Patterns: Plastic Bags / Plarn
Patterns made from plarn, yarn cut from plastic grocery bags. Totes, purses, scrubbers, rugs, baskets and holiday decorations that keep bags out of the landfill.
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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.
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!
This hobo handbag was crocheted using recycled plastic bags. It is a pattern that I adapted from Dao over at ShortyLamCrochet Blogspot. I emailed Dao several times to work out some details because to create her bag using plastic bag yarn or plarn, the pattern required some modifications. We agreed that I would post her pattern link which is done with regular yarn. Below you will find my variation of her pattern done in plarn.
Inside of Lined Hobo Bag Click to View Full-Sized
Strap Made Using Spool Knitter
Free Plastic Bag Hobo Handbag Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of brown plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
1 set of 1 inch D rings or circle rings
2 yards of ribbon (1/2″-3/4″ will work)
Magnetic clasp closure
Material for lining if desired
Hooks:
N (9 mm) Metal crochet hook
J (6 mm) Metal crochet hook
Description: Recycled Plastic Hobo Bag
Bag measures 14 inches wide and 10 inches long
Directions:
Rnd 1
Ch 29
Need a carrying case or sleeve for your laptop? Do you have a whole bunch of plastic bags that you’d like to recycle? Well you are in luck as here is a recycled plastic bag yarn (plarn) project for crocheting a laptop computer sleeve. This pattern uses up about 63 plastic retail sacks and creates a nice and sturdy carrying case for a laptop. The laptop shown is 15 inches wide by 10.5 inches and 1.5 inches deep.
As you can see the laptop fits in nicely and the holds the weigh just fine for carrying.
Should you have a larger or smaller laptop or tablet, just adjust the pattern by chaining additional stitches to start (or less) and crochet extra rounds to get the desired length you need. As always the free crochet pattern is found below.
Laptop Computer Sleeve Pattern
Materials needed:
Approx. 63 plastic grocery bags cut 1 inch wide
Here is my picture tutorial on how to make plarn from recycled plastic bags.
Hook: “K” (6.5 mm) crochet hook
Description: Recycled laptop computer sleeve
Sleeve case measures 16” wide and 12” long with 5” handles
Directions:
Using K hook, Ch 40.
Here is an eco rug I crocheted from recycled plastic bags. I made this Motif rug as part of an eco craftalong on Craftster. It’s been a fun and very informative craftalong for me. I learned about Borax and found it to be a wonderful eco friendly cleaning supply. I’ve learned about making reusable swiffer covers and mops. I have had the privilege of seeing lots of other people’s creations using plastic bags and other recycled materials. So if you love doing eco-friendly everythings come check out the link above for a fantastic craftalong!
Here is my pattern below for this rug. I want to forewarn everyone that I had issues getting my rug to lie flat. I applied heat from a blow dryer which helped a bit but it still isn’t completely flat. You may want to add more stitches or adjust the pattern to make it work better for you. After tackling and frogging this round rug for weeks, I think I’ll stick with bag projects for awhile now.
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Free Round Recycled Plastic Bag Rug Pattern
Size: 18″ round rug
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook
Materials:
Large ball of white plastic bags cut and tied into yarn (plarn)
Small ball of blue plarn used for center motif
With center color (white shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
Check out my latest recycled plastic bag “plarn” handbag.
This was crocheted from some recycled Walmart plastic bags. The white with black lettering isn’t the most attractive material but I added just a bit of ribbon and it really made the bag look cute. This bag measures 9″ by 9″ and was created for a promotional giveaway that will be going on at the Birmingham City University in the UK. The event is to raise awareness for Aids and HIV and to incorporate fashion. I hope their event is a big success and that recycled crafting can be recognized as a green fashion alternative.
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Free Recycled Plastic Plarn Handbag Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn AKA plarn (approx. 25-30 bags)
1-1/2 yards of ribbon yarn (1/2″ or 3/8″ wide)
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook
Description: Tote Handbag
Bag measures 9 inches wide and 9 inches long
Directions:
Ch 24 with white plarn
I just recently completed this water bottle carrier or holder. It’s another item off my to-do list. This carrier holds a 1 liter bottle of water. I crocheted a wider and longer strap so this may be worn as a sling bag over your shoulder and across your body. The strap is 40 inches long so you have a nice comfortable length to carry this bottle. I found this worked well as this 1 liter bottle is a bit heavy when full. Also because the bag is crocheted using recycled plastic bags, you don’t have to worry about it getting wet from the condensation from the cold bottle. Don’t know how to make plastic bag yarn? — here is the tutorial link.
Here is the free pattern that I share with all my readers. Take care and blessings to all.
Free Water Bottle Holder Pattern
Material: Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips – 1 Ball of plarn
Hook:
Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Water Bottle Holder Size:
Bag – 5-1/2 inches wide, 7-3/4 inches long, with 4-1/2 inches round bottom
Strap – 40 inches long & 2 inches wide
With plastic bag yarn, Ch 4, Sl St to join in first st of chain 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.
Here is my newest recycled bag. It’s a round grocery tote that I crocheted with plastic bags made into plarn yarn. I designed this recycled plastic tote to be roomy and to replace my favorite reusable grocery tote that is disintegrating. My favorite grocery tote is going to have to be retired as it’s just falling apart after years of use.
Anyway I love the big round base of this reusable tote. The stripes add a cheery look to the design. I added thick heavy handles and this grocery tote should service me for many years. I have written up the free crochet pattern below and hope you too can make yourself a useful tote bag for your trips to the market.
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Striped Round Grocery Tote Bag Pattern
One ball of plastic bag yarn or plarn cut 1 inch wide – Approx. 35 white plastic grocery bags,
12 pink newspaper bags and 7 blue bags cut into plarn also for the stripes.
Here is my picture tutorial link on how to make plarn yarn from the different plastic bags.
Finished Size:
18 inches wide lying flat, 12 inches tall standing with 12″ wide base and 9 inch handles
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Directions:
With white plarn yarn, Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.
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