This week’s free recycled crochet pattern features an evening bag crocheted using cassette tape and ribbon yarn. The front flap is V-shaped with a Gold button embellishment and a Velcro button for a closure. I had some materials left over so I decided to make a little cozy to go inside the evening bag. You could use the cozy to hold your ID or a credit card. I did not put any embellishment on the front of the cozy but one could be added if desired.

I used two strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand Trellis ribbon yarn. You hold all three strands together as you crochet. I have found that using just cassette tape as your “yarn” isn’t as smooth to crochet with as other materials. But adding the ribbon yarn really gives your “yarn” a smoother, stronger texture and the crochet hook moves easier.

Closeup of material — Click for full-full photo

I used Champagne #51666 for the ribbon yarn and it really set off the cassette tape to create a pretty evening bag. I tried several times to take some clearer pictures of the completed project but the light just doesn’t do these materials much justice. Trust me when I say that the combination of cassette tape and ribbon yarn is beautiful together. Plus it’s a wonderfully eco – friendly recycled craft!

Cassette Tape Evening Bag Pattern

Purse measures 7 inches wide and 5 inches long. Cozy measures 3 inches square.

Materials:
2 cassette tapes (90 min. tapes)
1 ball – Lion Brand Trellis “Champagne” ribbon yarn (115 yards)
1 button – for embellishment as shown on bag
2 small black Velcro buttons

Hook: Metal “J” hook

Chain 28 using 2 strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand yarn (for purse).
Pattern is crocheted using 3 strands of material held together throughout project.

Round 1
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain.
Continue around the corner and down the back side of chain by working a Hdc in every chain stitch.

Round 2 – 14
Hdc in each st around and do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Hdc in rounds until 4-3/4 inches are completed or approx. 14 rounds. (Adjust your purse length as needed by completing more rounds.)

At desired length of main body of purse, stop doing rounds at side mark of purse. (Then only Hdc across back side of purse to create flap for purse.)

Flap:
Row 1 – 4
Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across back half of purse for flap.

Row 5 – 11
* Ch 2, turn. Sk 1 st, then Hdc in ea st until last st from end. Leave last st unworked. * (Dec made at both ends of flap.)
Repeat Dec row between * – * until you have a point at bottom of flap.

Fasten off and weave ends under on inside of the bag.

Flap […]

This week’s bag is a recycled little purse crocheted from plastic tan grocery bags and brown cassette tapes. This was an interesting and challenging project. Unfortunately I found out that cassette tapes come in several shades of browns after I was halfway done with my bag. I finally had to make my bag much smaller than I had planned. I couldn’t find the same shade of brown cassette tape that I started the project with so my purse became the little bag you see in this post. The strap measures about 37 inches untied. I tied it in a knot at the top to create a shorter strap. Variations of this bag can be made using all plastic bags or any other recycled materials that you may want to substitute. The overall size can be increased by adding additional rounds as desired. Have fun with this week’s bag and enjoy your recycling and crafting project.

Free Recycled Bag Pattern

Size: Approx. 6-1/2” square bag with 37” strap
Hook: E metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern.
(Any large size hook can be used but Motif size will vary.)
Materials: Plastic tan grocery bags cut in ¼ inch strips and 2 cassette tapes

With center color (tan shown) Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.

Rnd 1
Using tan plastic bag yarn cut in ¼ inch strip yarn, Ch 2, (counts as 1 Hdc)
in ring work 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, Ch1, 3 Hdc
Ch 1, Sl St to top of Ch 2. (4 corners & 4 shells made)
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.

Rnd 2
With brown cassette tape attach in any Ch 1 corner space.
Ch 2, 2 Hdc, Ch1, 3 Hdc, all in the same ch 1 corner space.
*Sk next 3 Hdc, 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the next Ch 1 corner space.*
Repeat between * 2 more times, Sl St to top of the beginning Ch 2.
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.

Rnd 3
Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space.
*Sk 3 Hdc, make 3 Hdc in between shells, Sk next shell, make 3 Hdc, Ch 1,
3 Hdc in corner.* Repeat 2 more times then Sl St to top of first Hdc.
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.

Rnd 4-13
Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space.
Continue working in established pattern of
Sk 3 Hdc (shell), 3 Hdc in between each of the shells,
Sk next shell, until you reach the corner again
and then make 3 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc in each corner.
At the completion of each rnd, Sl St to top of the beginning Ch 2 and Sl St to corner space.
Then begin again with Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, […]