Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Recycled Crafting


Colorful Recycled Motif Granny Tote Bag

March 1, 2009 10 comments
motif side


Spring is just around the corner and this crocheted granny square motif tote brings out the best of recycled crafting with a colorful Spring theme. The motifs are crocheted from recycled plastic bags in six different colors to create a unique panel for each side of the tote bag.

Click to supersize any photos
Motifs before assembly and side shot of finished tote

Think Spring so it hopefully gets here soon as this snow and ice is getting old. Enjoy this recycled bag project and happy green crafting to all!

Free Colorful Motif Tote Pattern

Materials needed:
One large ball of White plastic bag yarn Plarn approx. 35 bags
Plastic bags in each of the center colors: blue, yellow, wine, pink, orange and green

Hooks: N (9 mm) and J (6 mm) U.S. size metal crochet hooks
Size: Approx. 4″ Motif if using 1 inch strips of cut plastic bags
Finished Tote bag measurements: 14-1/2″ wide, 10″ tall, 3″ depth, 8 inch handles

With N hook Ch 4 with center color, Sl St to form ring.

Recycled Plastic Baseball Cap

February 19, 2009 27 comments
Recycled Plastic Baseball Cap

Here is the long awaited recycled baseball cap. It’s crocheted from plastic grocery bags made into plarn. This ball cap fits snuggly on my head and actually looks better on my head than this picture shows. I added some ribbon but you can add many different embellishments to spice up your hat.
Anyway if you want a cool recycled hat, try out this project.
************************************************************************************
Free Recycled Ball Cap Pattern
Materials needed:
One ball of Plarn approx. 20 bags
12 inch piece of ribbon

Hook: N (9 mm) USA size metal hook
Description: Recycled Ball Cap – 21-1/2″ around cap base

Directions:
Ch 3 and join with a Sl St to form a ring.

Recycled Bread Bag Tote

February 8, 2009 24 comments
Bread Tote Standing

I’m back to share this colorful crocheted recycled tote bag. It’s been awhile since I completed a bread bag project and I’m excited to share this free pattern with you all. In this project I used plastic bread bags including bagel bags, taco shells, pita bread, muffin bags, hot dog and hamburger bun bags.

All the different recycled plastic bags makes for a very colorful and unique tote. This tote bag features a sturdy bottom made with half double crochet stitches and then an open netting type stitching for the main body of the bag. This recycled plastic bag project would make an excellent market tote or beach bag.

(Click to Supersize Photos)

Free Recycled Bread Bag Tote Pattern

Bag measures 12 inches wide and 13 inches long with 6 inch handles
Materials: Bread bags cut into 1/2 inch wide strips to create plarn (Appox. 50 bags)

Picture tutorial is found here on how to make plastic bags into plarn (plastic bag yarn)

Hook:
Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 24

My Wordle Cloud – WW

February 4, 2009 5 comments
wordle2

Fused Plastic Valentine’s Heart

January 29, 2009 16 comments
plasticfusing4-a

Here is a quick fused plastic bag craft idea for Valentine’s Day. This project involves no sewing or crocheting. It’s makes a perfect kid’s craft project that focuses on using recycled materials. This project was inspired by a recent comment I received from someone who wanted a recycled bag for Valentine’s day but didn’t know how to crochet. So here’s what I came up with. By using some pieces of red and white recycled plastic bags, some scrap yarn, a bit of ribbon and a small remnant of red felt, you or your children can put together this cute Valentine’s heart bag.

Below you will find the picture tutorial that I made while I was creating this little Valentine’s heart bag. Here is the step-by-step picture tutorial on how to DIY.

My New Look

January 24, 2009 18 comments

I’ve been working on a new WordPress template for awhile now and finally have it launched here at My Recycled Bags. I hope you’ll take a moment to look around and see what you think of my new template. I am still working on getting a custom logo but for now am just using this one that was made with the help of some friends over at BlogCatalog. There are a few things that I’m still tweaking but for now I wanted to get the new template up so everyone could see it. A special thanks to my son William who has spent many hours helping me get this live.

This is also a special day, as today is my 2 year blog anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been two years already since that first post back on January 24, 2007. But they do say time flies when you are having fun and I’m definitely having fun sharing my recycled crafting ideas at this blog.

So for now — Welcome to the new My Recycled Bags site. I hope you enjoy the new look!

Free Recycled Valentines Bag Pattern

January 15, 2009 30 comments
Valentine

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here is a cute recycled plastic Valentine’s heart bag that you can crochet. It’s made from recycled plastic grocery bags into a handy bag that can hold Valentine cards. When I designed this recycled bag, I had a little girl in mind and thought she could use it to take all her Valentines to school in.

It would also make a cute gift bag for Valentine’s Day. You could fill it with candy and a card and give it to your favorite Valentine. A bonus of course is that this plarn bag could be used as a little purse all year long.

Here is the free crochet pattern so you too can create this fun little Valentine’s Day heart bag!

Free Pattern for Crocheted Valentine Heart Bag

Materials needed: One ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
(Approx. 12 plastic grocery bags)

2 yards of red fun fur yarn
Small scrap piece of red felt
Red thread for sewing on heart

Hook: J (6 mm) size metal crochet hook

Description: Plastic Valentine’s Bag
Bag measures 7 inches wide and 6-1/2 inches long

Directions:
Ch 20

The Green Shopping Bag

January 2, 2009 46 comments
The Green Shopping Bag

For my first post of the year, I bring you the green shopping bag. This is a true green crafting idea in every sense of the word. It is crocheted from recycled plastic grocery bags into plarn, then of course it’s green in color, and lastly it is eco-friendly as it saves the use of plastic bags as you can reuse this roomy bag over and over again.

This crocheted shopping bag is created in three pieces and then assembled as shown in the photos below. As always, I offer the free recycled plastic bag pattern below. Enjoy!


All photos are clickable to supersize

Assembly of main piece to long strip

Free Green Shopping Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn or Plarn
Approx. 80 plastic grocery bags
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook

Description: The Green Shopping Bag
Bag measures 12-1/2″ wide, 15-1/2″ tall and 6-1/2″ deep with 14″ handles

Directions:
This shopping bag is crocheted in 3 pieces. A front and back piece and one long strip that runs down the side, across the bottom and back up the other side of the bag.

Main pieces (make two for the front and back of your bag.)
Ch 30.

A Pink Year-End Update

December 27, 2008 19 comments

Well it has been quite a year for anyone who has been following this blog and my cancer journey this year. I figured I’d do a year-end update just to close out the year. First and far most, I am doing well. My recent scans show nothing of concern and I’m feeling pretty good. While my hair is very very short, it has grown back and I can go without the hats and scarves now. I survived surgery in April, chemo this summer, and radiation this fall. I have cut, poisoned, fried, and burned this cancer. Hopefully, God willing, I have permanently kicked it out the door and out of my body. I never want it to return and I pray daily that this can be the end of breast cancer or any cancer in my life.

In closing, I want to say thank you to everyone who has emailed, commented, prayed, written, called, or otherwise supported me through this pink journey. It hasn’t been easy. Cancer never is. But there is always hope and things can get better. I am proof positive of this.

So thanks again all my friends and family, I love you all. Enjoy life to its fullest and have a very happy New Year!


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About Me

Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. Welcome to my blog site that is dedicated to recycling and crafting. I love to crochet and create crafts and other useful things from recycled materials. I share many free tutorials and patterns for creating recycled projects as well as other handmade items.


Here is a direct link to all my free patterns available here on My Recycled Bags.


Thank you for stopping by to visit and for your interest in My Recycled Bags!