Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 148 views

    Earth Day Tote Crochet Pattern

    Uploaded by

    Cammy87

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Earth Day Tote Crochet Pattern

    Uploaded by

    Cammy87
    148 views7 pages

    Original Title

    Earth-Day-Tote

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    148 views7 pages

    Earth Day Tote Crochet Pattern

    Uploaded by

    Cammy87

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 7
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The key takeaways are that plastic shopping bags can be recycled into a crocheted tote bag by cutting the bags into strips and linking them together to form plastic yarn (plarn) that is then crocheted into the bag.

    Plastic yarn (plarn) is made by cutting plastic bags into narrow strips and linking the circular strips together to form an endless chain.

    The steps to crochet the bottom of the bag are to chain 15, single crochet into the second chain from the hook and each chain across for the first row, then work rows 2-34 by chaining 1, turning, and single crocheting across.

    Crochet

    Earth Day
    Pattern
    Tote

    Earth Day Tote


    By Brenda K. B. Anderson

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com


    Earth Day Tote

    Just like Rumpelstiltskin could spin straw into gold, you


    can turn ugly plastic shopping bags into this beautiful
    and useful tote—without any magic! About 70-100
    plastic bags are cut into strips and linked together to
    make the plastic yarn used for this project. This “plarn”
    is crocheted using simple single crochet stitches to
    create this structured-yet-lightweight bag. Let’s prevent
    those old plastic bags from ending up in a landfill and
    crochet them into an attractive, durable handbag that
    can be used again and again!

    Sizes
    One size

    Finished Measurements
    14” wide x 10” tall x 6” deep

    Materials Abbreviations
    • Approximately 70-100 plastic bags (see notes). Amount
    varies depending on size and thickness of bags
    • US I [mm] crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge Ch = chain
    • Large Yarn Needle SC = single crochet
    • Removeable stitch marker Sl st = slip stitch
    St(s) = stitch(es)
    WS = Wrong Side
    Gauge YO = yarn over
    12 sts and 11 rows = 4” over single crochet, worked in turned rows

    Notes

    Turning chains do not count as a stitch.

    The bottom of the bag is worked in turned rows. After the bottom is complete, the sides of the bag
    are worked from the bottom up in un-joined rounds. Straps are made separately, edged with a round
    of slipstitches (which also forms the strap into a rounded-cord shape) and stitched to bag.

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 2


    Earth Day Tote

    Making Plarn

    Choosing bags
    Many different kinds of bags can be used for this project. Common plastic shopping bags, long thin
    bags like the ones used for newspapers deliveries or plastic produce bags from the supermarket all
    work very well. Plastic bags from potatoes, apples, or bread will also work well, although they tend
    to be a bit thicker and may be more tiring for your hands to crochet.

    “Plarn” or plastic yarn is made by cutting plastic bags into narrow strips, and linking the circular
    strips together to form an endless chain. Different types of bags come in different thicknesses and
    as a result will create plarn with different thicknesses as well. If you are using more than one type
    of bag you can cut your plastic bags into strips of different widths in order to accommodate the
    different thicknesses of the plastic you are using and help maintain gauge. See suggestions below.

    Thin produce bags or newspaper bags: cut strips at 1.25-1.5”


    Standard, small to medium size (thinner) shopping bags: cut strips at 1”
    Large (slightly thicker) shopping bags: cut strips at .75”
    Freezer bags, bags for frozen vegetables, bread bags, large plastic outer bag for toilet paper
    multipacks, etc. (the thickest category): cut strips at .5”

    If you are using bags of different colors, you can decide whether you want to make distinct stripes
    of color or if you’d rather mix all of the colors together for a more variegated yarn look. If you intend
    to make stripes, sort all of your bags according to color, then make the plarn with only one color at
    a time. If you choose to mix the colors together, cut up all of the bags at once and mix the strips
    before linking them together.
    For the sample pictured, several bags of each color were used at a time to create the striped pattern.
    A contrasting plarn was used to make the slip stitches along the edges of the handles.

