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Reusable Lunch Sack Bag

Here is a seamless reusable lunch sack bag. The lunch sack is crocheted from recycled plastic bags. This project is another installment of my to-do list which I am working on. The list is made up of items that I have never made before and I use recycled material to create each item. Once the item is completed, I share it here along with the free crochet pattern so everyone can have an opportunity to make the recycled project too.

This week, I completed my lunch sack which is a seamless bag. I have used this seamless method for quite a while now and wanted to share it here on my blog. You can use it on many different projects when you don’t want to have to sew or weave sides together on your project. It also leaves your item with a nice appearance as you do not have a joining stitch. I have step-by-step pictures of how the seamless bag method works below.

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At round 3 of bottom

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At round 5 as sides curl up

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At round 7 as bowl is created

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Finished bag with expandable bottom

Free Reusable Lunch Sack Bag Pattern

Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bags cut into strips and interlocked to create a ball of plarn

Strip of Velcro for flap closure (I used 4″ strip)

Hook: N (9 mm) size metal crochet hook

Description: Plastic Lunch Sack Bag
Bag measures 8 inches wide at top and 11 inches long with 3-1/2 inches oval expandable bottom and 19 inch long strap.

Directions:

Pot Scrubber Crocheted from Plastic Bags

Here is my parade of pot scrubbers crocheted from recycled plastic bags!

I used several different types of plastic to create these pot scrubbies. The yellow and white/red ones were crocheted using the pattern below with a “N” hook. The white/gold one was made from a recycled plastic wedding bag. You can read about that project here. This scrubber was made using a “H” hook rather than the bigger hook as the plastic yarn was single strand. It is a much tighter stitched scrubber than the ones with the bigger hook. Here is the free pattern link for that scrubber.

So depending on your project either use the pattern below for pot scrubbers made from recycled plastic grocery bags or the link above for the single strand plastic strips.
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Free Crocheted Pot Scrubber Pattern using Plastic Grocery Bags

Scrubber measures 3-1/2 inches wide across. (Make 2 round disks)

Material: Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook

Recycled Plastic Grocery Tote Bag


Crocheted Grocery Tote Bag

Want to make your plastic bags recyclable? Want to bring your own bag to the grocery store? Want to have your own green eco-friendly shopping bag? Well crochet or knit those plastic bags into a recycled grocery tote bag.

Here is the link for the tutorial for creating plastic bag yarn. Recently this plastic bag yarn has earned the nickname of ‘plarn’ to describe it. I love the term and hope it catches on. Crafting tote bags has become very popular. It’s a wonderful way to save our trees and our landfills. I have several free crochet and knitted patterns available at the patterns links page here so check out your options and make yourself a reusable grocery tote bag!


Inside of Tote Bag

This bag features a roomy expandable heavy bottom, an open mesh upper tote and a wide sling strap handle. If you are a crocheter, below is the free pattern to create this recycled tote for your next shopping trip.


Outside Expandable Bottom

Crocheted Plastic Grocery Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed: One large ball of plastic bags cut into strips and interlocked to create a ball of plarn yarn — Approx. 56 bags.

Hook: N size metal crochet hook and J for edging

Description: Grocery Tote Bag
Bag measures 12 inches wide at top and 15 inches long with 7 inch oval expandable bottom and 28 inch sling strap handle.

Cassette Tape Evening Bag


Cassette Tape Evening Bag with Cozy

This week’s free recycled crochet pattern features an evening bag crocheted using cassette tape and ribbon yarn. The front flap is V-shaped with a Gold button embellishment and a Velcro button for a closure. I had some materials left over so I decided to make a little cozy to go inside the evening bag. You could use the cozy to hold your ID or a credit card. I did not put any embellishment on the front of the cozy but one could be added if desired.

I used two strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand Trellis ribbon yarn. You hold all three strands together as you crochet. I have found that using just cassette tape as your “yarn” isn’t as smooth to crochet with as other materials. But adding the ribbon yarn really gives your “yarn” a smoother, stronger texture and the crochet hook moves easier.

Closeup of material — Click for full-full photo

I used Champagne #51666 for the ribbon yarn and it really set off the cassette tape to create a pretty evening bag. I tried several times to take some clearer pictures of the completed project but the light just doesn’t do these materials much justice. Trust me when I say that the combination of cassette tape and ribbon yarn is beautiful together. Plus it’s a wonderfully eco – friendly recycled craft!


Cassette Tape Evening Bag Pattern

Purse measures 7 inches wide and 5 inches long. Cozy measures 3 inches square.

Materials:
2 cassette tapes (90 min. tapes)
1 ball Lion Brand Trellis Champagne ribbon yarn (115 yards)
1 button for embellishment as shown on bag
2 small black Velcro buttons

Hook: Metal J (6 mm) hook

Chain 28 using 2 strands of cassette tape and one strand of Lion Brand yarn (for purse).
Pattern is crocheted using 3 strands of material held together throughout project.

Recycled Hook Case

Crochet yourself a hook case from recycled plastic bags!

This project is another installment on my to-do list that I have blogged about recently. If you are not familiar with my to-do list, it is a list of items that I plan to crochet using plastic bags. Once I complete each project, I post the free pattern here at My Recycled Bags for everyone’s use. This week I decided that I needed a crochet hook case and it was on my list to do so… Here is the completed project and free pattern. An inside look of the hook case which holds four crochet hooks.


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Recycled Hook Case Pattern
Hook case measures 5 inches wide and 10 inches long.

Material: One small ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips.
One small button if desired to embellish purse front.
One Velcro stick-on button.
Lining – 6 inch x 5 inch piece of muslin

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook