This week I present a variation of my cluster stitch bag that I made recently. The main body of this bag is crocheted using recycled plastic bags that have been cut into plarn using the looping method. I have a picture tutorial here for making plarn from plastic bags should you need instructions. Just click on the green link.

I wanted to add a gift bag type closure to the original pattern to create a reusable gift bag. I used some Christmas cotton to top this plarn bag and created a looped handle to finish off my little gift bag. The looped handle works wonderfully for closing the bag. I plan on crocheting several of these bags to use for gift bags for Christmas. They work up quickly and with the looped handle, you have a ready-made gift bag that doesn’t even require a bow.

Special thanks to Helen over at CrochetN’Crafts who was my inspiration for this project. So grab a few of those plastic bags laying around and whip yourself up a beautiful recycled gift bag for Christmas!

Cluster Stitch Plarn Gift Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” about 10 plastic grocery bags
1/2 oz Bernat Holidays Red Sparkle cotton yarn for trim and handle

Hooks:
J (6 mm) metal crochet hook for bag
H (5 mm) hook for top trim and handle

Description: Recycled Plastic Bag Cluster Stitch Gift Bag
Bag measures 6″ wide and 4-3/4″ tall with 12″ handle and 5-1/4″ wide at base

Cluster Stitch Details:
Beg Cluster: Ch 2, (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 4 times, 5 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 5 lps, Ch 1.

Cluster: (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 5 times, 6 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 6 lps, Ch 1.

Directions:
Using J hook with plarn, Ch 11

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Work 3 Sc in end st, then continue around other side of chain by working a Sc in ea st to other end then work 2 Sc in end st. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (24)
(Do not turn throughout project.)

Rnd 2
Ch 1, work 2 Sc in next two sts, Sc in next 8 sts, then work 2 Sc in ea of the next 4 sts, Sc in the next 8 sts. End with 2 Sc in the last two sts at end. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (32)

Rnd 3
Ch 1, Sc in next st then work 2 Sc in next st, Sc in next 12 sts, and 2 Sc in the next st. Then Sc in next 2 sts, 2 Sc in next st, and Sc in the next 12 sts. End with 2 Sc in next st and Sc in last st. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (36)

Rnd 4
Ch 1, Sc in ea st around and join with Sl St into Ch 1 beg.

Rnd 5
Ch 1, Hdc in first st, Ch 1, sk next st, *Hdc in next st, Ch 1, sk next st, repeat from * around and join with Sl St.

Rnd 6
Sl St into Ch-1 space, work Beg Cluster stitch and then work Cluster in each Ch-1 space around and join with Sl St.

Rnd 7
Sl St into space before next Cluster, Ch 1, Hdc in same sp, Ch 1, *Hdc in next sp, Ch 1, repeat from * around and join with Sl St.

Repeat rounds 6 and 7 until you have four rounds of cluster stitches. Make sure your last row is round 6. Leave last st on hook to begin handle round using regular yarn.

Trim and Handle:
Rnd 1
Using H hook, attach red yarn by slipping into last plarn st. Ch 1, Sc evenly along top edge of bag. Join with Sl St to top of Ch-1 beg. FO plarn where you did last stitch with it.

Rnd 2
Ch 1, Sc in ea st to center front of bag, Ch 38, Sk one st at center front, then Sc in ea st around to other side’s center. Ch 3 at center of this side for the loop for the handle, Sk 2 sts and Sc in ea remaining sts of round. Join with a Sl St to Ch-1 beg.

Check your work to make sure the back opening and handle matches the front of bag. Adjust your sts as needed to match each side to each other.

Rnd 3
Ch 1, Sc in each st of bag around to handle. Work Sc into each st of chain of handle, then Sc around in each st of bag until you reach loop for the handle on other side. Work 3 Sc around the chain of the handle loop, Sc in ea remaining st of round and join with a Sl St into Ch-1 beg. FO.

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

Abbreviations:
Beg – Beginning
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Lps – Loops
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Yo -Yarn over

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 of this pattern or photos are permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable and appreciated. ©2011

****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.n