Presently a kitchen set crocheted using Sugar and Cream cotton in colorway Robin’s Egg blue along with some white cotton yarn. This set is complete with a recycled plastic item.
The hexagram shaped dishcloth was crocheted using this free dishcloth pattern. It’s a fun little pattern that works up quickly and is a great way to use up scraps of yarn too.
The double-thick diagonally crocheted potholder uses this free pattern. I chain 34 to start which creates a finished potholder about 6.5 inches wide.
To finish up the kitchen set, I crocheted a scrubbie that is worked with the cotton yarn along with recycled plastic vegetable netting. You need about 3-4 nets or you can also use store-bought netting cut in a thin strip. You hold the cotton yarn and netting together
As you might expect, I have a huge stash of white plastic bags. People give me bags all the time to recycle. They know I use them to make plarn and crochet them into new useful things. So this is my latest project, a large water bottle holder.
This water bottle holder is designed to hold a large Nalgene reusable bottle or a 32 ounce water bottle. I used this free crochet pattern to make the water bottle carrier but with a shorter strap. The original pattern calls for a long strap that can be worn across the body. This water bottle holder has a
I am back to share a new recycled plastic bag plarn project. In this project, I set out to create a small basket tray to use for holding items for an upcoming charity fundraiser. I wanted a tray type basket to hold the items and also one that could be reused for kitchen or bath items later.
This was a fun and quick plastic basket that I crocheted using less than 20 recycled plastic retail bags made into plarn using the looping method of cutting and assembling the bags. Below you will find the free crochet pattern and details. Enjoy the pattern and happy crocheting to all!
Crocheted Plarn Basket Tray Pattern
Materials:
Plastic bags cut into strips 1 inch wide to create plarn yarn. Here are the pieces I crocheted to put the plastic tray basket together. (Approx. 13 bags in white and 4 brown bags)
All pattern details are written in US crochet terms.
Hook: J (6 mm) size crochet hook
Description: Crocheted Recycled Plastic Bag Basket Tray
Basket measures 8-3/4 inches long, 4 inches tall, 3-3/4 inch wide ends and with 5-3/4 inch handles
Directions:
Row 1
Ch 30, Hdc in 3rd st from hook and in each st down to end. Ch 2, turn. (27)
I crocheted this plastic basket from recycled plastic retail bags. The bags are cut 1 inch wide and connected using the loop method to create plarn or plastic bag yarn. Here is the free plarn basket pattern I used to crochet the basket.
The basket is filled with kitchen items for an upcoming Relay for Life fundraiser. Included in the basket are potholders, an oven mitt, dishcloths and pot scrubber.
The jute and green granny square kitchen items were shared in a recent blog here
Crafting with recycled materials is always a rewarding venture for me. It is truly taking trash or otherwise useless material and creating something new. The new item can be a work of art that is pleasing to see or repurposed into something useful. In this case of recycling plastic bags, I have crocheted some Christmas ornaments that I affectionately call my plarn star Christmas ornaments.
Below I have two different sets of Christmas stars, one is crocheted with recycled plastic bags or plarn and then the other matching one is done in acrylic yarn. The granny stitch stars are both made using the exact same pattern that can be found here
Just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween. Here are a few last minute recycled craft ideas. My little recycled plastic bag pumpkin is a great project that only requires a small amount of plarn.
Check out this cool trick or treat bag that was completely crocheted from recycled orange plastic newspaper bags. Here is the free crochet pattern for my plarn trick or treat bag.
One final idea to share is for reusing small plastic yogurt cups.
Here are two plastic baskets I crocheted from recycled plastic packages and plastic retail bags. The red basket has several rounds from a large red hashbrown plastic package that I cut into plastic bag yarn or plarn. The blue basket has two large recycled toilet paper packages cut into plarn too.
All of the plastic package materials were cut into plarn using a single strand. I used the single strand cutting method as the plastic was so thick and it was easier to cut it about 3/4 inch wide in a single strand to crochet with it. For the plastic retail bags, I made plastic bag yarn using my plarn making tutorial which is done using the looping method.
I wrote up the pattern details and have listed it on my free pattern page. In case you aren’t familiar, I offer all my patterns and tutorials free of charge. You can find everything from recycled bag patterns, repurposed denim projects, to crocheted regular yarn items. I have a large library of free patterns available so check out the link above to see all my patterns.
Free Crocheted Plarn Basket Pattern
Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into strips 1 inch wide (Approx. 15 bags)
and recycled plastic packaging from hashbrowns and toilet paper packaging cut about 3/4″
wide using the single strand method
All pattern details are written in US crochet terms.
Hook: K (6.5 mm) size crochet hook
Description: Crocheted Recycled Plastic Bag Basket –
Basket measures 6-1/2 inches tall, 6-1/2 inches base and with 3-1/2 inch wide handle openings
Directions:
Rnd 1
Starting with a magic circle, work 8 Sc into circle. Join with Sl St to first Sc.
Many of my recycled bag projects involve taking traditional yarn patterns and converting them into items made from recycled materials. This little cluster stitch bag is just such a project. One of my on-line friends Helen created this adorable gift bag pattern using a medium weight yarn.
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)
I crocheted this plarn yarn basket using recycled plastic trash. The sides are made with recycled plastic bags that I make into yarn which is known as plarn. The base is a recycled plastic frozen dinner tray I fished out of the garbage at work. I cut the rim off the dinner tray and punched holes all around the outside as shown in this picture below.
Next using plarn (plastic-bag-yarn), I crocheted a single crochet base round through the holes and around the complete base. Once you get the base row done, it’s much easier crocheting into the plarn of each stitch as you work the additional rounds for your basket. I changed colors several times and used up some of my unique colored stashed plastic bags.
These trays work wonderfully to provide a nice sturdy base for the basket. You could crochet more rounds with the plastic yarn to make your basket taller or add a handle for a cute carrying basket. Either way recycling these plastic trays is a great way to keep them out of our landfills and provides a useful purpose in the recycled crafting field.
Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Basket
Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips into plarn is several different colors
as desired for stripes
1) Plastic frozen dinner tray with the rim cut off
(One used in project was 6 inches long)
Hook: J (6 mm) sized metal crochet hook
Description: Recycled Plastic Yarn Basket
Basket measures 6 inches long, 4-1/2 inches wide and 4 inches tall
Directions:
Using the tray after cutting off the rim, punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used heavy duty hole punch to put my holes in the plastic base.
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