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Category: Plastic Bag Crafts

Floppy Plarn Hat Pattern

Cindy16 Comments

Several people have asked about hats lately so here is a recycled floppy hat made from plastic bags or plarn. It’s crocheted using plarn and you can add ribbon to the finished project as shown in the pictures.

Here are several photos showing the floppy hat. It stretches nicely to fit your head as shown above. I hope you enjoy this recycled hat project and happy green crafting to all!

Recycled Floppy Plarn Hat Pattern

Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bags cut into strips to create a ball of plarn approx. 22-25 bags
2 yards of ribbon

Hook: N (9 mm) USA size metal hook

Description: Floppy plarn hat measures flat 9 inches long from top center to edge with 19″ head circumstance and 4″ brim

Directions:
Ch 4 and join with a Sl St to form a ring. (Don’t turn throughout)

Recycled Plastic Bag Shell Purse

Cindy17 Comments


As promised in my last post, here is my striped shell handbag purse that is crocheted from recycled plastic bags. I changed colors of plastic bags every round to create this unique looking shell stitch purse. I did 16 rounds and each round takes about 2 to 2-1/2 bags to complete each different colored row. Also this is my first experience using store purchased purse handles. I splurged and bought these as they were on clearance for $2.00. I think they really compliment the handbag and along with the lining, make this a really beautiful and fashionable upcycled handbag.

Here is a closeup on the inside of the bag. Click to supersize

Free Striped Shell Handbag Crochet Pattern

Materials needed:
14-16 different colors of plastic bags made into plastic bag yarn aka Plarn
Approx. 35-40 plastic grocery bags in different colors
1 Set of Bamboo handles
Small amount of fabric for lining
Magnetic clasp closure

Hook:
N 9 (mm) metal crochet hook

Description: Striped Shell Handbag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 9 inch long with bamboo handles

Directions:

Recycled Plarn Backpack Pattern

Cindy20 Comments

Presenting the long awaited and many times requested free plarn backpack pattern. This project is crocheted from recycled plastic bags along with a bit of scrap cotton yarn to create an unique backpack or knapsack. This has been a challenging project but I have kept the crochet stitches and instructions as simple as possible so even a beginner should be able to craft this cool recycled backpack.

Here is the how to make plarn tutorial link that shows detailed pictures on how I create plastic yarn from recycled plastic bags.

Click photos to supersize closeups

Enjoy the pattern and happy green crafting to all!

Free Plarn Backpack Crochet Pattern

Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn or Plarn – Approx. 60-70 plastic grocery bags
1 oz. of scrap cotton yarn
1 buckle hardware latch for front flap

Hooks:
N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook for main body of backpack
J, H & G U.S. size crochet hooks for straps, trim, and drawstring

Description: Plastic Bag Plarn Backpack or Knapsack
Bag measures 13″ wide and 13″ long with 18-1/2″ back straps

Directions:
Ch 18

Plarn Cell Phone Holder

Cindy3 Comments

Crochet yourself this cute and handy little cell phone holder from recycled materials. This holder can hold any type of phone, from iPhones to any of the latest 4g phones in most shapes and sizes. This cell phone holder was made from recycled disposal plastic diaper bags cut and assembled into plarn (plastic bag yarn.) This is another readers creation from Diane who asked me to share the free pattern here.

Free Plarn Cell Phone Holder Pattern
J (6 mm) crochet hook
14 diaper disposal bags (when making Plarn, use 2 loops together)

Note: The disposal diaper bags are small and thin, but are cut the same way as regular plastic bags and 2 loops are used together for each “strand”, so it was doubled up.
2 snaps, or Velcro or buttons

Ch 8. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end, 2 hdc in end ch, continue around other side to end. Do not join, but work in rounds. Hdc in each hdc for approximately 8 rounds, ending at side, sl st in next 3 sts. (strap that holds phone inside) Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn. Continue working on 3 sc for 10 rows. FO and weave in ends.


Belt Loop Strap: Attach plarn with sl st to st next to middle on rnd 2 on back of holder (same side as other strap), ch 1, sc in same st and next 2 sts, ch 1 turn. Continue working on 3 sts for 5 rows. FO weave in ends.

Attach snaps or Velcro or buttons on end of strap and in coordinating spot on holder.

Diane used these small plastic diaper bags for her project so it took quite a few to complete the project. I believe if you use a retail plastic bag that you could crochet this project with around 7 bags. Thanks to Diane for sharing this recycled bag project with everyone![…]

Readers Creations

Cindy8 Comments

I want to share some of my readers creations that have been emailed to me. Several of my crafty readers have sent me photos of their completed plarn (plastic bag yarn), VCR, and cassette tape recycled bags. I just love seeing everyone’s finished projects and hope you enjoy them too. Click on any of the photos to supersize them.

Libby’s Motif Tote Bag

Libby from Texas used my colorful granny square motif pattern to crochet her bag. She did put one more row of sc around the top before starting the handle. You can find the free pattern link for this recycled plastic tote bag here.

Libby’s Cassette Tape Beaded Bag

Libby’s brown evening purse was made with two strands of cassette tape and two strands of brown ribbon that came from a sweater she unraveled. How cool is that its double recycled! She wanted a purse with beads in the strap, so she added some beautiful beads and used a nifty knitter for the rest of the strap. A magnetic button closure was added with beads glued to cover the prongs on the outside.

Another reader Diane has been busy creating several of my recycled bag patterns. First she shared with me the hobo bag that she made using this recycled plastic bag pattern. She tweaked the pattern by adding a cell phone pocket, used a zipper instead of a magnetic snap and put other pockets in the lining.
Diane’s Blue Ribbon Hobo Purse

Diane also crocheted a plastic tote bag using my colorful motif pattern. She completed her tote bag by lining it with some pretty material that matched her motifs.

Then Diane used my green shopping bag pattern found here to crochet her yellow reusable grocery bag.


Next Bonnye shared some VCR tape bags she crocheted with fun fur added. As shown below she used recycled VCR video tape and fun fur together to create some very cool looking bags!

Thanks to all my readers who sent in photos sharing their recycled crafting projects. I really enjoyed all your beautiful work with upcycled materials. Keep those great green craft projects coming!