Here is my messenger bag crocheted using recycled plastic bags. I am tempted to call this my ultimate recycled bag because it is so big and could be used for so many different purposes. This was a fun and challenging project as it fulfilled a request I had received.
Awhile back someone asked me to make a bag big enough to hold a scrapbook album. Well, I think this recycled bag would work wonderfully to hold your scrapbooking projects along with extra supplies. I added a plastic canvas sheet to the bottom of my bag to provide more stability. I just placed it inside rolled over at the center in the base of the messenger bag.
Clickable
I hope you enjoy this messenger bag project and happy green crafting!
**************************************************************************************
Free Crocheted Messenger Bag Pattern
Bag measures 15-1/2 inches wide and 13 inches long
Strap length is 42 inches
Materials: One large ball of plarn (plastic bag yarn) Appox. 60 bags
Picture tutorial is found here on how to make plarn
Hooks:
Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook for main bag
Metal J (6 mm) crochet hook for edging
Chain 32.
Here is my latest VCR tape sling bag crocheted along with some ribbon yarn. A local group is making purses for girls in foster care in my area. I crocheted several different purses and decided that I would create one sling bag using recycled VCR tape for the purse drive. It has that funky teen-look so I hope some young lady enjoys it.
If you are new to the concept of crocheting with recycled VCR or VHS tape here is the link to the picture tutorial which shows how this process is done.
Creating purses and bags from recycled materials is always fun. Try adding different yarn or ribbon together with the VCR tape to accomplish different looks. Add additional embellishments to your finished bags to create that unique one-of-a-kind look.
Have fun and happy green crafting to you all!
*************************************************************************************
Free Crocheted VHS Tape and Ribbon Sling Bag Pattern
Purse measures 8 inches wide and 8 inches long
Strap length is 44 inches
Materials:
2 VCR VHS Tape Reels (only used about ¼ of each reel)
One button 1-1/2 inch button shown on bag
Small amount of Lion Brand Incredible Ribbon Yarn (City Lights shown)
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Using 2 strands of VCR tape held together, Chain 18.
Rag bags are a fun and fugal crafting idea. You use old material to create strips and then you crochet them into a cool rag bag tote such as the one shown here. I used an old queen-sized bed sheet and some other recycled curtain panels to create this handy tote bag.
Here is a close-up photo of the strips I cut. As you can see the solid-colored sheet material was just cut into strips about 1 inch wide. I tried to do the longest strips I could by going around and around the sheet so I did not have too many splices. It’s like peeling an orange in one long continuous strip. The printed material I cut wider and folded it over so the right sides were facing out as shown. I pressed it with a hot iron to keep the strips flat so the printed side was out as I crocheted it.
Click to view full-sized photos
This sturdy and reusable tote can be used as a purse, tote bag, or even as a market bag. It’s very strong with comfortable handles and a fashionable design. So got an old sheet — well get green and craft yourself this eco-friendly rag bag!
***********************************************************************************
Free Crocheted Recycled Rag Bag Tote Pattern
Bag measures 14 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and 9″ handles
Material:
One Queen sized sheet cut into 1 inch strips
and other fabric cut into strips for stripes on bag
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 22 with main sheet strips
Here’s my little cosmetic bag I crocheted from old recycled bread bags. I’ve had this on my to-do list for quite a while and finally got it done.
Here is a picture taken with the flap open.
Here is the bottom of the bag.
This very durable cosmetic bag can hold several things and easily fit into your purse or overnight bag. Below you will find the free pattern for this bread bag project. If you don’t want to use bread bags, just substitute plastic bags for your cosmetic bag.
***********************************************************************
Pattern for Crocheted Cosmetic Bag
Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bread bags cut into 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch strips
Approx. 15-18 bags
One small button
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Cosmetic Bag
Bag measures 6 inches wide and 4 inches long with 2-1/2 incches bottom
Directions:
Ch 11
Well as a new year is just about upon us, I reflect on the past year. I remember about this time last year, I was contemplating the launching of this site. I wasn't sure people would want to read about recycled crafts and come to get patterns here for projects. I wanted to make everything free and that way I hoped that people would want to come and learn about recycled crafting here. To date, I have had about 180,000 visitors and 575,000 page views at this site. I have meet some fantastic people and learned many wonderful things from other crafters and bloggers. So thank you and Happy New Year Everyone!
Need another idea for a handmade Christmas gift? Well how about crocheting a grocery tote bag from recycled plastic bags. Gifts that are handmade are very popular this holiday season. What better idea is a handmade, reusable, and eco-friendly gift all in one! You can add a holiday trim to your bag as shown.
Or just plain as shown here. Either way it’s a wonderful gift that can be used over and over.
Click for larger view
Free Pattern for Crocheted Grocery Tote Bag
Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
Approx. 60-70 plastic grocery bags
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 13 inches long with 9 inch handles
Directions:
Ch 28
Need a quick little Christmas gift bag? Check out this cute crocheted gift bag made from recycled plastic grocery bags.
I added a bit of fun fur on the drawstring and a candy cane to complete this unique bag. You can be creative and add trim around the top edge or just tie a bow as shown below.
This gift bag measures 6 inches wide by 8 inches long with a drawstring closure. Fill your gift bag with candy or maybe even a handcrafted item. Either way it’s a wonderful eco-friendly gift idea that can be reused after Christmas as a little ditty bag or even as a small handbag.
Free Crocheted Recycled Gift Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn aka plarn cut into 1 inch strips
Small amount of fun fur for drawstring (approx. 40 inches long)
Hook:
N (9 mm) size crochet hook for bag and smaller hook for drawstring
Description: Gift Bag
Bag measures 6 inches wide and 8 inches long
Directions:
Ch 3, join with a Sl St to form a ring.
Crochet yourself a plastic bag “plarn” recycled tote bag! This bag is crocheted using recycled plastic grocery bags and one roll of fun fur I purchased from the dollar store. Total cost of the project is $1.00. You can’t beat this project as it’s frugal and eco-friendly. As more and more people are going green, crafting with recycled materials is growing in popularity. With the holiday season growing near, consider green crafting as a wonderful alternative this year.
As always, below you will find the free pattern for your personal use.
*******************************************************************************
Free Pattern for Crocheted Plarn Fun Fur Tote Bag
Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn (approx. 50-60 bags)
One 50 gm ball of Fun Fur (Pastels shown)
Hook: N size U. S. metal hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide and 12 inches long with 10 inch handles
Directions:
Ch 27 with just white plarn alone.
As promised, here is the walker – wheelchair tote bag crochet pattern using regular acrylic yarn. I crocheted several of these handy totes lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. I made these with red, white, and blue scrap and recycled acrylic yarn to have a patriotic look for the Veterans.
I also crafted some recycled walker – wheelchair tote bags using plastic bag yarn or plarn and that free pattern is found at this link. I have two versions of the bag, one with star buttons above and another with Velcro on the straps. You can pick and choose the style you like as I have posted the patterns for both bags below.
Here is the same tote made with overlapping straps with Velcro.
***************************************************************
Free Walker – Wheelchair Yarn Tote Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
2.3 ozs (approx.) each of red, white and blue acrylic yarn.
2) 3″ Velcro strips and/or
2) 1-1/8″buttons depending on bag version.
Hook:
H (5 mm) U.S. size hook
Gauge using acrylic worst yarn:
8 rows = 3″
7 Hdc = 2″
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12″ wide and 9″ long
Directions:
Using red yarn , Ch 41.
Recent Comments