Here is an eco rug I crocheted from recycled plastic bags. I made this Motif rug as part of an eco craftalong on Craftster. It’s been a fun and very informative craftalong for me. I learned about Borax and found it to be a wonderful eco friendly cleaning supply. I’ve learned about making reusable swiffer covers and mops. I have had the privilege of seeing lots of other people’s creations using plastic bags and other recycled materials. So if you love doing eco-friendly everythings come check out the link above for a fantastic craftalong!

Here is my pattern below for this rug. I want to forewarn everyone that I had issues getting my rug to lie flat. I applied heat from a blow dryer which helped a bit but it still isn’t completely flat. You may want to add more stitches or adjust the pattern to make it work better for you. After tackling and frogging this round rug for weeks, I think I’ll stick with bag projects for awhile now.

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Free Round Recycled Plastic Bag Rug Pattern

Size: 18″ round rug
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook

Materials:
Large ball of white plastic bags cut and tied into yarn (plarn)
Small ball of blue plarn used 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, Ch 1, 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
Sl St across ea Hdc to corner, sc in corner sp and in ea st around to next side of motif.
In sp after corner, ch 2, then 2 Hdc (shell made), then 3 Hdc in next sp and in ea sp to the last sp before the corner.
Leave that last sp unworked, Sl St to corner, and sc in the corner sp. Sl St down next side to next corner, work Sc in corner and Sl St around to first opening after corner. Ch 2, 2 Hdc in same sp opening, then 3 Hdc in the ea sp opening to shell before the corner. Sl St to corner.

Rnd 6
Sc in next ch 1 sp, 2 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in ea sp opening to corner. Sl St around corner and next down side. Sc in corner, then Sl St over to first opening sp after corner. Sc, Ch 1, 2 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells to corner. Sl St around corner, down next side and around to next corner. Sc in corner, then Sc down side. Sc in corner and 2 Hdc, then 3 Hdc in ea sp to next corner. Sc in corner, Sl St around corner.

(Tip: May need a smaller hook to get into tight sts.)

Rnd 7
Sc in first sp and 2 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells down to corner. Sc in corner and Sc down side. Sc in corner, 2 Hdc in same corner then 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells to corner. Sc in corner and Sl St around side down to next corner.

Rnd 8
Ch 2, 2 Hdc in corner sp, then Hdc in ea sp between shells on side with 5 shell (short side.) In corner, 3 Hdc only then continue down long side working 3 Hdc in between shells (you will need to look down to prior shell rnd before Sl St rnds so you create shells sets in right locations for this rnd. You work 3 Hdc into the Sl St between shells from prior rnd and space them out so your work looks even.) This is to create a round/oval rug shape with the granny st shells.

Continue around side by working 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells, then down other side where Sl St are. Work 3 Hdc in st above spaces from prior round between shells. Continue by evenly working 3 Hdc (shell) in spaces between shells down last side.
Join with a Sl St to top of beginning Ch 2.

Rug not flat? Tip: To flatten your rug, apply low heat from a blow dryer and gently form and flatten. You may also need to add more sts as needed. I had to add an extra chain sts between shells here and there to flatten out my rug.

Rnd 9 – 11
Ch 2, 2 Hdc in same sp, then 3 Hdc in next sp between shells. Continue 3 Hdc in ea sp around entire rug. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2 to complete rnd.

Rnd 12 -19
Ch 2, 2 Hdc in same sp, *Ch 1, then 3 Hdc in ea sp between shells*. Repeat between *. Join with a Sl St to top of Ch 2 to complete rnd.

(I added more chain sts between shells to help my rug lie down flat. I had to add 2 chains between my last rounds to get my rug flat. You may have another method to add more sts so your rug will be flat.)

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

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
Ea – Each
Rnd – Round
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sk – Skip
Sp – Space
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. ©2007

****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 written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.