    Cutting the bags


    Smooth out each bag, folding sides of bag along pleats if applicable.

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 3


    Earth Day Tote

    Make vertical folds in bag until it becomes a width that is easy to cut through with one snip of
    scissors.

    Slice off the bottom edge of bag, then start slicing through bag at measurements listed above until
    reaching the top edge or the handles.

    Recycle the pieces that do not make an intact circular strip (such as the top edge, including handles
    and the bottom seamed edge). Slice several bags into strips, then begin linking them together (see
    below), then repeat the process with the next group of bags.

    Linking the strips


    Be sure to watch the live event (or the re-play of the live event) for tips on how to link the strips
    together.

    Lay one circular strip over another strip.

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 4


    Earth Day Tote

    Reach through the second strip and up from underneath to grab the second strip,

    pulling it through the first strip, and then back out through the opening where your hand entered
    through the second strip.

    Pull until ends link together in a small knot.

    Repeat to add each circular strip, one at a time.


    Wind your plarn into a ball to prevent tangling.

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 5


    Earth Day Tote

    Instructions

    Bottom of bag:

    Ch 15.

    Row 1: Beginning with the 2nd ch from hook and working into the bottom of the chain, 1 SC into
    each ch. 14 sts.

    Rows 2-34: Ch 1, turn, SC into each st across. 14 sts.

    Do not fasten off. Bottom of bag measures approximately 5” x 12.5”.

    Sides of bag:

    Set-up rnd: Place a stitch marker at the half way point along each of the long sides of bottom of
    bag to divide each of the long sides into two equal sections. Rotate work 90 degrees in order to
    work along row-ends, ch 1, 17 SC into first section along side-edge, 1 SC at marked point, 17 SC into
    second section, rotate to work into foundation edge, 3 sc in first st, sc in each of next 12 sts, 3 sc in
    last st, rotate to work along next side-edge, 17 SC in first section, 1 SC at marked midway point, 17
    SC along second section, rotate to work into row 34 of Bottom of Bag, 3 sc in first st, sc in each of
    next 12 sts, 3 sc in last st. Do not join. 106 sts.

    Work 32 rnds of SC ending at side edge of bag, (or until bag reaches desired height). Sl st into next
    st to fasten off.

    Handle (Make 2)

    Ch 61.
    Set-up row: Beginning with second ch from hook, and working into the bottom of the chain, SC in
    each st. 60 sts.
    Round 1: Rotate work 180 degrees in order to work into the opposite side of the foundation ch. Ch 1
    (does not count as a stitch), 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, SC in each of the next 56 sts, 2 SC in each
    of the next 2 sts, rotate work 180 degrees to continue (skip the ch-1 on end), 2 SC in each of next 2
    sts, SC in each of next 56 sts, 2 SC in each of the next 2 sts. 128 SC around.
    Sl st to fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. Place stitch marker in 8th st from end.

    Slip Stitch Edging for Handle


    Pull up loop in marked stitch (8th st counted from end of last round). Keep stitch marker in place
    (8th st from end). Sl st in each of next 14 sts. Fold strap lengthwise with WS together so that long
    edges are right on top of each other. Begin by inserting hook through the next st in working edge
    and also through marked st held directly behind working st, yo and pull up loop, continue to pull loop
    through loop on hook to complete sl st. Continue across edge working through both thicknesses
    making 49 more slip stitches, separate the two layers and continue slip stitching around edge, just
    through the top layer for 14 more sts. Sl st to fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 6


    Earth Day Tote

    Finishing
    Using ending tails, sew each end of handle securely to the top edge of bag. Handles should be
    spaced about 4.5- 4.75” apart. Weave in ends. Blocking is not recommended.

    My Notes

    Want more fun projects and


    helpful crochet tips?
    To see more great projects and helpful crochet
    guides like this, and to watch exclusive
    crochet videos, make sure to visit us at
    www.creativecrochetcorner.com. Improve your
    crochet skills and join our community to share
    in the love of crochet!

    © Creative Crochet Corner | CreativeCrochetCorner.com 7

    You might also like