
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.
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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.
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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.

If you’re into recycling and crafts, try out this crocheted handbag using bread bags. I saved about 30 or more bags to make this multi-colored handbag. It’s really durable and will definitely be a conversation piece when you use it. Crocheting with bread bags is a bit tougher on the hands and joints but makes are very unique bag. Because the plastic is heavier you need to cut the strips a bit narrower and remember to not over-pull on your work.
The finished product which I posted pictures of both sides is so colorful. My camera pictures don’t really capture the pretty multi-colors but I hope you’ll be inspired to give this crocheted project a try so you too can experience the beauty of recycled bags!
Click to view larger size
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Free Pattern for Crocheted Bread Bag Handbag
Materials needed: One very large ball of plastic bread bags cut into 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch strips
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 9 inches wide and 11 inches long
Directions:
Ch 20

Crochet this multipurpose wheelchair – walker tote bag from recycled plastic bags. It is very useful with velcro under the straps to attach to a wheelchair, walker or even a bed rail. Just wipe to clean and it’s very durable. I made several of these lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. It is an easy crocheted eco-friendly project and a very handy tote for someone in a wheelchair or using a walker.
Here is the free pattern below for the plastic bag yarn or plarn wheelchair – walker tote bag. As a sneak peek, here is another wheelchair – walker tote I made crocheting with acrylic yarn. I’ll be posting the instructions very soon for those that want to use regular or even recycled yarn to create this tote bag.
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Free Pattern for Plastic Walker – Wheelchair Tote Bag
Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn in blue and small ball of white
2) 1-1/2″ strips of Velcro
Hook:
N (9 mm) metal crochet hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide and 9 inches long with 7 inch straps
Directions:
Using blue plastic bag yarn or plarn, Ch 27.

Do you have some old vhs video tapes wasting away around the house? Well crochet yourself a recycled tote bag using those old tapes. This bag was crocheted from vhs tape and Lion Brand ribbon yarn. I made this tote bag for a co-worker for Christmas after she saw a prior bag I crafted and really wanted one. So I got busy and crocheted this tote for her for the upcoming Christmas gift exchange.
If you are new to crocheting with vcr tape here is the link for using vcr tape as yarn. It is a great way to recycle those old vcr vhs tapes into a wonderful reusable product.
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Free Pattern for a Crocheted Vcr Tape Ribbon Tote Bag
Materials needed:
2 Vhs Vcr video long play tapes (T-120)
2 rolls of Lion Brand ribbon yarn City Lights #21008, 110 yards each
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 14 inches long
Gauge:
7 Hdc = 3 inches
2 Rnds = 1 inch
Directions:
Using 2 strands of vhs video tape with one strand of ribbon yarn, Ch 28.

This week I’m posting a cassette tape clutch. This is a great way to recycle and reuse old cassette tapes into something new and useful. The clutch purse was crocheted using two strands of black cassette tape with one strand of Lion Brand ribbon yarn. Next I wanted to create a lining with a zipper which I could simply insert inside my crocheted shell. I found a fantastic tutorial from Erika for a zippered pouch with a lining on Craftsters.
The tutorial found here has detailed pictures and walks you step-by-step through the process to sew a handy zippered pouch. Now you could just use the pouch alone for a cosmetic bag but I used it to slip inside my crocheted clutch shell. I then hand-stitched it in place and wallah you have a nice finished clutch.
Here are a few clickable pictures below to show you how the clutch looks up close.
Clickable
Zipper closing shown.
Inside of the clutch.
The free crochet pattern is below. Please enjoy this recycled craft project. Each week I try and add something new and different for a fun recycled craft experience. I hope my readers have found this project beneficial.
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Free Cassette Tape Clutch Pattern
Purse measures 9 inches wide and 5 inches long.
Materials:
2 cassette tapes (90 min. black tapes)
1 ball Lion Brand Trellis Nightlife ribbon yarn (115 yards)
4 – 9 inches x 5 inches fabric panels for pouch and lining
1 – 9 inch zipper
Hook: Metal J (6 mm) crochet hook
Chain 28 using 2 strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand yarn.
Pattern is crocheted using 3 strands of material held together throughout project.

This market bag was crocheted using a large plastic Q crochet hook. It’s my first project crocheting with plastic bag yarn aka plarn and using the extra large plastic hook. I must say that it makes my bag much lighter and the stitches more airy. I also didn’t use as many plastic bags as I normally do to finish the project. The bag is still very strong. As I have shown below with a load of groceries, it stretches nicely to accommodate my purchases.
Clickable
Here is my market bag filled from a grocery store trip!
So check out the free pattern below and as always — enjoy!
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Free Large Plastic Market Bag Pattern
Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka plarn
Hooks:
Q size plastic crochet hook
N size metal crochet hook for handles
Description: Large Plastic Market Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 15 inches long
Directions:
Using Q hook, Ch 20.

Crochet a cute ribbon sling bag!
This week’s recycled craft project is a crocheted sling bag. The bag is crocheted using recycled plastic bags. Red ribbon was added and tied into a bow at the front. Here is the link to my picture tutorial on how to make your own recycled plastic bag yarn or plarn.
I know many crafters out there are starting their Christmas gifts. This would make a great little gift for any young girl and even as a gift bag. You could fill it up with a few stocking stuffer items and you’d have a wonderful little Christmas package. Anyway just a few ideas that I came up with to use this little bag.
As always here is the free pattern for your use.
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Free Crocheted Sling Bag Pattern
Purse measures 9 inches wide and 10-1/2 inches long
Strap length is 35 inches
Materials:
One ball of recycled plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
2 yards of 1/8″ ribbon or other ribbon leftovers
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 22

Check out the latest in Vhs video tape fashion. It’s a little black evening bag crocheted from video tape. I have named this pattern the V Evening Bag because of the V-shaped flap and in honor that it is made from Vcr video tape. This bag features my seamless purse technique. No side seam stitching necessary in this quick and easy pattern. If you are new to using Vcr Vhs tape as yarn here is the link to the picture tutorial on how to use the tape as yarn. This is a great way to recycle those old Vhs tapes that you probably still have lying around the house somewhere. So create yourself a nice little evening bag and use up some of those tapes at the same time.
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Free Pattern for Crocheted V Evening Bag
Materials needed:
(2) VHS video tapes
(1) 1-1/8″ Button
Hooks: N and J USA size metal crochet hooks
Description: Evening Bag measures 9 inches wide at bottom and 6 inches long
Directions:
Using N hook with 2 strands of vhs video tape held together, Ch 20.
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