It is a new year and time for a new recycled bag! What better way to kick off a new year but with a new homemade reusable and upcycled tote bag. This tote bag was crocheted using about 45 brown plastic bags and 12 reddish-colored newspaper delivery sacks.

Here is a closeup of the top and handles.

This bag is very similar to my basic crocheted tote bag pattern but with a few changes including two stripes. The two stripes were added by cutting up 12 recycled plastic bags that newspapers are delivered in. Here is the tutorial link for cutting newspaper sacks into plarn to use as yarn.

I have provided the full new crochet pattern below for everyone’s personal use. As always, my patterns are free and I hope people will enjoy them.

Two Stripe Plarn Tote Bag Crochet Pattern

Materials needed: Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” in main color brown (40+ bags) cut 1 inch wide
and approx. 12 contrasting colored plastic bags for stripes

Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Tote Bag

Bag measures 12 inches wide and 12 inches long with 5 inch handles

Directions:
Ch 28

Rnd 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Work 2 Hdc in end st, then continue around other side of chain by working a Hdc in ea st to other end then work 2 Hdc in end st.
Rnd 2
Hdc in each st around to first end, work 2 Hdc in 1 end st, then Hdc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Hdc in 1 end st. Do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Hdcs in rounds as this creates a seamless bag.
Rnd 3-4
Hdc in each st around to first end, work 2 Hdc in 1 end st, then Hdc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Hdc in 1 end st.
Rnd 5-14
Hdc in ea st around the entire bag bottom. After round 14, end at side of bag with main plarn color with a slip st into next st.
Rnd 15 (Stripe 1)
Attach contrasting plarn color at side of bag into the last st of round 14. Chain 1 and Hdc in ea st around bag. Don’t join but work in the round still.
Rnd 16-17
Hdc in each st around until last round and end at the side of the bag with a slip st into the next st to finish off 3 rounds in contrasting color at the side of the bag.
Rnd 18
Attach main color plarn at side of bag into the last st of round 17. Chain 1 and Hdc in ea st around bag. Again don’t join but work in the round.
Rnd 19-21
Hdc in each st around until last round and end at the side of the bag with a slip st into the next st to finish off 4 rounds in main color.
Rnd 22 (Stripe 2)
Attach contrasting color plarn at side of bag into the last st of round 21. Chain 1 and Hdc in ea st around bag.
Rnd 23-24
Hdc in each st around until last round and end at the side of the bag with a slip st into the next st to finish off 3 rounds in contrasting color.
Rnd 25
Attach main color plarn at side of bag into the last st of round 24. Chain 1 and Hdc in ea st around bag. Continue working in the round without joining.
Rnd 26-27
Hdc in each st around until last round and end at the side of the bag.
Rnd 28
Mark center 10 stitches on each side of bag for handle opening. Now Hdc in each st to first mark for the start of the handle opening. Ch 12, leave 10 stitches un-worked for handle, then Hdc in remaining stitches and across other side to mark for handle opening. Ch 12, leave 10 stitches un-worked for handle opening on other side of bag to match front side. Hdc in each stitch around until you reach side of bag.

Tip: Check to make sure the handle opening match on each side. Lay the bag down and check to be sure the handles and centers are even with each side. Adjust stitches if necessary before moving on.

Rnd 29
Hdc in each st around to handle. Work 16 Sc around the chain of handle, then Hdc around in each stitch until you reach handle on other side. Work 16 Sc around chain of handle, then Hdc in each remaining stitch of round.
Rnd 30
Hdc in each st around to the handle. Work one Sc in each st of handle, then Hdc in each st of bag to other side’s handle. Work one Sc in each st of handle, then work one Hdc in each st of the bag. Ending at side of bag to begin final trim round.
Rnd 31
Sc in each st of bag and into ea st of handle around entire bag edge. End with a sc in last st at side of bag where round began. Slip st into next st, fasten off, and weave under ends.

If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
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. ©2021

****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.