Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Instagram YouTube Pinterest Tumblr VK RSS
Close

Month: March 2007

Crochet a Recycled Plastic Shoulder Bag

Cindy14 Comments


Recycled Shoulder Bag

This is one of my all time favorite bags that I have created. It’s a crocheted shoulder bag made of recycled tan plastic grocery bags. It is a quick and easy crochet project to try if you are just starting out doing recycled crafts. If you need to know how to create yarn from plastic bags, here is my link to the step by step process to make the plastic bag yarn. If you want a larger bag, just add more stitches to your beginning chain and if you would rather have a deeper bag, just increase your rounds as desired. This pattern is worked in rounds and you do not join at the end of each round. Because of this you do not need to sew side seams together. As you work the first few rounds, the bag will turn up at the sides. Just continue working one Hdc in each stitch around and it naturally forms your purse without having to sew any side seams.

Enjoy this fun eco-friendly project!

—————————————————————————————————————-

Crocheted Recycled Plastic Shoulder Bag Pattern
Purse measures 9 inches wide and 6 inches long.
Strap length is 42 inches when not tied.

Material: One large ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips.
One button 7/8 inch button shown on bag.

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook

For complete pattern just click on read more link below.

Sharing Other Great Websites

Cindy3 Comments

I have come across many wonderful websites and blogs that support my ideas about recycling and crafting in the last few weeks. I wanted to share some of them so you too could benefit from their insightful postings.

Nancy of Selangor, MY is a GreenBeing trying to invade the earth with a bunch of similarly inspired “Green” buddies, who practice environmentally friendly habits. Check out her site for wonderful eco-friendly articles and inspirations for recycling.

Stephanie of West Virginia has a fun, down to earth Stop the Ride which shows how to make it from scratch projects. Her blog has posts several times a week and offers weekly prizes for her blog carnival. Lots of fun ideas and unique sharing of creative products that are made from scratch. This site helps with ideas to reduce debt through helpful suggestions on getting back to basics.

Crafts.suite101 site explores painting, sewing, making projects for around the house, quilting, scrapbooking, cardmaking, mosaic, gifts, embroidery, papercrafting, garden crafts, family projects, fabric crafting, rubber stamping, embossing, clay, jewelry making and all things crafting. They look at all of the latest books and products. So if you enjoy creating and discovering, this is a great site to check out.


ThriftyFun is a site where regular folks can share their knowledge and ideas. This link to their website is for one of the most comprehensive lists of uses and ways to recycle plastic bags that I have found. There are numerous thrifty tips from readers on reusing plastic grocery bags. Everything is covered from recycling, reducing, crafting, and more so we all can be green when it comes to plastic bags. Take a moment and review this outstanding reference link.

Crocheted Plastic Bag Coasters

Cindy9 Comments


Recycled Plastic Bag Coasters

I had been asked recently if I had a recycled coaster pattern. At that time, I did not have a pattern nor had I ever crocheted any coasters using recycled plastic bags. I decided that there are many things that I need to crochet using recycled plastic bags. So I have complied a to-do list of items and will attempt to create each item out of recycled materials.

Once I successfully complete each item, I will share the pattern with everyone. Some of the items have been made by other people in the past but I will make and test my own patterns. That way I can post the free patterns all here. I want to build this website into a complete library of free patterns where crafters can come, learn, and try new ideas using recycled materials. My goal is to continue promoting eco-friendly products through recycling and crafting.

So here is this week’s first installment of new projects and patterns from my to-do list – recycled plastic bag coasters!

These are a quick item to crochet. I made this set of four in no time at all. Two were crocheted using all white (with red specks) plastic grocery bags and the other two using grey plastic bags to create a different look.

————————————————————————————————————

Crocheted Recycled Plastic Coasters Pattern

Coasters measure 4 inches wide across.

Material: Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips — Grey and white bags shown in pattern.

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook

Crocheted Denim Rag Bag

Cindy54 Comments

This week I have been working on a new recycled idea. A crocheted rag bag using recycled denim. I had a few old denim shirts that I didn’t want to throw away so I decided that I needed to get the ole’ creative juices flowing and use them in a project. It turned out to be a really heavy duty bag. I didn’t trim or fold the strips so that’s why you see the fibers from the material. But I think it turned out cool with the fibers kinda sticking out as they do.

So… this is the result, a recycled denim rag bag!

I used one of the pockets from the shirt to create an inside pocket as shown below.

I hope you enjoy trying this week’s recycling craft idea and as always — here’s the free pattern.

Free Crocheted Recycled Denim Rag Bag Pattern

Bag measures 11 inches wide and 10 inches long.

Material: Two denim shirts cut into 3/4 inch strips (See notes below on different methods.)

For complete pattern click on read more link below.

Recycled Cassette Tape Granny Square Bag

Cindy11 Comments

Cassette Tape Granny Square Motif Bag

This week’s bag is a recycled little purse crocheted from plastic tan grocery bags and brown cassette tapes. This was an interesting and challenging project. Unfortunately I found out that cassette tapes come in several shades of browns after I was halfway done with my bag. I finally had to make my bag much smaller than I had planned. I couldn’t find the same shade of brown cassette tape that I started the project with so my purse became the little bag you see in this post. The strap measures about 37 inches untied. I tied it in a knot at the top to create a shorter strap. Variations of this bag can be made using all plastic bags or any other recycled materials that you may want to substitute. The overall size can be increased by adding additional rounds as desired. Have fun with this week’s bag and enjoy your recycling and crafting project.

Free Recycled Bag Pattern

Size: Approx. 6-1/2 inch square bag with 37 inch strap
Hook: E metal crochet hook used in this Motif pattern.
(Any large size hook can be used but Motif size will vary.)
Materials: Plastic tan grocery bags cut in ¼ inch strips and 2 cassette tapes