I’m always looking for new ways to recycle and repurpose plastic waste such as this large toilet paper packaging. When I see something like this plastic I just want to find some useful way to reuse it. So I set out to create plastic yarn or plarn from this piece of packaging.
Because this plastic packaging is very large, I cut it into one continuous long strip about 1 inch wide. I started at the one opened end of the packaging to begin cutting. I placed the piece of plastic across my leg and used the scissors to cut around and around. I just kept cutting the strip around the plastic and through the seams. The seams on this packaging are very strong and glued so I believe it will hold for crafting without having to worry about the seams coming apart.
The result is one ball of plarn that netted 45 yards of yarn for crafting.
With Easter just around the corner, I have been busy crocheting Easter eggs and Peeps for Easter baskets. We are having a Easter CAL (craft a-long) over at our group on Ravelry. A cute Peeps aka marshmallow bunny crochet pattern was shared. This pattern is very quick and easy. Here are several of them that I crocheted. I used black fabric puff paint to add the eyes.
Here are some crocheted eggs I did. Delights shared her free egg pattern on Ravelry where she uses a plastic egg and then crochets the shell around the egg. I had the idea of crocheting the egg and then stuffing it with a recycled plastic bag.
Here is my first crocodile stitch project using recycled plastic bags. I collected these plastic bags which are used for newspaper deliveries. I recycled about 40 bags for the Gator Sling Bag and cut them 1 inch wide using this plarn making tutorial to create plastic bag yarn.
Crocodile Stitch Sling Bag Pattern
J (6 mm) hook and H (5 mm) hook
40+ Plastic Newspaper Bags cut into Plarn about 1 inch wide
Fabric for lining
Magnetic clasp for closure
Sling Bag Purse measures 7-1/2 inches wide x 7-1/2 inches long with 30 inch strap
Crocodile Scale Stitch: Dc 5 stitches down first post of the 2-Dc base set, Ch 1, and then work 5 Dc up the 2nd Dc of the 2-Dc set.
Directions:
Row 1
With J hook, Ch 21 loosely.
Time to share a new recycled bag project. I’ve been busy with charity crocheting but rest assured, I’m always working on recycled craft projects too. Here is a recycled bag that features a double picket stitch design. In the original Plarn Picket Stitch tote pattern, I crocheted just a single picket stitch on the plastic bag tote. In this tote bag, I repeated the special stitch pattern to add a different look to the project.
Follow the original crochet pattern instructions through round 28. Then repeat rounds 24 and 25 to make another round of pickets on the tote bag. Once you have the 2nd round of pickets done, simply finish the reusable tote by working rounds 26-32 from the original pattern. Basically by adding the double picket stitch design, you increase the length of the tote bag by about 2 inches.
This week’s project is a bit different. It involves recycling plastic balloon bags and creating a pump holder. Let me explain the story behind this project. I was contacted by TristnShout Balloons to see if I was interested in recycling their empty balloon bags. Apparently they have an abundance of empty balloon bags and wondered if I’d be interested in crafting with them. They also expressed the need for a holder to hold their portable air pumps that they use to fill balloons.
After a discussion with them, it was agreed that I would design and craft a holder for their balloon air pump using the recycled plastic balloon bags. I made four of these balloon holders from the bags they sent to me.
I have shared the free crochet pattern below should anyone want to make this bag holder. The pattern would work for a water bottle holder as well as other uses. The holder was designed to have a strap added for carrying as shown. With the large eyelets on each side, it could also be used on a person’s belt by threading through one of the eyelets.
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Recycled Plastic Balloon Bag Holder Crochet Pattern
Bag measures 4 inches wide and 9-1/2″ long with 1-1/2 inch hole in bottom
Materials: One ball of plastic yarn made from balloon bags- Approx. 30 bags
This recycled bag features a new stitch design that I added for a new look to my latest reusable bag. I call this stitch the Picket Stitch. I have used a similar stitch idea in my picket fence dishcloth pattern and thought it would be interesting to use on a tote bag pattern. It adds a different look and I’m always trying to come up with new ideas for dressing up my recycled bags.
Here is my newest recycled bag. It’s a round grocery tote that I crocheted with plastic bags made into plarn yarn. I designed this recycled plastic tote to be roomy and to replace my favorite reusable grocery tote that is disintegrating. My favorite grocery tote is going to have to be retired as it’s just falling apart after years of use.
Anyway I love the big round base of this reusable tote. The stripes add a cheery look to the design. I added thick heavy handles and this grocery tote should service me for many years. I have written up the free crochet pattern below and hope you too can make yourself a useful tote bag for your trips to the market.
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Striped Round Grocery Tote Bag Pattern
One ball of plastic bag yarn or plarn cut 1 inch wide – Approx. 35 white plastic grocery bags,
12 pink newspaper bags and 7 blue bags cut into plarn also for the stripes.
Here is my picture tutorial link on how to make plarn yarn from the different plastic bags.
Finished Size:
18 inches wide lying flat, 12 inches tall standing with 12″ wide base and 9 inch handles
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Directions:
With white plarn yarn, Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.
With Halloween just a few weeks away, I thought it was a good time to have a recycled project review of the different craft items that I have done over the years for Halloween.
Here is a trick or treat bag I crocheted using recycled plastic orange newspaper sacks. I used a gallon milk jug bottom for the base of the inside of the pumpkin to give it a sturdy base. Here is the link to the complete plarn pumpkin trick or trick bag pattern.
This orange trick or treat bag was also crocheted using recycled orange newspaper bags. I added a microwave dinner tray
A gingham pattern is very unique when you crochet it. I decided that I would try the idea using plastic bags made into plarn. I used recycled white, grey, and black plastic bags for the project.
This idea came from Delights-Gems gingham crochet tutorial for crafting a potholder. Click on the link to see Delight’s picture tutorial that is very helpful in working the gingham pattern. I made a few changes for the plastic bag version of gingham pieces which I will outline below in the pattern details.
Gingham Plastic Bag Plarn Purse Pattern
Materials:
White, grey, and black plastic bags cut into 1 inch wide plarn. Approx. 12-15 bags of each color needed.
Here is my plastic bag picture tutorial if you need more information on how to create yarn from recycled plastic bags.
Magnetic closure
Fabric for lining 12″ by 12″
Plastic purse handles
Nylon thread and needle
Hook:
J (6 mm) US size metal crochet hook
The three colors of plarn is needed to complete this purse. I found it worked easier to assemble short strands of the colors rather than using big balls of each color. The colors don’t get tangled up if you have just short lengths of “yarn” as you leave the dropped colors attached as you work the gingham pattern.
With white plarn, Ch 34, Hdc in the 3rd st from hook and in the next two sts. (3 Hdc’s in each set as shown in original tutorial.) *Ch 3, Skip 3 sts and then Hdc in next 3 sts*.
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