Recycled Plastic Hobo Handbag
This hobo handbag was crocheted using recycled plastic bags. It is a pattern that I adapted from Dao over at ShortyLamCrochet Blogspot. I emailed Dao several times to work out some details because to create her bag using plastic bag yarn or plarn, the pattern required some modifications. We agreed that I would post her pattern link which is done with regular yarn. Below you will find my variation of her pattern done in plarn.
Inside of Lined Hobo Bag 
Click to View Full-Sized
Strap Made Using Spool Knitter 
Free Plastic Bag Hobo Handbag Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of brown plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
1 set of 1 inch D rings or circle rings
2 yards of ribbon (1/2″-3/4″ will work)
Magnetic clasp closure
Material for lining if desired
Hooks:
N (9 mm) Metal crochet hook
J (6 mm) Metal crochet hook
Description: Recycled Plastic Hobo Bag
Bag measures 14 inches wide and 10 inches long
Directions:
Rnd 1
Ch 29
Rnd 2 (Correction made 7/25/2008)
Work 3 Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. *Sk 2 sts, work 4 Hdc in next st*. Repeat between * to end. Ch 2 in end st of ch. Working down backside of chain, repeat between * to end. Ch 2 in end st of ch. Sl St to top of ch 2 beg st. ( 9 Clusters made on each side of chain.)
Rnd 3
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc st of cluster (center of cluster). Ch 2, 3 Hdc in sm st, *sk to 2nd Hdc of next cluster, work 4 Hdc in top of 2nd Hdc st, *. Repeat between *. Work 4 Hdc in Ch 2 end st, then continue in pattern to last end. Work 4 Hdc in ch 2 end of rnd st. Join with sl st to top of beg ch 2.
Rnd 4 -14
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc (center of cluster), ch 2, 3 Hdc in sm st, *sk 2 sts, 4 Hdc in top of 2nd Hdc of next cluster*. Repeat between *. Sl St to top of ch 2 beg st. (Approx. 9 inches long at this point)
Rnd 15 – 16
Sl St over to top of 2nd Hdc of cluster, ch 2, 2 hdc in sm st, *sk 2 st spaces, 3 Hdc in 2nd Hdc st of next cluster*. Repeat between *. Join with Sl St to top of ch 2 at beg st.
Rnd 17
Ch 1, Sc in ea st. (Don’t Sc in spaces but only in actual sts of cluster.) Join with Sl St to top of ch 1 beg st.
Rnd 18 – 20
Using J hook, Ch 1, Sc in ea st. Join with Sl St to top of ch 1 beg st. Sl St in next st on final round for smooth edge. FO and weave in the end to make a smooth edge at top edge of bag.
Strap:
You can crochet a strap or I used a knitting spool to weave the strap from plarn. Weave 28 inch strap with tails on the end to attach to rings. Attach D rings to strap using tails. I wove around the rings and into the strap to secure the rings.
Attach a piece of plarn around D ring and weave into bag at top side edge. I did a combination of sl sts and wove around the rings to securely attach the strap to the bag. Fo and weave under ends.
Weave ribbon through clusters as shown in picture.
Line bag and attach a magnetic closure as desired.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Beg – Beginning
Ch – Chain
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
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. ©2008
****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.
Tags: crocheting, free-pattern, hobo, plarn, plastic bags
May 17, 2008
Too cute! I have to make one for myself… in white for the summer!
May 20, 2008
Looks fantastic! Nice and roomy too 🙂
May 20, 2008
This bag is beautiful! I’m glad you have round one behind you. I admire you as one creative and very brave woman. (sorry if my english is not perfect :-)).
May 21, 2008
That is really cute. Very unique idea for putting those plastic grocery bags to good use.
Rosemary
http://her-home-blog.com
May 24, 2008
This is cute! Who would have thought plarn could look so high fashion?
May 26, 2008
very nice. i love the creativity. please check out my,
http://www.gatheringhome.com/
May 26, 2008
Thanks everyone for the comments on the hobo bag. It’s really been a fun bag to carry daily. I get lots of comments especially when people find out it’s made from recycled plastic bags!
May 27, 2008
very creative.
i would like to know more about this as I help a slum in delhi,india. Plastic is that area is a big menace. It would be interesting to get more ideas and help this poor ragpickers to make a better living
Jun 02, 2008
Very cute! I cant wait to get started on this.
Jun 02, 2008
Very cute, I wanna make one, kinda scared though, sound hard. But I’m excited to try, I’m already making my yarn and I don’t even have the N sized hook.
Jun 16, 2008
Very cool idea! I want to try this with knitting. I know you can do similar things knitting strips made from old t-shirts, so I imagine it would be about the same technique. Thanks!
Jul 08, 2008
This is really impressive! Never before today did I ever figure you could make yarn from plastic bags. I’m going to have to see about this. Any idea approximately how many standard size shopping bags it takes to make this bag?
Jul 08, 2008
@Elizabeth,
The number of bags depends but around 40-50 bags would be my guess. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will give this project a try.
Jul 23, 2008
This bag is beautiful, and it looks like you could buy it from a high-fashion boutique. I love what you do here, and I thank you for putting all these great patterns up for free!
Aug 10, 2008
I received an email from Dao over at ShortyLamCrochet Blogspot today. She has removed her blog from general viewing. She is not offering her pattern on-line at this time.
Aug 15, 2008
What size hook do you reccomend if you are using worsted cotton or acrylic? I would like to read Dao’s blog but don’t know how to go about getting invited to do so!
Aug 15, 2008
@Judith,
I don’t know if you read the comment above but Dao has removed her blog for all viewing at this time and is not sharing her pattern any longer. If you use my pattern, it is different than hers. I do remember hers was DC stitch and I use mainly Hdc. If you were to use my pattern for regular yarn, you need a chunky yarn to get the right size or maybe worsted doubled might give you the same size. As for the hook try J and see how that works with your yarn.
Comment back and let us know how that works for you. Good luck.
Aug 15, 2008
Thank you for the information.
Judith
Sep 30, 2008
Cindy I love your bags! How do you fasten the lining to the bag?
Sep 30, 2008
Sandi,
I hand stitch in my lining. It works well as you can hide your stitches inside the plastic shell of the bag.
Apr 19, 2009
I love this purse. Is there any way to add in pockets to carry some loose stuff?(I love to have pockets)
Apr 20, 2009
Sarah:
Are you talking in the lining? If yes just add a pocket or two inside the
lining. If you are talking about the plastic hobo bag, you could but
adding them to the lining would work better. Best wishes to you on your bag.
May 05, 2009
I love this pattern and I actually tweaked it and made my own by adding a cell phone pocket, used a zipper instead of a magnetic snap and put other pockets in the lining. I would love to send a picture of it to you. I used our local grocery store bags (Price Chopper), which are a creamy color with red and blue print. I used a navy blue ribbon, which set off the colors beautifully.
May 05, 2009
Believe it or not, I did machine stitch my lining into the bag and it worked great!
May 05, 2009
I have machine stitched on plarn but it must be done carefully and does show a bit on the outside. I’d love to see your finished hobo bag. Send me a link.