My Recycled Bags.com

Rag Bag Tote

Rag bags are a fun and fugal crafting idea. You use old material to create strips and then you crochet them into a cool rag bag tote such as the one shown here. I used an old queen-sized bed sheet and some other recycled curtain panels to create this handy tote bag.

Here is a close-up photo of the strips I cut. As you can see the solid-colored sheet material was just cut into strips about 1 inch wide. I tried to do the longest strips I could by going around and around the sheet so I did not have too many splices. It’s like peeling an orange in one long continuous strip. The printed material I cut wider and folded it over so the right sides were facing out as shown. I pressed it with a hot iron to keep the strips flat so the printed side was out as I crocheted it.

Click to view full-sized photos

This sturdy and reusable tote can be used as a purse, tote bag, or even as a market bag. It’s very strong with comfortable handles and a fashionable design. So got an old sheet — well get green and craft yourself this eco-friendly rag bag!

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Free Crocheted Recycled Rag Bag Tote Pattern

Bag measures 14 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and 9″ handles

Material:
One Queen sized sheet cut into 1 inch strips

and other fabric cut into strips for stripes on bag

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook

Chain 22 with main sheet strips

Crocheted Denim Rag Bag

This week I have been working on a new recycled idea. A crocheted rag bag using recycled denim. I had a few old denim shirts that I didn’t want to throw away so I decided that I needed to get the ole’ creative juices flowing and use them in a project. It turned out to be a really heavy duty bag. I didn’t trim or fold the strips so that’s why you see the fibers from the material. But I think it turned out cool with the fibers kinda sticking out as they do.

So… this is the result, a recycled denim rag bag!

I used one of the pockets from the shirt to create an inside pocket as shown below.

I hope you enjoy trying this week’s recycling craft idea and as always — here’s the free pattern.

Free Crocheted Recycled Denim Rag Bag Pattern

Bag measures 11 inches wide and 10 inches long.

Material: Two denim shirts cut into 3/4 inch strips (See notes below on different methods.)

For complete pattern click on read more link below.