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.
Filter all patterns
·
Sort: Name (A to Z)
Newest first
My Easter basket project this year uses the bottom of a laundry soap bottle and plastic bags. I cut the bottom off a plastic soap bottle and used it as a base for my Easter basket. I then crocheted around the base and up with recycled plastic bags or plarn.
The pink bunny was crocheted using AmiAmour’s free crochet pattern found here. This is my first official ami animal and while I’m not going into the ami making business, I was pleased with the outcome of my Easter bunny.
Oh and I used cut up plarn for the grass in my Easter basket. That way it can be recycled after the holidays into another project. Happy Easter!
Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 3/4″ strips of white bags (3-4 bags)
And approx. 4-5 bags of green and yellow plastic bags
1) Plastic handle from a soap box or other plastic strap
1) Plastic laundry soap base cut from bottle
Metal punch and hammer for making holes in plastic base
Hooks: H (5 mm) US sized metal hook
and J ( 6 mm) US size crochet hook
Small Steel crochet hook for first round on base
Description: Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Basket measures 7″ wide and 4-1/4″ tall with 20″ handle strap
at base 6″ wide and 3″ across.
Directions:
Using the base cut from a laundry soap bottle (mine was 6″ long and 3″ wide), punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used a metal punch and a hammer to put my holes in the plastic base.
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.
Japanese Knot Bags are very handy and feature two handles. One handle is shorter than the other so you can pull the longer handle through the shorter as a quick and unique closure for the bag. I thought a Japanese Knot would be a cool idea for a recycled tote bag.
I used mainly recycled grey Walmart plastic bags to crochet the tote bag with 4 blue plastic bags for the stripe. It took about 50 plastic bags cut 1 inch wide and made into plarn (plastic bag yarn) to crochet my Japanese knot tote bag. I loved how the blue really helped set off the bag to give it a nice look to an otherwise boring grey bag. Overall I am very happy with the results of my latest crocheted reusable bag.
Here is a closeup of the top with the Japanese knot used for the plastic bag tote closure.
As always, here is the free crochet pattern so everyone can crochet their own recycled Japanese knot tote bag.
Japanese Knot Plarn Tote Pattern
Hook: N (9mm) size metal crochet hook
All directions are in US crochet terms.
Description:
Bag measures 14″ wide flat across the front, 12″ tall, 9-1/2″ round bottom with one handle 10″ long and the other 15″ long.
Directions:
Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.
I present the jumbo plarn beach bag. This is the largest recycled plastic bag that I have ever crocheted. It measures 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall. It features a 30 inch long strap that you pull through the front opening to secure your beach bag closed. Then because the strap is long, you can throw it over your shoulder and off you can go.
So if you need a jumbo beach bag or maybe you want an extra large grocery tote, this plastic bag pattern will definitely fill your needs. It also allows you to use several different colors of recycled plastic bags for the stripes. The colorful stripes add a nice touch to the otherwise plain white bags that are so abundant.
Free Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn or Plarn
Approx. 80 white plastic grocery bags for main bag
15 grey and 8 pink plastic bags for stripes
Hook: N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook
Description: Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag
Bag measures 16 inches wide and 20 inches long with 30 inch strap
Directions:
Ch 34
This market bag was crocheted using a large plastic Q crochet hook. It’s my first project crocheting with plastic bag yarn aka plarn and using the extra large plastic hook. I must say that it makes my bag much lighter and the stitches more airy. I also didn’t use as many plastic bags as I normally do to finish the project. The bag is still very strong. As I have shown below with a load of groceries, it stretches nicely to accommodate my purchases.
Clickable
Here is my market bag filled from a grocery store trip!
So check out the free pattern below and as always — enjoy!
*********************************************************************
Free Large Plastic Market Bag Pattern
Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka plarn
Hooks:
Q size plastic crochet hook
N size metal crochet hook for handles
Description: Large Plastic Market Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 15 inches long
Directions:
Using Q hook, Ch 20.
I wanted to line this crocheted plarn purse and share the tutorial on how I line purses and bags that are made from recycled plastic bags. First I want to say that I am not a seamstress. This lining project is very basic and is a no-frills way to line a crocheted plarn purse.
First you need two pieces of fabric just wide enough for the bag to fit over with a little extra up top for your finished edge. Using recycled fabric, scrap material or whatever you have on hand will work.
I had a small piece of leftover fabric so I used it for a pocket for the inside of my lined purse.
Several people have asked for a picture tutorial on how I lined my pink passion plarn purse. So here are a few pictures I took and I will walk you through a brief explanation on how to line a plarn purse.
I basically create a pocket to slip inside my plarn purses to line them. I simply cut a piece of fabric for the lining and with right sides together and sew it together. Here is the completed lining I made for the recycled Pink Passion Plarn Purse which includes two pockets and a magnetic closure.
First step is to lay out the completed purse on the fabric lining as shown. The bottom of the purse lining is placed on the fold line of the fabric.
Time to kick of the holiday crafting with this little plarn Christmas bag I crocheted. Isn’t it adorable and guess what — its free to make. All you need is a few recycled plastic bags to create this cute little striped gift bag. So grab about 3 red, green, and a white plastic bag and cut them into plarn. For this project you want your plarn to be real thin so I cut my strips only about 1/2 inch wide.
With the built-in handle, you have a ready made gift bag perfect for that special little gift item or you can slip a gift card into your recycled plastic gift bag. My inspiration was Kristy’s ornament pattern as I tried doing it in plarn (plastic bag yarn) and it came out way too big. So I just modified the top and added the handle for a closure.
My little plarn Christmas bag is 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall. The handle is 3 inches long. Using a H crochet hook, I basically followed the pattern by Kristy until row 18 which was my last row to work. I marked the center of my bag by laying it down flat. Sc around in each stitch of this last row — at the center chain 3 and skip 2 stitches to create your hole for the handle. Then Sc in each stitch around to other center mark for the handle, chain 22 for handle. Skip 2 stitches and Sc into last stitches of row and finish off.
Volia — Your recycled Christmas gift bag is complete. You also can come and join the fun over at Retro Housewife’s Green Holiday Carnival that I am participating in this weekend.
Here is my messenger bag crocheted using recycled plastic bags. I am tempted to call this my ultimate recycled bag because it is so big and could be used for so many different purposes. This was a fun and challenging project as it fulfilled a request I had received.
Awhile back someone asked me to make a bag big enough to hold a scrapbook album. Well, I think this recycled bag would work wonderfully to hold your scrapbooking projects along with extra supplies. I added a plastic canvas sheet to the bottom of my bag to provide more stability. I just placed it inside rolled over at the center in the base of the messenger bag.
Clickable
I hope you enjoy this messenger bag project and happy green crafting!
**************************************************************************************
Free Crocheted Messenger Bag Pattern
Bag measures 15-1/2 inches wide and 13 inches long
Strap length is 42 inches
Materials: One large ball of plarn (plastic bag yarn) Appox. 60 bags
Picture tutorial is found here on how to make plarn
Hooks:
Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook for main bag
Metal J (6 mm) crochet hook for edging
Chain 32.
Recent Comments