White Crocheted Plastic Hobo Purse
Need a cute summer handbag? Why not crochet yourself this hobo handbag from recycled plastic bags. Who said trash can’t be stylish when you can create something this cute and useful from plarn. This handbag purse is lined and has a magnetic clasp for a closure. It measures 8″ x 11″ at the widest point. Plenty big enough to hold everything you might need for a daily outing.
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Inside picture of the lining.
Should you want a larger version of this hobo purse here it is. Click here for the free pattern link.
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I have given you several different sizes, materials, and ideas for creating your own recycled hobo purse. So what are you waiting for — grab that hook and go!
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Free White Hobo Bag Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of white plastic bag yarn aka Plarn – Approx. 40 bags
1 set of 1 inch D rings or circle rings
2 yards of ribbon (1/8″-3/16″ will work)
Magnetic clasp closure
Material for lining if desired
Hooks:
N US size Metal crochet hook
J US size Metal crochet hook
Description: White Hobo Bag
Bag measures 8 inches wide and 11 inches long
Directions:
Rnd 1
Using N hook, Ch 23.
Rnd 2
Work 3 Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. *Sk 2 sts, work 4 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end. Ch 2 in end st of ch. Working down backside of chain, repeat between * to end. Ch 2 in end st of ch. Sl St to top of ch 2 beg st. (7 Clusters made on each side of chain with two Ch 2 spaces on ends.)
Rnd 3
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc st of cluster (center of cluster). Ch 2, 3 Hdc in sm st, *sk to 2nd Hdc of next cluster, work 4 Hdc in top of 2nd Hdc st, *. Repeat between *. Work 4 Hdc in Ch 2 end st, then continue in pattern to last end. Work 4 Hdc in ch 2 end of rnd st. Join with sl st to top of beg ch 2.
Rnd 4 -12
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc (center of cluster), ch 2, 3 Hdc in sm st, *sk 2 sts, 4 Hdc in top of 2nd Hdc of next cluster*. Repeat between *. Sl St to top of ch 2 beg st. (Approx. 7 inches long at this point)
Rnd 13 -14
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc of cluster, ch 2, 2 hdc in sm st,*sk over to next cluster, work 3 Hdc in center st*. Repeat between *. Join with a Sl St to top of ch 2 at beg st.
Rnd 15
Ch 1, Sc in ea st (in cluster’s sts only sc in 2 sts of the cluster). (Don’t Sc in spaces but only in actual sts of cluster.) Join with Sl St to top of ch 1 beg st.
Rnd 16 – 17
Using J hook, Ch 1, Sc in ea st. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1 beg st. Sl St in next st on final round for smooth edge. FO and weave in the end to make a smooth edge at top edge of bag.
Strap:
You can crochet a strap or I used a spool knitter to weave the strap from plarn. Weave 24 inch strap with tails on the end to attach to rings.
Attach D rings to strap using tails. I wove around the rings and into the strap to secure the rings.
Attach a piece of plarn around D ring and weave into bag at top side edge. I did a combination of sl sts and wove around the rings to securely attach the strap to the bag. FO and weave under ends.
Weave ribbon through clusters as shown in picture.
Line bag and attach a magnetic closure as desired.
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
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
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
Aug 02, 2008
My Recycled Bags.com » White Crocheted Plastic Hobo Purse…
Need a cute summer handbag? Why not crochet yourself this hobo handbag from recycled plastic bags. Who said trash can’t be stylish when you can create something this cute and useful from plarn….
Aug 04, 2008
I’ve nominated this blog for an award, if you’d like to display it. See http://rustybobbin.com/blog/ for the details.
Aug 06, 2008
My grandmother makes these!!!!!!
I thought she was crazy, but when I finally saw what she was talking about I was amazed!
Great post….excellent way to reuse what is otherwise tossed in the garbage by those who don’t have dogs…..but I guess they end up in the garbage if you have a dog anyway!
Aug 07, 2008
Great job on the hobo. I yet to try to crochet with plastic but, you do great job with it. Keep it up.:)
Aug 08, 2008
Hey not bad, pretty imaginative there with touch of creativity. That reminds me on what I used to do during my university days when we used to recycle old newspaper as our lunch wrapper.
Aug 10, 2008
I have removed the link to Dao’s hobo bag pattern using regular yarn in this post. Dao has removed her blog from general viewing and is not offering her pattern at this time.
Aug 11, 2008
[…] top spots. In my eyes being green is a pleasant bi-product of our lifestyle. RecycleCindy presents White Crocheted Plastic Hobo Purse posted at My Recycled Bags.com. RecycleCindy shows us another of her cool recycled reations and […]
Aug 11, 2008
What a unique focus for this blog! I enjoyed seeing some very different types of bags for shopping.
You and I seem to have come into this by way of a similar experience. I, too, started my journey as a result of a cancer diagnosis. Funny how life leads us sometimes.
Good luck to you.
Aug 13, 2008
wow you got some really nice stuff here! Frankly, I know nothing about crafts or stitching, but I’ll surely share this blog with my mom… I’m sure she’ll love it:)
Sep 10, 2008
Really cute, Cindy! (As always.) I like the color scheme and the delicate little bow. Girly recycling!
Sep 29, 2008
Cindy I think your bags are awesome. How do you attach the lining to the inside of the bag?
Sep 29, 2008
Sandi,
I hand stitch my lining inside the plastic bag “shell.” It works well as I can hide the stitches on the inside of the plastic and they don’t show on the outside of the purse.
Oct 17, 2008
How do you mean the shell? Do you pierce the plastic with the needle or sort of weave around it? It looks lovely and secure, does it pull on the plastic at all?
Oct 17, 2008
@Kath:
When I say shell, I am referring to the purse body made of plastic. You put the lining inside your purse and then I handstitched the lining in place by working on the inside. I stitched the lining in place by snagging a bit of the plastic to secure it in place. Just snag and stitch through some of the plastic on the inside so your stitching doesn’t show on the outside of the bag. It doesn’t pull and you don’t see the stitching on the outside. Hope this helps.
Cindy
Apr 19, 2009
I’ve only been crocheting for almost a year and was recently reminded of the rag rugs and bread bag rugs my Grandma use to make. I started looking for anything to crochet with that I didn’t actually have to purchase and kind of fell into crocheting with grocery bags. Now it’s become a competition with family and friends to see who can bring me the most interesting and/or colorful bags. My husband came across a whole box of unused plain, white plastic bags that were being thrown out at his office and brought them home to me. They are perfect for lining the hobo purse. I love this site and patterns. I love to find regular “yarn” patterns and then refer to your sight to change them into “plarn” patterns. Keep it green!!
Apr 19, 2009
Wanda,
Great to hear from another crafter hooked on recycled crafting. It’s as you say, you can take a regular yarn pattern and usually convert it into a plarn project by just changing the gauge and stitches. Best wishes and happy green crafting to you!
Aug 11, 2010
You are my hero. I have despaired every time I see a plastic bag drift down the street. No more will I shove my bags into the recycling bin at the grocery store. I have plarn, a hook and a plan. Thank you.