Green Tote for Earth Day
Happy Earth Day 2008!
In honor of Earth Day, I have crocheted this recycled green tote bag which I’m calling my Green Greenie Bag.
The project is made using recycled plastic bags which have been repurposed into plarn or plastic bag yarn. Here is a picture tutorial to show you the step-by-step process to making plarn. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than creating an eco-friendly greenie bag for yourself, a family member or friend.
Free Green Greenie Tote Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of green plastic bag yarn aka plarn
One small ball of dark green plarn for stripe
Hooks:
Q US size plastic crochet hook
N US size Metal crochet hook
Description: Green Greenie Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 11 inches wide and 14 inches long
Directions:
Using N hook, Ch 28.
Rnd 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Then continue around other side of chain by working a Hdc in ea st to other end. Do not join at end of rounds, just continue working Hdc’s in rounds as this creates a seamless bag.
Rnd 2
Working loosely with N hook, Hdc in ea st around the entire bag bottom. End at the side of the bag. (Work loosely so that switch to Q hook will be easier.)
Rnd 3
Switch to Q hook, *Hdc in next st, Sk next st*. Repeat between * to complete rnd.
(Tip: Push hook into st and stretch it so Q hook can go into sts easier.)
Rnd 4 – 13
Continue with Q hook, Hdc in ea st around to complete rnds. On final rnd 13, end at side of bag with a sl st in last st. FO light green plarn.
Rnd 14 – 15
Join dark green plarn with a sl st. Hdc in ea st around to last st of rnd 15, sl st in last st and FO.
Rnd 16 – 18
Join light green plarn with a sl st. Hdc in ea st of rnd.
Rnd 19
Mark center 5 stitches at front of bag and back of bag. (This will be the opening for the handles.)
Starting at side of bag for rnd, Hdc in ea st over to the beginning mark for center 5 sts, Ch 6 and attach yarn with a Hdc in the next st after the center 5 sts mark. (You leave the center 5 sts unworked.)
Hdc in ea st around to the other side of bag. Match front of bag by leaving the center 5 sts unworked. Ch 6 then continue working Hdc in ea st to complete rnd ending at side of bag. Check your work to make sure the back matches the front of bag. Adjust your sts as needed to match.
Rnd 20
Hdc in ea st over to chain for handle with Q hook. Switch to N hook, Sc evenly and tightly around the chain (approx. 12 Sc). Switch back to Q hook, then Hdc in ea st around to other side’s chain for handle. Switch back to N hook, Sc around the same as the other side’s handle, then with Q hook Hdc in ea remaining sts of rnd. (You use the N hook for the handle so the sts are nice and tight.)
Rnd 21 – 23
Using Q hook, Hdc in ea st around to handle – Switch to N hook and Sc in ea st of the handle. Switch back to Q hook and Hdc around in ea st around to the other side’s handle. Using N hook again, Sc in ea st of handle, then with Q hook finish rnd by working Hdc in ea st of rnd. On final rnd, work Sc and then Sl St in the last st of rnd at side of bag. FO and weave in the end to make a smooth edge at top edge of bag.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
St – Stitch
This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy of 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
****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.
Tags: free-pattern, plarn
Apr 22, 2008
Wow! This is a really nice tote! Can I have one 😀 hahaha! How long did you make it?
Apr 22, 2008
@Earthling
This bag took about 3 hours to make. Glad you like the bag. You should try crocheting. Best of luck.
Apr 22, 2008
Love your Green Greenie bag – It looks real stylish
My hats off to you for your wonderful Reuse of plastic into such lovely stuff 🙂
Apr 22, 2008
I’ve just finished browsing all of your plastic patterns – thanks so much for sharing them with us! I discovered plarn only yesterday and just finished my first sad-looking tote. I can’t wait to hunt out more bags and play around with your patterns, now that I’ve got the feel of the medium.
Happy Earth Day!
Apr 22, 2008
Great idea to re-purpose plastic bags! Happy Earth Day!
Apr 22, 2008
What a great way to reuse plastic bags. Keep up the good work.
Apr 23, 2008
Thank you for sharing this with us Cindy! I hope you had a great Earth Day spreading this pattern around is a great way to celebrate it. Keep up the awesome recycling/reusing projects.
Apr 24, 2008
That is an awesome bag!!
Apr 26, 2008
Very appropriate!
Apr 26, 2008
Hi Cindy,
I just found your site a few weeks ago and fell in love with all your ideas. I really would like to know how to make the handles sturdy. I knitted a sack and the handles I knitted for it , well let’s just say instead of shoulder to waist length it now pretty much drags of the floor. I’m tempted to add casters to that sucker! Glad to hear that you are your tests came back negative. God bless you!
May 01, 2008
[…] Recycled Bags dot com has this little bag for you to make. Click on her link to travel there and get the info on how to […]
May 04, 2008
lovely a lot
Dec 10, 2008
[…] Cindy celebrated Earth Day by releasing a pattern so readers can create their own green tote bag out of crochetted grocery […]
Jan 12, 2009
Our women’s group would like to make these for book bags for children of abused women’s shelter in our area. This looks like it would be durable and easy to make for them.
Jan 12, 2009
@Arlene:
Free free to make this pattern for your group. I am always happy to see my patterns used for useful endeavors such as women’s shelters.
Jun 12, 2009
[…] Bag is from recycled plastic bags. She provides further directions and pattern information at her blog post: The project is made using recycled plastic bags which have been repurposed into plarn or plastic […]