Crochet yourself this cute summer tote from plarn. What is plarn? Well if you haven’t heard the term yet, it refers to the yarn created from recycled plastic bags. I believe Sonnets and Stitches from Crochetville.org was the first to coin the term.
Here is my link to a picture tutorial on how to make plarn. So check it out and recycle all those plastic bags into something of beauty. It’s truly trash to treasure at this website!
Free Pattern for Crocheted Plarn Tote Bag
Materials needed: One very large ball of plastic bag yarn Plarn
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12″ wide and 12″ long with 4″ expandable bottom
Directions:
Ch 28
This is my latest recycled bag project which is crocheted from Vhs video tapes and ribbon yarn. Here is the link for the tutorial on how to use Vhs tape as yarn. This tote bag measures 13″ by 12″ and has a handy grip handle. You could also crochet this bag using recycled plastic bags. If you use plastic bag yarn or plarn, you only need to use one ball of plarn and the strand of ribbon yarn as you work the pattern. Vhs video tape is much lighter which requires the double strand (2 reels) to be used in this project.
Here is a closeup of the combination of Vcr tape and ribbon yarn.
Free Pattern for Crocheted Vhs Video Tape Tote Bag
Materials needed:
2 Vhs Video long play tapes (T-120)
2 rolls of Lion Brand ribbon yarn – Incredible #51659, 110 yards ea roll
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 12 inches long with 4 inch oval expandable bottom
Directions:
Using 2 strands of vhs video tape with one strand of ribbon yarn Ch 28.
Here is a seamless reusable lunch sack bag. The lunch sack is crocheted from recycled plastic bags. This project is another installment of my to-do list which I am working on. The list is made up of items that I have never made before and I use recycled material to create each item. Once the item is completed, I share it here along with the free crochet pattern so everyone can have an opportunity to make the recycled project too.
This week, I completed my lunch sack which is a seamless bag. I have used this seamless method for quite a while now and wanted to share it here on my blog. You can use it on many different projects when you don’t want to have to sew or weave sides together on your project. It also leaves your item with a nice appearance as you do not have a joining stitch. I have step-by-step pictures of how the seamless bag method works below.
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At round 3 of bottom
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At round 5 as sides curl up
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At round 7 as bowl is created
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Finished bag with expandable bottom
Free Reusable Lunch Sack Bag Pattern
Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bags cut into strips and interlocked to create a ball of plarn
Strip of Velcro for flap closure (I used 4″ strip)
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Plastic Lunch Sack Bag
Bag measures 8 inches wide at top and 11 inches long with 3-1/2 inches oval expandable bottom and 19 inch long strap.
Directions:
Here is my parade of pot scrubbers crocheted from recycled plastic bags!
I used several different types of plastic to create these pot scrubbies. The yellow and white/red ones were crocheted using the pattern below with a “N” hook. The white/gold one was made from a recycled plastic wedding bag. You can read about that project here. This scrubber was made using a “H” hook rather than the bigger hook as the plastic yarn was single strand. It is a much tighter stitched scrubber than the ones with the bigger hook. Here is the free pattern link for that scrubber.
So depending on your project either use the pattern below for pot scrubbers made from recycled plastic grocery bags or the link above for the single strand plastic strips.
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Free Crocheted Pot Scrubber Pattern using Plastic Grocery Bags
Scrubber measures 3-1/2 inches wide across. (Make 2 round disks)
Material: Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Tutorial Using Vcr Vhs Tape
Materials Needed:
Two vcr vhs video tape cartridges (long play t-120 preferred)
N (9 mm) crochet hook (metal preferred)
Small and large screwdrivers
Scissors
Rewind two old vcr tapes that you don’t have any further use of to begin.
Using two vhs tapes for this project, open up the cases by using your small screwdriver to unscrew the screws in each corner and the middle of the cases. Some varieties of cases do not have screws which you can take out. If you have that type of cartridge you will need to pry open the cases. A large flathead screwdriver works well to get the case open to reach the vhs tape reels.
Click photo to view full-sized
Click photo to view full-sized
Once you have the cases open, remove the reel that is holding the tape. Cut the tape off at the end of the leader tape with your scissors. Now you have two reels with vhs tape on each of them for your crafting project.
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Holding two strands of the vhs tape together works well for crocheting. Leave the tape on each reel and as you work your project it will just unwind.
