Closeup of the plastic sunflower

Recycled plastic bag tote with crocheted cotton sunflower

Here is sunflower I crocheted using just a bit of brown and yellow cotton yarn. So whether you are working with recycled plastic bags or regular yarn, you can crochet this cute sunflower to attach to a tote bag, purse or even use it as a hotpad.

Crocheted Sunflower Pattern

Description: 6-1/2″ wide crocheted Sunflower

Materials:
For recycled plastic sunflower: plastic bags cut into 1” plarn strips — 4 dark brown bags and 3 yellow bags
For yarn sunflower: 1/2 oz of brown and yellow cotton yarn

Hook: Metal H (5 mm) crochet hook

Round 1

With brown plarn or yarn, use magic circle or slip knot and Sc 6 times into circle. (6)
This project is worked in the round without joining unless otherwise advised to do so. Use stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round so you know where each round ends.

Round 2
Work 2 Sc in ea st around. (12)

Round 3
Work *Sc in next st and then 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * back to the beginning. (18)

Round 4
Work *Sc in next 2 sts and then 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * back to the beginning. (24)

Round 5
Work *Sc in next 3 sts and then 2 Sc in next st*. Repeat between * back to last st, work Sc in last st. (29)

Round 6
Sc in each st loosely and join with Sl St into beginning Sc. Weave in tail in next st to finish with a smooth edge for your brown center. Leave a length of the tail under the center so you can use it to attach to your tote bag later.

Petals
Row 1
The petal portion of this pattern varies if you are using plastic bag yarn (plarn) or regular cotton yarn. Please read carefully row 1 as you proceed. I have written the changes for regular cotton yarn steps after the plarn pattern instructions.

Join yellow plarn in the last st with a Sl St *Ch 6, in 2nd chain from hook Sc in next 5 sts of yellow chain, then Sl St into the brown beg st of row (same st here you began petal). Sl St in each of the next 4 sts along the brown edge*. Repeat between * back to the beginning and end with Sl St in the 2nd to last stitch and skip last st in brown so your spaces are even around 7 petals.

Row […]

Merry Christmas! What better way to celebrate the holidays than with recycled crafting. Here is my latest using this ever so cute little Christmas sock pattern. I used a “H” (5 mm) crochet hook and worked the pattern using 8 recycled newspaper plastic bags and one large green retail bag for the trim. The pattern doesn’t state if you should join each round or just work in the round. I single crocheted in the round without joining except for the final round of each color. On the final round of each color, I did join with a slip stitch to keep each color edge smooth. My finished plarn mini stocking is 6 inches long.

Here is the same pattern crocheted with some ww Christmas yarn.

I made my yarn stocking a bit bigger than the pattern called for by adding a few additional stitches and rows. This 2nd stocking is about 7-1/2″ long. So whether your working with plarn (plastic bag yarn) or regular worst yarn, this pattern is super fast and easy. Enjoy![…]

I wanted to add a gift bag type closure to the original pattern to create a reusable gift bag. I used some Christmas cotton to top this plarn bag and created a looped handle to finish off my little gift bag. The looped handle works wonderfully for closing the bag. I plan on crocheting several of these bags to use for gift bags for Christmas. They work up quickly and with the looped handle, you have a ready-made gift bag that doesn’t even require a bow.

Special thanks to Helen over at CrochetN’Crafts who was my inspiration for this project. So grab a few of those plastic bags laying around and whip yourself up a beautiful recycled gift bag for Christmas!

Cluster Stitch Plarn Gift Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” – about 10 plastic grocery bags
1/2 oz Bernat Holidays Red Sparkle cotton yarn for trim and handle

Hooks:
“J” ( 6 mm) metal crochet hook for bag
“H” (5 mm) hook for top trim and handle

Description: Recycled Plastic Bag Cluster Stitch Gift Bag
Bag measures 6” wide and 4-3/4” tall with 12” handle and 5-1/4″ wide at base

Cluster Stitch Details:
Beg Cluster: Ch 2, (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 4 times, 5 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 5 lps, Ch 1.

Cluster: (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 5 times, 6 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 6 lps, Ch 1.

