Comments on: Messenger Bag Crafted from Plastic Bags

By: Kerri

Kerri — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:50:09 +0000

I made a version of this bag using this pattern. It was the first thing I have ever tried to crochet from plarn. I love it! I lined mine with fused plastic bags that I also made. I made a pocket inside and have been using the bag to hold the winter hats I have been making. I love your patterns. Keep up the good work!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:17:55 +0000

@Pat:
I sent you a list of ideas for your plastic handles. I don’t sell any handles but hopefully gave you some ideas to try. Best wishes on your project with the students.

By: pat gorham

pat gorham — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:08:01 +0000

Fabulous! I am also making purses out of recycled products. I am in search of recycled purse handles that I can buy in bulk. Some short and some very long. Any ideas? If so, please contact me at pgorham11@aim.com.

Thanks!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:10:41 +0000

@Andrea:
Sounds like a great lining and will provide you with a strong base. Best wishes on your bag.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:37:42 +0000

Oh thanks! Haha maybe I’m just paranoid. I’m going to line it with a ripped bedsheet we were going to throw out. Maybe put some cereal box cardboard in between the bag and the lining to make the bottom flat.

Thanks for the quick reply!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:20:23 +0000

@Andrea:
I did line mine with plastic canvas and it helped shore-up the insides to make it stronger. But like my grocery totes, the straps do stretch but they do come back to nearly normal after you take the weight off them. I’m surprised it seems to want to rip. I put heavy groceries in my totes and they do stretch way out but have never ripped. I would maybe reinforce your strap by putting a wide ribbon on the underneath side of the strap. I did that on a small handbag so the strap didn’t stretch. Try these things and see if it helps. Good luck.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:37:17 +0000

I made one of these, only a bit altered, it has no flap and is 17 inches wide and about 15 inches tall.

It’s very spacy, but it’s not very strong. if i but more than 6 lbs in it, the strap stretches, if i put a heavy book in it, the corner jabs at the material and threatens to rip my bag and i don’t want it to rip cause i worked like 12 hours on it.

what do you suggest i do for lining? will the lining make it stronger

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:39:04 +0000

@Kim,
I edited the strap to clarify how to begin. I was counting the sl st at beginning as a stitch and it was confusing on the count. So you work a sl st (counts as first sc) to start with right side facing out 6 sts from flap. Sc across top edge of bag in the next 5 sts (toward flap.)(6 sts complete)
*Ch 2, turn. Work Hdc in ea of the 6 sts.* Repeat between *until strap is 42” long.

Remember you can always add or subtract a st on the strap to make it wider or narrower as desired. Best of luck and please email me back if you have any questions at all.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:28:09 +0000

Oh! I did have a question about the strap…it said to sc the five stitches going towards the flap, and then chain two, turn, and then work hdc in the 6 sts.

Is it five, or six? Or am I just a little bit lost?

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:28:04 +0000

This is brilliant! I’ve been looking everywhere for a plarn bag big enough to use as a backpack (and as I’m in High School, that’s no easy task), and was easy enough for a beginner to make. It’s so pretty too!