Want to cover up those old metal hangers? Do you have some old chipped up hangers that need a new look? Here is a quick and easy method using recycled plastic bags. First you need to create some plarn or plastic bag yarn. Here is the link on how to make the yarn using recycled plastic bags. You only need about 5 bags or so to complete this project.
Using a “H” US crochet hook, join your yarn at the throat of the hanger with a slip stitch. Single crochet (sc) around the entire hanger ending back at the beginning of the hanger throat. Fasten off and use the ends to weave in around the hanger throat to make a nice smooth finish to the hanger cover.
Here is a close-up of the beginning to show in detail.
Click to view full-sized
Be creative and mix or match your plastic bags for unique hanger covers. Once your old hangers are covered, these are very handy for line drying items.
This is a great way to recycle old metal hangers and give them a new colorful life while saving them from the landfill!
Here is my latest VCR tape sling bag crocheted along with some ribbon yarn. A local group is making purses for girls in foster care in my area. I crocheted several different purses and decided that I would create one sling bag using recycled VCR tape for the purse drive. It has that funky teen-look so I hope some young lady enjoys it.
If you are new to the concept of crocheting with recycled VCR or VHS tape here is the link to the picture tutorial which shows how this process is done.
Creating purses and bags from recycled materials is always fun. Try adding different yarn or ribbon together with the VCR tape to accomplish different looks. Add additional embellishments to your finished bags to create that unique one-of-a-kind look.
Have fun and happy green crafting to you all!
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Free Crocheted VHS Tape and Ribbon Sling Bag Pattern
Purse measures 8 inches wide and 8 inches long
Strap length is 44 inches
Materials:
2 VCR VHS Tape Reels (only used about ¼ of each reel)
One button 1-1/2 inch button shown on bag
Small amount of Lion Brand Incredible Ribbon Yarn (City Lights shown)
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Using 2 strands of VCR tape held together, Chain 18.
Okay, I know everyone’s been felting wool bags for years. But this is my first attempt and here is the results.
I found two small balls of 100% brown wool at my local thrift store. Apparently someone didn’t finish their project or didn’t need these two leftover balls so I thought I’d buy them to crochet my first felted bag. But fearing I didn’t have enough and wanting to crochet a good-sized purse, I splurged and bought a small skein of 100% variegated wool to make some colorful stripes on my purse.
It is very important to use 100% wool for your felting projects. I almost made the mistake of using some other “wool” yarn I recycled from another project, but found out it was only 20% wool. If I had used that, it would not have felted properly or evenly.
My bag was crocheted and then felted twice in my washing machine. The first time I used the hottest water setting for 10 minutes and then a cold water rinse. I put my bag inside an old pillowcase and tied it shut with a knot. I also threw in an old pair of jeans for added agitation. It wasn’t quite enough so I felted it again for about another 6 minutes. I added two recycled buttons to finish off the bag.
Here is the free pattern for anyone interested in crocheting this felted sling bag purse.
Felted Sling Bag Purse Pattern
Purse measurements:
Before felting – 11-1/2″ wide and 11-1/2″ long with 48″ strap
After felting – 9″ wide and 9″ long with 43″ strap
Materials:
3 ozs -100% brown wool yarn
2 ozs -100% variegated wool yarn for stripes (Bernat Natural Wool Meadow shown)
1 inch button or two recycled buttons as shown on bag
Hook: H (5 mm) crochet hook
Chain 40
Here is my Easter basket that I created using recycled plastic bags and a plastic soap box strap.
This Easter basket was crocheted using plastic grocery bags to create yarn or plarn as shown here. I used a plastic soap holder strap that I took off a box shown below for my basket handle. I’m sure you’ve had one of these straps in the past and wondered what you could do with it. Well, I’m trying to find new ways to reuse and repurpose otherwise useless things. Using this plastic strap on my basket worked out very nicely.
Enjoy this recycled craft project and I wish you a very happy Easter!
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Free Recycled Crocheted Plastic Easter Basket Pattern
Materials needed: One ball of purple plastic bags cut into strips 1 inch wide and interlocked to create a ball of plarn to crochet with. (Approx. 20-25 bags)
Small amount of white plastic bags cut into plarn for edging and strap.