Directions:
Using J hook with plarn, Ch 11

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Work 3 Sc in end st, then continue around other side of chain by working a Sc in ea st to other end then work 2 Sc in end st. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (24)
(Do not turn throughout project.)

Rnd 2
Ch 1, work 2 Sc in next two sts, Sc in next 8 sts, then work 2 Sc in ea of the next 4 sts, Sc in the next 8 sts. End with 2 Sc in the last two sts at end. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (32)

Rnd 3
Ch 1, Sc in next st then work 2 Sc in next st, Sc in next 12 sts, and 2 Sc in the next st. Then Sc in next 2 sts, 2 Sc in next st, and Sc in the next 12 sts. End with 2 Sc in next […]

With Helen’s permission, I used her pattern for the basis of making this cute little bag project using recycled plastic bags. I then used some scrap yarn to make the top trim and handles to finish off this recycled bag project.

Here is a closeup photo of the handles that I crocheted onto the bag.
Click to supersize

This little plarn bag would make a great gift bag or purse. By adding a ribbon or bow to the bag, you create a re-usable gift bag that can be used over and over. The pattern works up very quickly and because of the pretty stitch pattern, I think it makes an adorable purse too.

Enjoy the free recycled crafting pattern below and happy crocheting to all!

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Cluster Stitch Plarn Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
Ball of plastic bag yarn “Plarn” – about 10-12 plastic grocery bags
Here is my picture tutorial on how to make plarn from plastic bags

1/2 oz worst weight yarn for handles

Hooks:
“J” ( 6 mm) metal crochet hook for bag
“H” (5 mm) hook for handles

Description: Recycled Plastic Bag Cluster Stitch Gift Bag or Purse
Bag measures 6” wide and 5” tall with 7” handles and 5-1/4″ wide at base

Cluster Stitch Details:
Beg Cluster: Ch 2, (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 4 times, 5 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 5 lps, Ch 1.

Cluster: (Yo, insert hook into sp indicated, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 lps on hook) 5 times, 6 lps on hook, yo and pull through all 6 lps, Ch 1.

Directions:
Using J hook, Ch 11

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Work 3 Sc in end st, then continue around other side of chain by working a Sc in ea st to other end then work 2 Sc in end st. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (24)
(Do not turn throughout project.)

Rnd 2
Ch 1, work 2 Sc in next two sts, Sc in next 8 sts, then work 2 Sc in ea of the next 4 sts, Sc in the next 8 sts. End with 2 Sc in the last two sts at end. Join with a Sl St into beg Sc st. (32)

Rnd 3
Ch 1, Sc in next st then work 2 Sc in next st, Sc in next 12 sts, and 2 Sc in the next st. Then Sc in next 2 sts, 2 Sc in next st, and Sc in the next 12 sts. End with 2 Sc in […]

For this project, I wanted to create large comfortable handles that could be put over a child’s arms for easy carrying of this basket type bag. I recycled a microwave dinner tray and cut the top rim off. I then hole punched around the base evenly so I could crochet into the plastic tray for the base of this bag. The dinner tray provides a flat and sturdy bottom to the bag which allows the bag to stand up nicely on its own.

Enjoy crocheting this recycled bag project and happy Halloween everyone!

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Free Crocheted Pattern for a Recycled Plastic Trick or Treat Bag

Materials needed:
Orange plastic bags cut into 1” strips for plarn (approx 25 newspaper sacks used)

1) Plastic frozen dinner dinner tray with the rim cut off
(One used in project was 6-3/4” long & 3-1/2″ wide)

Hooks:
G (4.25 mm) sized metal hook for base row only
J (6 mm) sized metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Halloween Trick or Treat Bag

Bag measures 7” long, 5” wide and 6” tall with 8-1/2″ handles

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

Rnd 1
With G hook, attach plarn with Sc into into first hole at one corner by drawing the plarn through the hole and then working a Sc loosely in each hole and over the top edge of the plastic base. End base round with a Sc into top of 1st Sc st.

Rnd 2-17
Using J hook now and for the remainder of the bag, Sc in ea st of base round. This bag is worked in rounds without turning or joining. Sc around in ea st until the last 5 sts of round 17. (End last round 5 sts from end to begin handle.)

