I completed round two of my chemo treatments yesterday. That means I’m halfway done –Yea! I’m feeling pretty good today. Just a bit weak and my head feels kinda puffy like I have a headache or something. But not too bad overall. I have only had to take two anti-nausea meds and that was just because I just didn’t want to take the chance of getting sick.
On a crafting note, I’m working on some dishcloths with center scrubbers made from recycled plastic bags. I also experimenting with these green plastic sleeves that the grocer puts lettuce in.
I’ve saved up several of them in hopes of using them with cotton yarn to to create a durable dishcloth with the green netting crocheted together with the cotton. I’ll post it as soon as I’ve successfully completed the project.
In the mean time, I’ll be recouping for a few days at home until I return to my real job. Thanks everyone again for all your warm thoughts, hugs, and prayers for me.
God bless and of course, happy green crafting to all!
This hobo handbag was crocheted using recycled plastic bags. It is a pattern that I adapted from Dao over at ShortyLamCrochet Blogspot. I emailed Dao several times to work out some details because to create her bag using plastic bag yarn or plarn, the pattern required some modifications. We agreed that I would post her pattern link which is done with regular yarn. Below you will find my variation of her pattern done in plarn.
Inside of Lined Hobo Bag Click to View Full-Sized
Strap Made Using Spool Knitter
Free Plastic Bag Hobo Handbag Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of brown plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
1 set of 1 inch D rings or circle rings
2 yards of ribbon (1/2″-3/4″ will work)
Magnetic clasp closure
Material for lining if desired
Hooks:
N (9 mm) Metal crochet hook
J (6 mm) Metal crochet hook
Description: Recycled Plastic Hobo Bag
Bag measures 14 inches wide and 10 inches long
Directions:
Rnd 1
Ch 29
Check out my latest recycled plastic bag “plarn” handbag.
This was crocheted from some recycled Walmart plastic bags. The white with black lettering isn’t the most attractive material but I added just a bit of ribbon and it really made the bag look cute. This bag measures 9″ by 9″ and was created for a promotional giveaway that will be going on at the Birmingham City University in the UK. The event is to raise awareness for Aids and HIV and to incorporate fashion. I hope their event is a big success and that recycled crafting can be recognized as a green fashion alternative.
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Free Recycled Plastic Plarn Handbag Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn AKA plarn (approx. 25-30 bags)
1-1/2 yards of ribbon yarn (1/2″ or 3/8″ wide)
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook
Description: Tote Handbag
Bag measures 9 inches wide and 9 inches long
Directions:
Ch 24 with white plarn
Happy Earth Day 2008!
In honor of Earth Day, I have crocheted this recycled green tote bag which I’m calling my Green Greenie Bag.
The project is made using recycled plastic bags which have been repurposed into plarn or plastic bag yarn. Here is a picture tutorial to show you the step-by-step process to making plarn. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than creating an eco-friendly greenie bag for yourself, a family member or friend.
Free Green Greenie Tote Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of green plastic bag yarn aka plarn
One small ball of dark green plarn for stripe
Hooks:
Q US size plastic crochet hook
N US size Metal crochet hook
Description: Green Greenie Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 11 inches wide and 14 inches long
Directions:
Using N hook, Ch 28.
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!
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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 Easter basket that I created using recycled plastic bags and a plastic soap box strap.
This Easter basket was crocheted using plastic grocery bags to create yarn or plarn as shown here. I used a plastic soap holder strap that I took off a box shown below for my basket handle. I’m sure you’ve had one of these straps in the past and wondered what you could do with it. Well, I’m trying to find new ways to reuse and repurpose otherwise useless things. Using this plastic strap on my basket worked out very nicely.
Enjoy this recycled craft project and I wish you a very happy Easter!
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Free Recycled Crocheted Plastic Easter Basket Pattern
Materials needed: One ball of purple plastic bags cut into strips 1 inch wide and interlocked to create a ball of plarn to crochet with. (Approx. 20-25 bags)
Small amount of white plastic bags cut into plarn for edging and strap.
One plastic soap box strap handle.
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook
Description: Purple Easter Basket –
Basket measures 8 inches wide and 5 inches tall with 19 inch handle strap.
Directions:
Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.
Here is part II of my dishcloths I crocheted using recycled plastic bags for pot scrubbers. This cute motif dishcloth was created using some plarn (plastic bag yarn) for the center and then cotton for the dishcloth. The plarn center provides you some scrubbing power when cleaning your dishes. Mix and match your scrap cotton yarn and plarn to make these unique dishcloths!
Here is another example of the same motif dishcloth but with different colors.
Clickable photo
My three different dishcloths that I have crocheted with recycled plastic bag centers.
The other two patterns for the blue-green and red round dishcloths can be found at this link.
As always, I hope you enjoy this recycled project and happy green crafting to you all!
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Free Motif Square Pot Scrubber Dishcloth Pattern
Dishcloth measures: 9-1/2 inch Square
Hook: Metal H (5 mm) US sized hook
Materials:
1- Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn ball Marble (used about 2/3 of ball)
Small amount of Pink Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn
Small amount of plastic bag plarn for scrubber center
With center color (White shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
Check out my recycled plastic ripple purse! I have had a ripple purse on my to-do list for quite awhile. I am happy to report that it’s finally completed and here is the result. This Chevron pattern is a bit more difficult when you are using recycled plastic bags. I crocheted the recycled grocery bags together and lined my purse when finished. If you are new to crocheting with plastic bags, here is the picture tutorial to help you.
Here is a picture of the inside lining.
Click on photos to view full-sized
One more picture with the strap untied.
I hope you enjoy this recycled plastic bag pattern and as always happy green crafting to you!
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Free Crocheted Recycled Ripple Purse Pattern
Purse measures 8 inches wide and 8 inches long.
Strap length is 32 inches when not tied.
Material: One ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips of blue and smaller ball of green
One button 1-1/4″ button shown on bag.
Hook: Metal H (5 mm) hook
Chain 32 – Working with blue plarn. Turn.
My blog is one year old. I can’t believe that it’s been a year already since that first post on January 24, 2007. I remember being so nervous about buying the domain name MyRecycledBags.com and wondering if anyone would want to read about free ideas crafting with plastic bags and other recycled materials. It’s like they say though — build it and they will come. Well I have built this recycled crafting site and I’m happy to report that you all have come and kept coming back for more eco crafting.
Thank you everyone and please keep coming back and sharing the joy of green crafting here!
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