My Recycled Bags.com

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” 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” size metal hook

Description: Purple Easter Basket -
Basket measures 8” wide and 5” tall with 19” handle strap.

Directions:
Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.

Round 1
Ch 1, then work 9 Sc in ring, join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (10)

Round 2
Ch 1, Sc in same st, work 2 Sc in ea st around, join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (20)

Round 3
Ch 1, Sc in same st, *Sc in next st, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * - * to end of round, joining with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (30)

Round 4
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *work 1 Sc in ea of the next 2 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Round 5
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Round 6
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Round 7
Ch 1, Sc in ea st around entire round. Join with Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Round 8
Sc in FLO around entire basket. This creates a bend for the bottom edge of basket. Don’t join at end of rnd. From this point on, do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Hdc’s in rounds as this creates a seamless basket.

Tip: Place a marker so you know where the beginning of the rounds are though as this is helpful for last round of bag.

Rounds 9 -17
Working in both loops now, Hdc in ea st around. Don’t join at end of rounds, just keep working around until 17 rounds are complete or your basket is about 4-1/2” tall. In last 2 sts of last round, work SC, and then Sl st in last st to make a nice smooth edge. FO and weave under ends.

Round 18
Switch to white plarn, join with Sl St into basket where you just did last st of round 17. Hdc in ea st around back to beg st.

Round 19 (scalloping)
Sl St into beg st (sm st), Ch 3, Dc in sm st. *Sk 2 sts, Sl St in next st, Ch 3, Dc in sm st*. Repeat between * around. Join with a Sl St into base of beg st. (If your sts for the scalloping doesn’t come out even, just adjust to skip or add a space or stitch as needed so the edging comes out evenly. FO.

Strap:
I recycled a plastic soap box strap for my basket handle. One end had a small hole with a slot cut so I cut the other end to match. The hole and slots are helpful for weaving in and securing your handle to the basket once it has been covered with some white plarn.

Using white plarn, thread through the slot / hole at end of strap. Leave a 5” tail at end of strap to be used later to secure to your basket. Working around the strap, SC around the strap evenly so you cover the strap with the white plarn. I did my stitching on the underside of strap so the top was smooth, but you can work it however you prefer. Once you have Sc’d around the length of strap, thread through the other end’s slot and leave another long tail. I then worked Sl Sts through the strap slot into basket and around the edges to secure the strap inside the basket. I used a bit of purple plarn into the strap slot and into the last purple round to provide extra strength so the strap wouldn’t pull apart from my basket. FO and weave ends under. Cut and trim any loose ends too.

If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.

Abbreviations:
Beg - Beginning
Ch - Chain
Dc - Double Crochet
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
FLO - Front Loop Only
FO - Finish Off
Plarn - Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd - Round
Sc - Single Crochet
Sl St - Slip Stitch
Sk - Skip
Trl - Triple Crochet

This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy at My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2008

Filed under: Plastic Bag Crafts on March 8th, 2008