Green Easter Basket
My Easter basket project this year uses the bottom of a laundry soap bottle and plastic bags. I cut the bottom off a plastic soap bottle and used it as a base for my Easter basket. I then crocheted around the base and up with recycled plastic bags or plarn.
The pink bunny was crocheted using AmiAmour’s free crochet pattern found here. This is my first official ami animal and while I’m not going into the ami making business, I was pleased with the outcome of my Easter bunny.
Oh and I used cut up plarn for the grass in my Easter basket. That way it can be recycled after the holidays into another project. Happy Easter!
Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 3/4″ strips of white bags (3-4 bags)
And approx. 4-5 bags of green and yellow plastic bags
1) Plastic handle from a soap box or other plastic strap
1) Plastic laundry soap base cut from bottle
Metal punch and hammer for making holes in plastic base
Hooks: H (5 mm) US sized metal hook
and J ( 6 mm) US size crochet hook
Small Steel crochet hook for first round on base
Description: Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Basket measures 7″ wide and 4-1/4″ tall with 20″ handle strap
at base 6″ wide and 3″ across.
Directions:
Using the base cut from a laundry soap bottle (mine was 6″ long and 3″ wide), punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used a metal punch and a hammer to put my holes in the plastic base.
Click to supersize photos
Rnd 1
With green plarn and using the steel crochet hook as help, Sc into each hole with the H crochet hook. Use the steel hook to draw the plarn through the hole and then work a Sc in ea stitch over the plastic base. Join with a Sl St to top of 1st Sc st.
Rnd 2 – 3
Using H hook, ch 1, Sc evenly around. Join with a Sl St to top of ch 1 at beginning. FO.
Rnd 4 – 6
Changing to yellow plarn, ch 1, Sc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 7 – 13
Switch to J crochet hook and using white plarn, ch 1, Sc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 14
Using yellow plarn, attach and ch 1. Sc around in ea st and join to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 15
Using green plarn, attach and ch 1. Sc around in ea st and join to top of ch 1. FO.
Strap:
I recycled a plastic soap box strap for my basket handle as I did in this Easter basket pattern. One end had a small hole with a slot cut so I cut the other end to match. The hole and slots are helpful for weaving in and securing your handle to the basket once it has been covered with some white plarn.
Using green plarn, thread through the slot / hole at end of strap. Leave a 5″ tail at end of strap to be used later to secure to your basket. Working around the strap, SC around the strap evenly so you cover the strap with the green plarn. I did my stitching on the underside of strap so the top was smooth, but you can work it however you prefer. Once you have Sc’d around the length of strap, thread through the other end’s slot and leave another long tail. I then worked Sl Sts through the strap slot into basket and around the edges to secure the strap inside the basket. I used a bit of green plarn into the strap slot and into the last green round to provide extra strength so the strap wouldn’t pull apart from my basket. FO and weave ends under. Cut and trim any loose ends too.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
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 of my patterns or photos are permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable and appreciated. ©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: Basket, Bunny, crocheting, Easter, easter-basket, Rabbit
Mar 22, 2010
Brilliant! Maybe you’ll get addicted to amigurumi now… They do work up nicely with plarn! (And you can stuff them with the handle leftovers!)
.-= Snowcatcher´s last blog ..Snowflake Monday =-.
Mar 22, 2010
Very cute! I will have to try this one too…I have a few laundry soap containers around, although they may be retangle shaped…hmmm wonder how that would work? Love it though, great job!
Mar 22, 2010
Carmen,
You can use any shape of laundry soap base you might have. The finished shape of your basket may be a bit different than mine but it won’t really matter.
Mar 23, 2010
Thanks for sharing this great idea on recycling household materials to make holidays crafts. There are so many items that people don’t realize they can reuse to make so many different items to save money and save our planet.
Mar 24, 2010
I would have never thought to use the bottom of a bottle, brilliant! Thanks for the pattern Cindy 🙂
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Crochet Pattern: Absolutely Easy Soap Saver =-.
Mar 29, 2010
This is adorable and turned out so cute!
Mar 29, 2010
[…] presents Green Easter Basket posted at My Recycled Bags.com. RecycleCindy says, “I crafted this Easter basket using the […]
Mar 29, 2010
Very cute, Cindy. Last summer I made a plarn tote bag, but I can’t say I enjoyed preparing all that plastic!
Happy Easter!
Aug 16, 2010
Just found your website, I have been making a version of this basket for years. I use the colorful string from the chinese store and a soda bottle for the bottom shape. And instead of easter grass, I used shredded paper from our office shredder. Looks just as festive and kind of cool, making something out of nothing. blessings, judyb
Sep 12, 2010
Cindy,
Thank you for all the neat ideas. I’ve been enjoying playing with plarn so much my family is always giving me some different color plastic bags. Knitting is my thing with plastic bags. I can take a set of knitting needles and some scissors with me and have instant fun! Thanks again!
Feb 16, 2014
[…] 2. Crocheted Green Easter Basket by My Recycled Bags […]