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Cabled Plarn Purse

Back this month to share my new recycled bag project. Here is my pink cabled plarn purse crocheted with recycled newspaper sacks.

This project was crocheted using a plarn pattern that I created back in 2012. The original free pattern can be found here in which I used recycled plastic bags and some regular Red Heart yarn for the trim and strap. This new purse is crocheted entirely of recycled plastic bags. I have a picture tutorial on how to make plastic bag yarn from these newspaper plastic sleeves here.

Many people always ask me “How many bags does it take to make this?” Well, it all depends but my estimate is that you will need at least

Mini Plarn Shoulder Bag Purse

Got plastic bags? Want to make a cute little shoulder bag? Well grab your crochet hook and those bags and lets crochet a mini shoulder bag purse out of those plastic sacks.

This recycled crafting project used about 15 brown Safeway retail sacks, cut 1 inch wide and assembled using the looping method to create plarn. The finished purse measures 6.5 inches wide by 5 inches tall with a 36 inch long strap. The strap can be knotted as shown for a shorter strap or kept longer for wearing across the body.

Here is free mini shoulder bag pattern.

Brown Plarn Hobo Purse

The recycled plarn hobo purse is a pattern I adapted 10 years ago with permission from Dao over at ShortyLamCrochet Blogspot. I created the purse using recycled plastic bags or plarn for my pattern. You can find the crocheted plarn hobo pattern link here.

For this purse, I used a K (6.5 mm) crochet hook so it is a smaller size than the original pattern link. I started with chain 23 and did do one extra round of stitching before adding the final few rounds of decreasing at the top. Finished size of the purse is 9 inches wide by 7.5 inches long. For the strap, I braided 3 strands of plastic bag yarn together and then just attached the ends at the each side of the purse.

For a larger version of this same pattern, use

Gingham Plarn Purse

A gingham pattern is very unique when you crochet it. I decided that I would try the idea using plastic bags made into plarn. I used recycled white, grey, and black plastic bags for the project.

This idea came from Delights-Gems gingham crochet tutorial for crafting a potholder. Click on the link to see Delight’s picture tutorial that is very helpful in working the gingham pattern. I made a few changes for the plastic bag version of gingham pieces which I will outline below in the pattern details.

Gingham Plastic Bag Plarn Purse Pattern

Materials:
White, grey, and black plastic bags cut into 1 inch wide plarn. Approx. 12-15 bags of each color needed.
Here is my plastic bag picture tutorial if you need more information on how to create yarn from recycled plastic bags.

Magnetic closure
Fabric for lining 12″ by 12″
Plastic purse handles
Nylon thread and needle

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

The three colors of plarn is needed to complete this purse. I found it worked easier to assemble short strands of the colors rather than using big balls of each color. The colors don’t get tangled up if you have just short lengths of “yarn” as you leave the dropped colors attached as you work the gingham pattern.

With white plarn, Ch 34, Hdc in the 3rd st from hook and in the next two sts. (3 Hdc’s in each set as shown in original tutorial.) *Ch 3, Skip 3 sts and then Hdc in next 3 sts*.

Recycled Pink Plastic Purse

I have been saving these pink plastic grocery bags for a special project. I finally decided to crochet a pink purse and donate it to this year’s Relay for Life fundraiser. In case you are wondering about these beautiful pink bags, they are special and very hard to find. A dear on-line friend sent them to me and I am so happy to be able to recycle them into a cool new purse.

Here is a closeup of the cable stitching at the top and the strap. Just click to super-size.

I have named this purse Pink Passion Plarn Purse and lined it as shown. Please enjoy the free crochet pattern below.

Pink Passion Plarn Purse Pattern

Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn or plarn cut 1 inch wide – Approx. 25 pink plastic grocery bags
Here is my picture tutorial on how to make plarn from plastic bags
1 oz worst yarn for trim and strap – Red Heart light raspberry used

Hook: J (6 mm) metal crochet hook

Description: Recycled Pink Plastic Plarn Purse
Bag measures 10-1/2 inches wide and 8-1/2 inches long with 28 inch strap

Directions:
With plastic bag yarn (plarn) Ch 26.