This week I crocheted a little bucket basket from recycled pink newspaper bags. I created this bucket basket as a gift to my local library for saving all the plastic newspaper bags they receive their newspapers in daily. Each week I pick up these bags and use them in my recycled crafting projects. I feel so fortunate to get these beautiful and uniquely colored bags.

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 inches wide by 4 inches tall used)

Hook: Metal J (6 mm) US size hook

Description: Crochet basket measures 4 inches wide and 4 inches tall with 8 inch 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 in ea st around.

Check the fit of your bucket inside the basket as you go. If your basket isn’t tight to the bucket, work a few decreases as necessary to make a snug fit for the bucket. I had to do 1 dec on either side of round 10 (2 dec’s) and again on round 12 to make my fit tight.

Rnd 17
Insert bucket into basket. Work a Sc around the handle to secure it to the plarn basket. Then work Hdc in ea st around to other handle, work Sc around the handle again to secure it to basket. Finish round by working Hdc in ea st of round back to beginning handle where you started. Join with a sl st into beg Sc. FO pink plarn.

Rnd 18
Switch to white plarn, join with Sc around handle and then work Sc into each st of basket and repeat for other side and back to beg handle. End with sl st into beg Sc of first handle.

Round 19 (scalloping)
Sl St into beg st (sm st), Ch 3, Dc in sm st. *Sk 1 st, Sl St in next st, Ch 3, Dc in sm st*. Repeat between * around. Join with a Sl St into base of beg st. (If your sts for the scalloping doesn’t come out even, just adjust to skip or add a space or stitch as needed so the edging comes out evenly. FO.

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

Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Dec – Decrease
Ea – Each
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Plarn – Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
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 of this pattern or photos are permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable and appreciated. ©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 written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.