Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Recycled Crafting


Fun Fur Recycled Tote

November 9, 2007 12 comments
FunFurTote

Crochet yourself a plastic bag “plarn” recycled tote bag! This bag is crocheted using recycled plastic grocery bags and one roll of fun fur I purchased from the dollar store. Total cost of the project is $1.00. You can’t beat this project as it’s frugal and eco-friendly. As more and more people are going green, crafting with recycled materials is growing in popularity. With the holiday season growing near, consider green crafting as a wonderful alternative this year.

As always, below you will find the free pattern for your personal use.

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Free Pattern for Crocheted Plarn Fun Fur Tote Bag

Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn (approx. 50-60 bags)
One 50 gm ball of Fun Fur (Pastels shown)

Hook: N size U. S. metal hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide and 12 inches long with 10 inch handles

Directions:
Ch 27 with just white plarn alone.

Denim Tote Bag Tutorial

November 1, 2007 43 comments
DenimTote

Here is my completed recycled denim tote bag with tutorial. I recycled an old pair of my son’s jeans to create this tote bag pattern. I used just one pant leg for the body of the bag and the other pant leg to make the straps. I lined the bag with some thrift store material that I bought for only a dollar. I want to remind readers here that I have stated in the past that I am not a seamstress so if my tutorial isn’t quite right, please be gentle. First and far most I am a recycler who tries to crochet and sew green, eco-friendly products. So with that being said, here’s my step-by-step instructions on how you too can sew a recycled denim tote bag.

First get a pant leg as shown.
All pictures are clickable complete tutorial click on the read more link here […]

Wordless Wed. — Recycle Me — Then we can all smile!

October 31, 2007 11 comments
SmileyBag

Patriotic Walker – Wheelchair Tote Bag

October 25, 2007 9 comments
WheelChrYarnTote

As promised, here is the walker – wheelchair tote bag crochet pattern using regular acrylic yarn. I crocheted several of these handy totes lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. I made these with red, white, and blue scrap and recycled acrylic yarn to have a patriotic look for the Veterans.

I also crafted some recycled walker – wheelchair tote bags using plastic bag yarn or plarn and that free pattern is found at this link. I have two versions of the bag, one with star buttons above and another with Velcro on the straps. You can pick and choose the style you like as I have posted the patterns for both bags below.

Here is the same tote made with overlapping straps with Velcro.

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Free Walker – Wheelchair Yarn Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
2.3 ozs (approx.) each of red, white and blue acrylic yarn.
2) 3″ Velcro strips and/or
2) 1-1/8″buttons depending on bag version.

Hook:
H (5 mm) U.S. size hook

Gauge using acrylic worst yarn:
8 rows = 3″
7 Hdc = 2″

Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12″ wide and 9″ long

Directions:
Using red yarn , Ch 41.

Recycled Bread Bag Handbag

October 19, 2007 20 comments
BreadBag

If you’re into recycling and crafts, try out this crocheted handbag using bread bags. I saved about 30 or more bags to make this multi-colored handbag. It’s really durable and will definitely be a conversation piece when you use it. Crocheting with bread bags is a bit tougher on the hands and joints but makes are very unique bag. Because the plastic is heavier you need to cut the strips a bit narrower and remember to not over-pull on your work.

The finished product which I posted pictures of both sides is so colorful. My camera pictures don’t really capture the pretty multi-colors but I hope you’ll be inspired to give this crocheted project a try so you too can experience the beauty of recycled bags!

Click to view larger size

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Free Pattern for Crocheted Bread Bag Handbag

Materials needed: One very large ball of plastic bread bags cut into 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch strips
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook

Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 9 inches wide and 11 inches long
Directions:
Ch 20

Blog Action Day – Crafting with Recycled Materials

October 15, 2007 14 comments

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind. In 2007 the issue is the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

I hope you will join me in blogging for our environment today. I blog about the subject that is near and dear to my heart. Crafting and more specifically — crafting with recycled materials. Please consider using plastic bags, bread bags, vhs video tape, cassette tapes, old denim, and other recycled fabric to craft with. You can create some exciting projects by using recycled materials. I have many free patterns here for your use. Click here to see the full list of all the free craft patterns available.

