This granny square tote features two longer straps so the bag can be carried over the shoulder. The 4 inch depth makes it handy for carrying books, your lunch, or anything else that you might like to use this cute tote for.

As always, please enjoy my free crochet pattern and happy green crafting to all!
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Granny Square Motif Tote Pattern

Materials needed:
One large ball of White plastic bag yarn “Plarn” – approx. 30-35 bags
One plastic bag in each of the center colors: blue, yellow, orange and green

Hooks: “N” and “H” U.S. size metal crochet hooks

Size: Approx. 5-1/4” Motif if using 1” strips of cut plastic bags
Finished Tote bag measurements: 11” wide, 11 “tall, 4” depth, 17” handles

With center color Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
Row 1
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.
Row 2
With next color 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.
Row 3
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
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.
Row 4-5
Continue in the established pattern for one more row.
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of motif.
Using the 4 different colors, make two motifs of each color for a total of 8 motifs.

Long side and bottom strip:
Row 1
Ch 12 using White plarn and N hook.
Row 2
Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Ch 2, turn. (10 sts)
Repeat row 1 to create your strip by working even on 10 sts until your piece measures 32” long.
Don’t finish off but leave your yarn attached should you need to add another row to your strip. If your strip is too short when you put your bag together this allows you to add […]

This week’s recycled bag is a medium sized tote bag crocheted using a granny square stitch. It is a 12 inch square motif that was made using white and blue plastic bags. A few months ago I had crocheted a small purse very similar to this pattern. I have had several requests for a larger bag that could be used as a tote or book bag so I created this larger version. As always here is the free pattern below.

Granny Square Motif Tote Pattern

Size: Approx. 12″ square bag with strap 3/4” wide and 20” long
Hook: N metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern
Materials: Large ball of white plastic bag yarn (plarn)
and small amount of blue plastic bag plarn for center Motif

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

Rnd 1
Using White plastic bag 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 next color (Blue) 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.

Rnd 3
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
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.
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.

Rnd 4
Change back to White yarn, attach in any Ch 1 corner space.
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.

Rnd 5-11
Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
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, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the […]

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, […]

Granny Square Motif Bag

Crocheted using recycled plastic bags this Granny Square Bag
is a quick and fun project!

Click on read more link for complete pattern.

Size: Approx. 8-9″” square bag if using ¾” to 1” strips of cut plastic bags into plarn.
Hook: N metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern.
(Any large size hook can be used but Motif size will vary.)

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

Rnd 1

Using White bag 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 next color (Grey) 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.

Rnd 3

Sl St across remaining Hdc’s to corner.
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.
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.

Rnd 4-8

Using White bag yarn, attach in any Ch 1 corner space.
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 over to corner space.
Then begin again with Ch 2 (counts as 1 Hdc) 2 Hdc, Ch 1, 3 Hdc, all in the corner space and so on.
Complete 8 rnds.
Fasten off and weave ends under on back side of Motif.

Tip:
(On second Motif, don’t fasten off. Just leave your yarn attached at corner to begin weaving the two Motifs together.)

Make two Motifs. This bag is shown using White and Grey plastic bag yarn but any colors can be used as desired.
With wrong sides together and weave them together by attaching white yarn (or using tip above) at corner and work 1 rnd of Sc around 3 sides of the bag. (The right sides of the bag should be facing out when you Sc around 3 sides of bag.)
Don’t fasten off. Leave yarn attached to make strap handle.

Add strap handle: Chain 40 and attach […]