One plastic soap box strap handle.
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Purple Easter Basket –
Basket measures 8 inches wide and 5 inches tall with 19 inch handle strap.
Directions:
Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.
Here is part II of my dishcloths I crocheted using recycled plastic bags for pot scrubbers. This cute motif dishcloth was created using some plarn (plastic bag yarn) for the center and then cotton for the dishcloth. The plarn center provides you some scrubbing power when cleaning your dishes. Mix and match your scrap cotton yarn and plarn to make these unique dishcloths!
Here is another example of the same motif dishcloth but with different colors.
Clickable photo
My three different dishcloths that I have crocheted with recycled plastic bag centers.
The other two patterns for the blue-green and red round dishcloths can be found at this link.
As always, I hope you enjoy this recycled project and happy green crafting to you all!
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Free Motif Square Pot Scrubber Dishcloth Pattern
Dishcloth measures: 9-1/2 inch Square
Hook: Metal H (5 mm) US sized hook
Materials:
1- Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn ball Marble (used about 2/3 of ball)
Small amount of Pink Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn
Small amount of plastic bag plarn for scrubber center
With center color (White shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
Check out my recycled plastic ripple purse! I have had a ripple purse on my to-do list for quite awhile. I am happy to report that it’s finally completed and here is the result. This Chevron pattern is a bit more difficult when you are using recycled plastic bags. I crocheted the recycled grocery bags together and lined my purse when finished. If you are new to crocheting with plastic bags, here is the picture tutorial to help you.
Here is a picture of the inside lining.
Click on photos to view full-sized
One more picture with the strap untied.
I hope you enjoy this recycled plastic bag pattern and as always happy green crafting to you!
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Free Crocheted Recycled Ripple Purse Pattern
Purse measures 8 inches wide and 8 inches long.
Strap length is 32 inches when not tied.
Material: One ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips of blue and smaller ball of green
One button 1-1/4″ button shown on bag.
Hook: Metal H (5 mm) hook
Chain 32 – Working with blue plarn. Turn.
My blog is one year old. I can’t believe that it’s been a year already since that first post on January 24, 2007. I remember being so nervous about buying the domain name MyRecycledBags.com and wondering if anyone would want to read about free ideas crafting with plastic bags and other recycled materials. It’s like they say though — build it and they will come. Well I have built this recycled crafting site and I’m happy to report that you all have come and kept coming back for more eco crafting.
Thank you everyone and please keep coming back and sharing the joy of green crafting here!
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Here are three different dishcloths with built-in plastic scrubbers I’ve crocheted recently. The centers are made using recycled plastic bags to create cotton dishcloths with scrubbing power. Quite a while back I made some scrubbers from plastic bags found here. Recently I thought about combining a pot scrubber with a dishcloth. These three products are my results. Just remember machine wash gentle and hang dry otherwise the centers will melt in your dryer. So check it out and make yourself a cute pot scrubber dishcloth today!
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Here is part I of the patterns for each dishcloth shown above. Part I has the blue green dishcloth and the round red one. Part II will be coming soon that will have the pattern for the pink motif square dishcloth.
Free Blue Green Round Dishcloth with Scrubber Pattern
Dishcloth measures: 10 inch round
Hook: Metal H (5 mm) US sized hook
Materials:
1- Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn ball Summer Splash (used about 3/4 of ball)
Small amount of Green and Blue plastic bag plarn for scrubber center
With center color (Green shown) Ch 5, Sl St to form ring.
This week’s featured recycled bag is a girl’s purse. I call it the Sunshine Purse. Spring is coming and this would be a bright and colorful bag for any young girl. It is crocheted from plastic grocery bags using a granny square stitch. I added a small flowered button to finish off the bag.
I hope you enjoy crocheting this purse for a special little girl in your family or for someone you know. As always you will find the complete free recycled purse pattern below.
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Girl’s Sunshine Granny Square Purse Pattern
Bag measures: 6-1/4″ square bag with 22 inches long strap
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Materials: Ball of yellow plastic bag yarn (plarn) & small amount of white plastic bag plarn for center Motif
One small button for center of Motif if desired
Make two Motifs squares.
With center color (White shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
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