By reusing these otherwise trash materials, you will be helping our environment as well as creating a wonderful recycled product. Recycled totes, purses, and grocery bags make excellent gifts. Please consider crocheting, knitting, weaving, or sewing with recycled materials today!

Wheelchair – Walker Tote Bag

October 13, 2007 18 comments
WhlChrPl

Crochet this multipurpose wheelchair – walker tote bag from recycled plastic bags. It is very useful with velcro under the straps to attach to a wheelchair, walker or even a bed rail. Just wipe to clean and it’s very durable. I made several of these lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. It is an easy crocheted eco-friendly project and a very handy tote for someone in a wheelchair or using a walker.

Here is the free pattern below for the plastic bag yarn or plarn wheelchair – walker tote bag. As a sneak peek, here is another wheelchair – walker tote I made crocheting with acrylic yarn. I’ll be posting the instructions very soon for those that want to use regular or even recycled yarn to create this tote bag.

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Free Pattern for Plastic Walker – Wheelchair Tote Bag

Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn in blue and small ball of white
2) 1-1/2″ strips of Velcro

Hook:
N (9 mm) metal crochet hook

Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide and 9 inches long with 7 inch straps

Directions:
Using blue plastic bag yarn or plarn, Ch 27.

Recycled Denim Jean Bag

October 6, 2007 11 comments
Handles

Here is my first machine-sewn recycled denim jean bag. I’ve been wanting to get this posted for quite awhile. I’ve been working on sewing denim totes from old jeans that I have. This is my first attempt and please understand that I am not a seamstress. This is truly a work in progress to create a small denim tote bag. I made this using only the pant leg of some old jeans. Then I added the outside pocket which I stitched around through the original pocket stitching to secure it to the tote bag.

I recycled an old curtain and cut it up to make my lining. I added in some pockets from an old denim shirt I had. This picture was taken when I just had the lining pinned in place.

Here is a picture of the handles I made for this bag. After I trimmed the seams, I turned them right side out. I then top-stitched the handles.

click to view larger

Here is a picture on how I attached the handles. I put them inside between the denim and the lining. I then stitched around the top to secure the lining to the bag with the straps in place. Make sure you use a machine needle designed for heavy denim as they work much better and don’t break like regular sewing machine needles do. The finished size of this bag is 7-1/2″ wide x 11″ long with 18″ straps.

click to view larger

I am working on a picture tutorial for a denim tote bag with a zippered lining. It will have step-by-step pictures. Once I have it completed, I will post it here for everyone. Recycling old denim jeans is really a lot of fun and I hope you’ll give it a try!

Vcr Tape Ribbon Tote

September 28, 2007 19 comments
VcrTote9-07

Do you have some old vhs video tapes wasting away around the house? Well crochet yourself a recycled tote bag using those old tapes. This bag was crocheted from vhs tape and Lion Brand ribbon yarn. I made this tote bag for a co-worker for Christmas after she saw a prior bag I crafted and really wanted one. So I got busy and crocheted this tote for her for the upcoming Christmas gift exchange.

If you are new to crocheting with vcr tape here is the link for using vcr tape as yarn. It is a great way to recycle those old vcr vhs tapes into a wonderful reusable product.

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Free Pattern for a Crocheted Vcr Tape Ribbon Tote Bag

Materials needed:
2 Vhs Vcr video long play tapes (T-120)
2 rolls of Lion Brand ribbon yarn City Lights #21008, 110 yards each

Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook

Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 14 inches long

Gauge:
7 Hdc = 3 inches
2 Rnds = 1 inch

Directions:
Using 2 strands of vhs video tape with one strand of ribbon yarn, Ch 28.



About Me

Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. Welcome to my blog site that is dedicated to recycling and crafting. I love to crochet and create crafts and other useful things from recycled materials. I share many free tutorials and patterns for creating recycled projects as well as other handmade items.


Here is a direct link to all my free patterns available here on My Recycled Bags.


Thank you for stopping by to visit and for your interest in My Recycled Bags!