I recycled this jam container for my plastic bag crafting project. As outlined in the pattern below, you insert the plastic jam container inside the crocheted plarn bucket. Once finished, I filled the bucket with candy and presented it to my local library staff. This was their first time really seeing a finished product I crafted from their recycled plastic bags. I think they were happily surprised to see something pretty as well as useful made from their old newspaper bags that I collect from them.

So I hope I have inspired you and you will give this recycled crochet basket project a go. Best wishes and happy green crafting to all!

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Plarn Bucket Basket Pattern

Materials:
One ball of pink plarn (plastic bag yarn) Appox. 20 bags
3 white plastic bags for edging
1 recycled jam container (4” wide by 4” tall used)

Hook: Metal “J” (6 mm) US size hook

Description: Crochet basket measures 4 inches wide and 4” tall with 8” handle

Directions:
Ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1
Ch 1, then work 9 Sc in ring, join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (10)

Rnd 2
Ch 1, Sc in same st, work 2 Sc in ea st around, join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (20)

Rnd 3
Ch 1, Sc in same st, *Sc in next st, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * – * to end of round, joining with a Sl St to top of Ch 1. (30)

Rnd 4
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *work 1 Sc in ea of the next 2 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Rnd 5
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Rnd 6
Ch 1, Sc in sm st, *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * to end of rnd. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 1.

Rnd 7
Sc in FLO around entire basket. This creates a ridge for the bottom edge of basket. Don’t join at end of rnd. From this point on, do not connect at end of rounds unless directed to do so.

Tip: Place a marker if needed so you know where the rounds begin.

Rounds 8 -16
Working in both loops now, Hdc […]

I crocheted this plarn yarn basket using recycled plastic trash. The sides are made with recycled plastic bags that I make into yarn which is known as plarn. The base is a recycled plastic frozen dinner tray I fished out of the garbage at work. I cut the rim off the dinner tray and punched holes all around the outside as shown in this picture below.

Next using plarn (plastic-bag-yarn), I crocheted a single crochet base round through the holes and around the complete base. Once you get the base row done, it’s much easier crocheting into the plarn of each stitch as you work the additional rounds for your basket. I changed colors several times and used up some of my unique colored stashed plastic bags.

These trays work wonderfully to provide a nice sturdy base for the basket. You could crochet more rounds with the plastic yarn to make your basket taller or add a handle for a cute carrying basket. Either way recycling these plastic trays is a great way to keep them out of our landfills and provides a useful purpose in the recycled crafting field.

Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Basket

Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 1” strips into plarn is several different colors
as desired for stripes
1) Plastic frozen dinner entrée tray with the rim cut off
(One used in project was 6” long)

Hook: “J” US sized metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Yarn Basket

Basket measures 6” long, 4-1/2” wide and 4” tall

Directions:
Using the tray after cutting off the rim, punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used heavy duty hole punch to put my holes in the plastic base.

Rnd 1
With plarn, Sc into each hole by drawing the plarn through the hole and then working a Sc in ea stitch over the plastic base. Join with a Sl St to top of 1st Sc st.

Rnd 2
Ch 1, and do not turn throughout project. This basket is worked in rounds without turning. Sc loosely around in ea st. Join with a Sl St to top of ch 1 at beginning.

Rnd 3 – 4
Change color of plarn if desired and ch 1. Sc in ea st around and work 2 Sc at sides and ends as need to get a smooth basket. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1.

Tip: I found I needed to add a few extra stitches in rnds 3-4 so my basket didn’t pucker. Adjust your stitches are needed to get a smooth lay for your basket.

Rnd 5 – 12
Switch colors of plarn as desired. Ch 1, Sc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1. FO.

Option:
You could make your basket taller by working more rounds as desired.

If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
FO – […]

The pink bunny was crocheted using AmiAmour’s free crochet pattern found here. This is my first official ami animal and while I’m not going into the ami making business, I was pleased with the outcome of my Easter bunny.

Oh and I used cut up plarn for the grass in my Easter basket. That way it can be recycled after the holidays into another project. Happy Easter!

Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Easter Basket

Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 3/4” strips of white bags (3-4 bags)
And approx. 4-5 bags of green and yellow plastic bags
1) Plastic handle from a soap box or other plastic about ½ inch wide
1) Plastic laundry soap base cut from bottle
Metal punch and hammer for making holes in plastic base

Hooks: “H” US sized metal hook
“J” US size crochet hook
Small Steel crochet hook for first round on base

Description: Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Basket measures 7” wide and 4-1/4” tall with 20” handle strap
at base 6” wide and 3” across.

Directions:
Using the base cut from a laundry soap bottle (mine was 6” long and 3” wide), punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used a metal punch and a hammer to put my holes in the plastic base.
Click to supersize photos

Rnd 1
With green plarn and using the steel crochet hook as help, Sc into each hole with the H crochet hook. Use the steel hook to draw the plarn through the hole and then work a Sc in ea stitch over the plastic base. Join with a Sl St to top of 1st Sc st.
Rnd 2 – 3
Using H hook, ch 1, Sc evenly around. Join with a Sl St to top of ch 1 at beginning. FO.
Rnd 4 – 6
Changing to yellow plarn, ch 1, Sc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 7 – 13
Switch to J crochet hook and using white plarn, ch 1, Sc in ea st around. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 14
Using yellow plarn, attach and ch 1. Sc around in ea st and join to top of ch 1. FO.
Rnd 15
Using green plarn, attach and ch 1. Sc around in ea st and join to top of ch 1. FO.

Strap:
I recycled a plastic soap box strap for my basket handle as I did in this Easter basket pattern. One end had a small hole with a slot cut so I cut the other end to match. The hole and slots are helpful for weaving in and […]

Here is a large recycled Easter basket that I made last year. This durable basket is crocheted from some special purple plastic bags that a friend from Crochetville mailed to me. I know purple bags are hard to come by but even using recycled white plastic grocery bags can create just as cute of a Easter basket. Simply add a colorful ribbon bow tie to spruce up your basket as I did with the mini Easter egg basket project.

Here is the free pattern link for the large plastic basket below.

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