and tutorials free of charge. You can find everything from recycled bag patterns, repurposed denim projects, to crocheted regular yarn items. I have a large library of free patterns available so check out the link above to see all my patterns.

Free Crocheted Plarn Basket Pattern

Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into strips 1 inch wide (Approx. 15 bags)
and recycled plastic packaging from hashbrowns and toilet paper packaging cut about 3/4″
wide using the single strand method

All pattern details are written in US crochet terms.

Hook: K (6.5 mm) size crochet hook

Description: Crocheted Recycled Plastic Bag Basket –
Basket measures 6-1/2 inches tall, 6-1/2 inches base and with 3-1/2 inch wide handle openings

Directions:
Rnd 1
Starting with a magic circle, work 8 Sc into circle. Join with Sl St to first Sc.

Rnd 2
Ch 2, Hdc in same st, work 2 Hdc in ea st around, join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (16)

Rnd 3
Ch 2, Hdc in same st, *Hdc in next st, 2 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * – * to end of round, joining with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (24)

Rnd 4
Ch 2, Hdc in sm st, *work 1 Hdc in ea of the next 2 sts, 2 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (32)

Rnd 5
Ch 2, Hdc in sm st, *Hdc in next 3 sts, 2 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (40)

Rnd 6
Ch 2, Hdc in sm st, *Hdc in next 4 sts, 2 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (48)

Rnd 7
Ch 2, Hdc in sm st, *Hdc in next 5 sts, 2 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2. (56)

Rnd 8
Repeat round 7. (64)

Rnd 9
Ch 1, Work under ridge on back of each Hdc by crocheting a Sc in each stitch as indicated.
(See photo of example on Chunky Basket Pattern for more details on this stitch process.) Join with slip to ch-1 at end of row.

Rnd 10
Ch 2, Hdc in each st around.

Rnd 11-19
Continue working Sc in each st around without joining from this point. Just work in the round until told to join again.

Rnd 20-22
With white plarn, Ch 1, Hdc in ea st around. Join with a Sl St to Ch-1.

Rnd 23-25
I joined blue toilet paper plarn at this point for the blue basket, Ch 1, Sc in ea st around. FO with blue plarn.
(You can mix and match whatever recycled plastic you desire to create your recycled basket.)

Rnd 26
Mark 3 inch center on front and back of basket for handle opening.

Attach white plarn, Ch 1, Hdc in ea st to mark at 3 inches at front center. Ch 12, skip 10 sts and Hdc in each st around to mark for opening for handle on the back side of basket. Ch 12, skip 10 sts and Hdc in each remaining st of side.

Rnd 27
Hdc in ea st around to handle chain, Sc around the chain evenly (approx. 12 sts) and then Hdc in each st around until you come to the other side’s handle chain. Again Sc evenly around chain and then Hdc in ea remaining st of side.

Rnd 28-30
Hdc in ea st around to handle, Sc around the handle evenly. Hdc in ea st of basket around to the other side’s handle, Sc evenly around the handle, and Hdc in ea remaining st of side.
(The red basket was ended at round 29 for a thinner handle.)

Finish off and weave under end at side of basket for a smooth edge.

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
Ea – Each
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
FO – Finish Off
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
St – Stitch

This pattern and photos are 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. ©2013-2016

****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.