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Tag: plarn

Fade to White Plarn Tote Bag

Cindy2 Comments

I’ve had this idea in my head for awhile on how to create a tote bag that fades from black to white using recycled plastic bags or plarn. Here is what I came up with. I used recycled black plastic bags to start and then grey bags to the dirty-white colored bags and ended with white plastic bags.

I used the ultimate plarn tote bag pattern to crochet the bag with just some minor changes. On round 3 at the curve of the ends, I crocheted 2 Half Double Crochets (Hdc) in the first stitch at the curve. Then I worked just 1 Hdc in next stitch and 2 Hdc in the stitch at the other part of the curve. Repeat for the other side’s end.

For round 4 curve, you want to identify the 4 stitches on the curve of each end. Crochet 2 Hdc in the first stitch, then 1 Hdc in each of the next 2 stitches and 2 Hdc in the next stitch. Repeat for the other end. This should give you a nice rounded corner on each side of your bag.

Now follow the original pattern directions, changing colors as follows:

Recycled Plastic Bag Baskets

Cindy8 Comments

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.

Red White and Blue Striped Plarn Tote

Cindy8 Comments

I have tons of white plastic bags as many people do. Most people that craft with recycled plastic bags find it difficult to find pretty colorful bags. You can usually find a few unique colors but it’s almost impossible to find enough bags to crochet a complete tote bag. So I’m always on the quest to find new ways to embellish my white tote bags. Here is my latest crocheted recycled plastic bag. It’s a red, white and blue striped reusable tote bag. It uses around 30 white retail bags and only about 3 blue plastic bags and 3 red newspaper bags. As you can see, just a few colorful bags can dress up an otherwise boring white plastic bag tote.

To crochet this recycled tote bag you basically use my Ultimate Grocery Bag pattern and add the stripes using the red and blue plastic bags cut into plarn. I also changed up the handles a bit and will detail the changes below to explain how to crochet this recycled plastic tote bag.

I used a N (9 mm) crochet hook to work this tote bag. The finished size is 13 inches wide and 14 inches long with 9 inch handles.

Following the basic pattern link, crochet with white plastic bag yarn (plarn) for 19 rounds. End at side of bag with a slip stitch.

Crafting with Plastic Bags

Cindy9 Comments

It has been over six years now since I started this recycled bags blog. When I first started out I wanted to share the idea of using plastic bags for craft projects. I wanted to promote the reuse and repurposing of plastic for useful items. Over the years, I have crocheted tote bags, rugs, scrubbies, purses, baby bibs, soap dishes, coasters, baskets, gift bags, water bottle holders and much more using recycled plastic.

You can find all of my crochet free plastic bag patterns here at my site. Over the years I have shared all my patterns free so that everyone could enjoy crafting with recycled plastic materials. I have used every type of recycled plastic such as retails bags, toilet paper packaging, hotdog and hamburger bun packages, frozen vegetable packages, paper towel packaging, bread bags, hashbrown bags, and taco shell bags.


Trash Rug from Recycled Plastic

Recycling plastic to create yarn has endless possibilities. I only named a handful of plastic items you can make plarn from. Plarn (PLastic yARN) is the term my friend Joy coined first over at Crochetville

Crocheted Plarn Soap Dish

Cindy4 Comments

I have been asked to crochet a recycled plastic soap dish holder so this is up I came up with. I crocheted this soap dish using about three recycled plastic bags so it’s a great project if you only have a few bags in a special color.

It’s just the right size if you have a large square bar of soap. Here is my plarn soap dish with a scrubbie also crocheted from recycled plastic bags.

Here is a plarn soap dish pictured with a oval bar of soap along with a crocheted dishcloth to match.

Here is one other crocheted soap dish with white plastic retail bags along with a scrubbie added with a cotton yarn trim. The cotton yarn edging adds a colorful touch to the otherwise boring white bags. You can also use the soap dish crocheted from recycled plastic bags as a scrubbie holder. Just rinse it out in warm water if it gets too soapy or dirty. Either way this recycled soap dish is a handy holder and provides a useful way to reuse those plastic bags you may have stuffed in your kitchen drawers and cabinets.

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Free Crocheted Plarn Soap Dish Pattern

Materials needed:
3 — plastic bags cut into strips 3/4 inches wide and interlocked to create plarn
Here is the link to my plarn-making tutorials should you need it

Hook:
J (6 mm) US size metal crochet hook

Gauge: 3 Sc = 1 inch; 3 rows = 1 inch

Description:
Recycled Plastic Soap Dish – measures 5-1/2 inches long by 3 inches wide

Directions:
Row 1
Ch 13, Sc in the 2nd st from the hook and in each st across.