Rnd 18
Ch 21, sk 16 sts, and Sc in the next 11 sts (approx) at center front (about 3″). Then ch 21, sk 16 sts, and Sc in the next 11 sts at the center of the other side of bag. Repeat to match the other side’s handle.

Check your handles to make sure they match and that the center front sts match each other. Adjust sts as needed so each side is even with each other.

Rnd 19
Sc around the entire chain evenly for the handle (approx 25 Sc), and Sc in ea st at center front. Repeat for the other handle and other side’s center.

Rnd 20-21
Sc in ea st of handle and in ea st at center front. Repeat for the other side. Finish off with a Sl St into the last 2 sts at […]

I present my latest creation — Variegated plastic bag yarn or plarn as it so commonly is known as in the crafting world. Pink, orange, and white plastic bags were used to crochet this variegated recycled bag. The pink and orange bags are plastic bags that newspapers are delivered in and the white is from just regular retail bags. I used these 3 colors to create my variegated look by assembling 3 loops of pink plarn, 2 white loops, 3 orange loops, and 2 white loops, then repeat this order for the variegated look. Here is my plarn making tutorials for creating yarn from newspaper or retail plastic bags should you need to see how to make plastic yarn.

This plarn ball was made using newspaper and retail bags together to create the variegated colored yarn. As I outlined below, if color pooling becomes a problem just add another white strip of plarn to offset the pooling. I found if I added an additional white strip to the 2 white ones, it solved the pooling issues with the tote bag as I crocheted it.

Enjoy the free crochet pattern below and happy crafting to all!

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Variegated Plarn Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” – Approx. 50 white plastic grocery bags along with 20 pink and 20 orange plastic bags for the variegated yarn

This variegated plarn is created by assembling 3 loops of pink plarn, 2 white loops, 3 orange loops, and then 2 white loops, repeat pattern for variegated look.

Hook: “N” (9 mm) size metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Tote Bag
Bag standing up measures 14” wide and 11” tall with 12” handles
with measurements flat 17″ across, 12″ high, and 11″ long base.

Directions:
The bottom of bag is crocheted with just plain white bags. Using just white plarn, Ch 20.

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Continue around other side of chain by working a Sc in ea st to other end.

Rnd 2-3
Work 2 Sc in ea of the two end sts, then Sc in ea st to other end. Work 2 Sc in ea of the two end sts and then Sc in ea remaining st of round. Do not connect at end of rounds unless told to do so.

Rnd 4-5
Work 2 Sc in ea of the four end sts around curve at end, then Sc in ea st to other end. Work 2 Sc in ea of the four end sts at the end’s curve and then Sc in ea remaining st of round. You will end the all white plarn here but leave st on hook to start next round using the variegated plarn.

Rnd 6
Using variegated plarn, pick up st from last round. Working in BLO, Hdc in ea st of round.

Rnd 7
Working in both loops now and for the rest of pattern, Hdc in ea st of round. Don’t join […]

People ask me all the time about the amount of plarn created by each plastic bag and while it may differ with one type of plastic bag to another, I found the standard white retail bags yield me about 7 yards of plarn when cut them 1″ wide and assembled using the looping method. The orange plastic newspaper bags provided me with 6 yards due to their smaller size.

With that in mind, you need 4 plastic bags to make each one of these scrubbies. The white scrubbies were crocheted just 4 rounds. I found I liked a bigger scrubbie so I crocheted the orange one five full rounds. By crocheting 5 rounds you use all of the plarn created from the 4 plastic bags where the smaller scrubbers only use a little over 3 bags.

You will find as your crochet each round that it begins to twist which is normal. The more rounds you crochet, the more twist you get. Have fun with the colors and mix and match them. I plan to crochet more of these scrubbies and add a different color just on the final round which should create an even more unique coral look for the scrubbies.

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Plarn Scrubbie Coral Pattern

Materials needed:
Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” – 4 plastic bags cut into 1 inch wide strips
as shown in my plarn making tutorial

Hook: “N” (9 mm) size metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Scrubbie
Scrubbies are about 3-1/2 – 4″ wide depending on if you do 4 or 5 rounds

Directions:
Rnd 1
Ch 2 and work 8 Sc in the 2nd ch from hook. Do not join and continue working in rounds. Use a stitch marker if necessary so you know where each round starts.

Rnd 2
Work 2 Sc in each st.

Rnd 3-5
Work 3 Sc in ea st.
Option: For a smaller scrubbie, crochet just 4 rounds.

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

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Inc – Increase
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch

This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy of My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2011

****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without […]

Crocheting the surface chaining is a bit challenging to get the stripes straight. I had to work a few stitches a bit off to get my vertical stripe to look somewhat straight. Below is my piece once I was finished. It’s not perfect but that is the beauty of working with recycled crafts, it doesn’t have to be perfect. You are creating something new from trash so there is always beauty is each finished product. Hope you enjoy this plaid plarn project and remember it doesn’t have to be perfect for you to enjoy your wallet.

Plaid Plarn Wallet Pattern

Materials needed:
One ball of white plastic bags cut into plarn about ¾” wide
Small amount of salmon pink newspaper bags cut into plarn about ¾” wide
Here is my link for plarn making tutorials for newspaper and retail plastic bags.
1) 1/2” button

Hooks:
“J” (6 mm) size metal crochet hook
“H” (5 mm) size metal crochet hook for button loop

Description: Plaid plastic wallet
Wallet measures 5” wide and 9-1/2” tall
with 2” long flap

Directions:
Using J hook with white plarn, Ch 17.

Row 1
Sc in the 2nd st from chain and in each st. (15 sts)

Row 2-5
Ch 1, turn and Sc in ea st. slip hook out st at end of row 5. Don’t FO white and leave st so you can come back to insert hook after pink row is completed.

Row 6
Don’t turn but attach pink plarn at beg of row on the same side as you just finished row 5. Sc in 1st st and in ea st down to end. FO pink plarn at end of row.

Row 7-11
Slip hook back into loop of st where row 5 ended. Ch 1, turn and Sc in ea st.

At the end of row 11, slip hook out st at end of row. Leave st so you can come back to insert hook after pink row is completed.

Row 12
Again don’t turn but just attach pink plarn at beginning of row where you just finished. Sc in 1st st and in ea st down to end. FO pink plarn at end of row.
Repeat rows 7-12 three more times.

Next row – With white plarn. Ch 1 and turn, work 4 rows of sc in each st with white. FO white plarn.

Last row – Don’t turn but attach pink plarn at start of […]

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 used cotton cord on the base of the bag to give it a sturdy bottom and also on the handles. I found if I wrapped the plastic bag yarn (plarn) around the cord as I crocheted around it, it hides the white cord better. As you may see in the closeup pictures of the base, the first few rows I didn’t wrap it as close as I did in later rounds. The later rounds look better and the white cotton cord doesn’t really show through. I found if I wound the plastic around the cord in small sections and then crocheted around the cord, it worked best to keep the plastic tighter and uniform.

Hope you enjoy this free crochet pattern. Happy 4th of July to everyone!

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Free Plarn Pop Tab Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn “Plarn”
(Approx. 50 plastic newspaper bags cut into 1″ strips of plarn)
252 Soda pull-tabs
4 yards – 12/32 (9.5 mm) Cotton cord

Hook: “J” U.S. size metal hook
Description: Plastic Bag & Pop Tab Tote Bag
Bag measures 12” wide and 10” long with 18” straps

Directions:
Ch 20 loosely.

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea chain st down to end. Then continue around other side of chain by working a Sc in ea st to other end.

Rnd 2
Work 2 sc in ea of the two end sts, then Sc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Sc in ea of the two end sts. Do not connect at end of rounds unless directed to do so otherwise just continue working Sc’s in rounds as this creates a seamless bag.

Rnd 3
Add cotton cord on this round. Wrap plarn around the cotton cord to cover the cord. I did just a small section as I worked my Sc’s around the cord. I used a needle and thread to secure the cotton cord into the bag to hold it into place at the beginning of the round.

Sc around the cord and into each st of the prior round down to first end, work 2 Sc in ea of the three end sts, then Sc in ea st to other end, then work 2 Sc in ea of the three end sts.

Rnd 4
Continue wrapping pink plarn around the cotton cord before you Sc around […]