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Crocheting with vhs tape is a bit hard on the fingers and joints because it isn’t real smooth to work with. Using ribbon yarn as shown below does help in the smoothness of your crocheting and allows the hook to move easier.
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Ribbon yarn shown with two strands of vhs tape
Enjoy your project using vhs tape and you can find all my free patterns here for making items with the recycled tape. Please email me if you have any questions.
Recycled Plastic Granny Square Tote Bag
This week’s recycled bag is a medium sized tote bag crocheted using a granny square stitch. It is a 12 inch square motif that was made using white and blue plastic bags. A few months ago I had crocheted a small purse very similar to this pattern. I have had several requests for a larger bag that could be used as a tote or book bag so I created this larger version. As always here is the free pattern below.
Granny Square Motif Tote Pattern
Size: Approx. 12″ square bag with strap 3/4 inches wide and 20 inches long
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern
Materials: Large ball of white plastic bag yarn (plarn)
and small amount of blue plastic bag plarn for center Motif
Crocheted Grocery Tote Bag
Want to make your plastic bags recyclable? Want to bring your own bag to the grocery store? Want to have your own green eco-friendly shopping bag? Well crochet or knit those plastic bags into a recycled grocery tote bag.
Here is the link for the tutorial for creating plastic bag yarn. Recently this plastic bag yarn has earned the nickname of ‘plarn’ to describe it. I love the term and hope it catches on. Crafting tote bags has become very popular. It’s a wonderful way to save our trees and our landfills. I have several free crochet and knitted patterns available at the patterns links page here so check out your options and make yourself a reusable grocery tote bag!
Inside of Tote Bag
This bag features a roomy expandable heavy bottom, an open mesh upper tote and a wide sling strap handle. If you are a crocheter, below is the free pattern to create this recycled tote for your next shopping trip.
Outside Expandable Bottom
Crocheted Plastic Grocery Tote Bag Pattern
Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bags cut into strips and interlocked to create a ball of plarn yarn — Approx. 56 bags.
Hook: N size metal crochet hook and J for edging
Description: Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide at top and 15 inches long with 7 inch oval expandable bottom and 28 inch sling strap handle.
Cassette Tape Evening Bag with Cozy
This week’s free recycled crochet pattern features an evening bag crocheted using cassette tape and ribbon yarn. The front flap is V-shaped with a Gold button embellishment and a Velcro button for a closure. I had some materials left over so I decided to make a little cozy to go inside the evening bag. You could use the cozy to hold your ID or a credit card. I did not put any embellishment on the front of the cozy but one could be added if desired.
I used two strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand Trellis ribbon yarn. You hold all three strands together as you crochet. I have found that using just cassette tape as your “yarn” isn’t as smooth to crochet with as other materials. But adding the ribbon yarn really gives your “yarn” a smoother, stronger texture and the crochet hook moves easier.
Closeup of material — Click for full-full photo
I used Champagne #51666 for the ribbon yarn and it really set off the cassette tape to create a pretty evening bag. I tried several times to take some clearer pictures of the completed project but the light just doesn’t do these materials much justice. Trust me when I say that the combination of cassette tape and ribbon yarn is beautiful together. Plus it’s a wonderfully eco – friendly recycled craft!
Cassette Tape Evening Bag Pattern
Purse measures 7 inches wide and 5 inches long. Cozy measures 3 inches square.
Materials:
2 cassette tapes (90 min. tapes)
1 ball Lion Brand Trellis Champagne ribbon yarn (115 yards)
1 button for embellishment as shown on bag
2 small black Velcro buttons
Hook: Metal J (6 mm) hook
Chain 28 using 2 strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand yarn (for purse).
Pattern is crocheted using 3 strands of material held together throughout project.
Crochet yourself a hook case from recycled plastic bags!
This project is another installment on my to-do list that I have blogged about recently. If you are not familiar with my to-do list, it is a list of items that I plan to crochet using plastic bags. Once I complete each project, I post the free pattern here at My Recycled Bags for everyone’s use. This week I decided that I needed a crochet hook case and it was on my list to do so… Here is the completed project and free pattern. An inside look of the hook case which holds four crochet hooks.
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Recycled Hook Case Pattern
Hook case measures 5 inches wide and 10 inches long.
Material: One small ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips.
One small button if desired to embellish purse front.
One Velcro stick-on button.
Lining – 6 inch x 5 inch piece of muslin
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
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