Here is my latest recycled bag project. It’s a smaller version of Japanese knot bag wine tote that I crocheted a few years ago. For this plarn wine tote, I crocheted it a few stitches less around and only went up to a standing height of 9.5 inches.
The full written free Japanese Knot Plarn Tote pattern is found here. Just remember for this smaller tote bag use a K (6.5 mm) crochet hook. Adjust the original pattern as desired to reach the size for the tote that you need. The beauty in these patterns is that you can always tweak them to get the desired outcomes.
Below is a photo of my recycled wine tote with a small bottle of wine.
I shared in a recent post about weaving the strap handle for this recycled tote bag. I made the strap using a spool knitter and variegated the plastic bag strips with grey and pink loops to form the woven strap. Then I crocheted the body of the bag using an open netting type stitch for the project. Here is the completed recycled tote bag.
Here is a closeup of the strap and top edge of the bag.
Below you will find the complete pattern to crochet the recycled tote bag. I hope you enjoy the pattern and don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions as you work this pattern or any of my other free patterns.
Grey and Pink Recycled Plastic Tote Bag Pattern
Materials:
Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips – approx. 30+ bags
Hook: Metal J (6 mm) crochet hook
Description:
Recycled Plastic Tote bag: 10 inches by 12-1/2 inches long with 25 inches strap
All crochet directions are in US terms.
Round 1
With grey plarn, Ch 30, Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st and then working around the backside of chain, Sc in ea st along the other side of original chain.
People frequently ask me where I find all the different colored bags for recycled bag projects. I admit it is harder to find pretty colors of plastic bags to turn into yarn or plarn as it is referred to now. Plarn is the plastic yarn made by cutting recycled plastic into strips. One tip I want to share today is that you must be creative finding colorful plastic to recycle into plarn.
One such example is this large red plastic bag that hash browns are sold in.
It is mostly a nice bright red color and can be cut into a thin strip to make plarn. Because this plastic is very thick, I cut it in one long continuous strip about 1/2 inch wide.
Are you looking for free patterns to use recycled plastic bags? Maybe you already know that you can make plarn by cutting plastic bags into strips to create yarn that you can craft with. Whether you are new to crafting with recycled materials or a veteran who has made recycled tote bags, plarn purses, plastic bag rugs, or any of the other many items that can be made from recycled plastic, I hope you will enjoy seeing this roundup of plastic creations.
Recycled Plastic Fat Bottom Purse
Recycled Plastic Trash Rug
Plarn Reusable Produce Bag
Gingham Plarn Purse
Round Recycled Plastic Bag Rug
It has been over six years now since I started this recycled bags blog. When I first started out I wanted to share the idea of using plastic bags for craft projects. I wanted to promote the reuse and repurposing of plastic for useful items. Over the years, I have crocheted tote bags, rugs, scrubbies, purses, baby bibs, soap dishes, coasters, baskets, gift bags, water bottle holders and much more using recycled plastic.
You can find all of my crochet free plastic bag patterns here at my site. Over the years I have shared all my patterns free so that everyone could enjoy crafting with recycled plastic materials. I have used every type of recycled plastic such as retails bags, toilet paper packaging, hotdog and hamburger bun packages, frozen vegetable packages, paper towel packaging, bread bags, hashbrown bags, and taco shell bags.
Trash Rug from Recycled Plastic
Recycling plastic to create yarn has endless possibilities. I only named a handful of plastic items you can make plarn from. Plarn (PLastic yARN) is the term my friend Joy coined first over at Crochetville
I’m always looking for new ways to recycle and repurpose plastic waste such as this large toilet paper packaging. When I see something like this plastic I just want to find some useful way to reuse it. So I set out to create plastic yarn or plarn from this piece of packaging.
Because this plastic packaging is very large, I cut it into one continuous long strip about 1 inch wide. I started at the one opened end of the packaging to begin cutting. I placed the piece of plastic across my leg and used the scissors to cut around and around. I just kept cutting the strip around the plastic and through the seams. The seams on this packaging are very strong and glued so I believe it will hold for crafting without having to worry about the seams coming apart.
The result is one ball of plarn that netted 45 yards of yarn for crafting.
Crochet a cute ribbon sling bag!
This week’s recycled craft project is a crocheted sling bag. The bag is crocheted using recycled plastic bags. Red ribbon was added and tied into a bow at the front. Here is the link to my picture tutorial on how to make your own recycled plastic bag yarn or plarn.
I know many crafters out there are starting their Christmas gifts. This would make a great little gift for any young girl and even as a gift bag. You could fill it up with a few stocking stuffer items and you’d have a wonderful little Christmas package. Anyway just a few ideas that I came up with to use this little bag.
As always here is the free pattern for your use.
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Free Crocheted Sling Bag Pattern
Purse measures 9 inches wide and 10-1/2 inches long
Strap length is 35 inches
Materials:
One ball of recycled plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
2 yards of 1/8″ ribbon or other ribbon leftovers
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 22
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