Making a Tote Bag from Recycled Plastic Bags

Nelly

May 17, 2011

This crochet project I made is eco-friendly because I help reduce plastic bag garbage litter in our environment.

Approximate Time: 48 hours

Supplies:

grocery plastic bags cut into strips
crochet hook size E
scissors
cotton yarn
button
sewing needle with large eye
thread

Instructions:

Start: Ch 50

Base:

Round 1: dc in each st. Do not turn.
Round 2 and 3: rep. round 1

Body:

Round 4 to 20: tr in each st. Do not turn.

Cover:

Row 1: 27 dtr in each st. Turn.
Row 2 to 5: rep. row 1. Turn after each row.
Row 6: 11 dtr, 5 ch (st), skip 5 st (this acts as the button hole), then resume 11 dtr.
Row 7: 27 tr in each st. Turn.
Row 8: 2 sc, 2 dc, 19 tr, 2 dc, 2 sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Handles & Strap:

(make 2 straps)
Row 1 to 3: 9 dc. Turn after each row.
Row 4 to 41: 9 dtr. Turn after each row.
Row 42 to 44: 9 dc. Turn after each row.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Edges of Bag Cover:

1 sc, 3 ch (st), 1 sc alt.
Sew the straps into the bag's body using sewing needle with large eye and blunt points. Use plastic yarn as thread.

Flower Decoration:

Base Layer:

Start ch 5 sl st to join or make a ring.
Round 1: *ch 4, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2 then sl st to *
Round 2: *ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1 then sl st to *
Round 3: *ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, then sl st to *
Round 4 Edging: *ch 4, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3 alt.
Continue til you reach * then weave and fasten off.

Top Layer:

Round 1: Start sl st at any in-between of 2 dc you made in round 1 of the base layer of your flower, *ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, sl st to *
Round 2: ch 5, sc to the 3rd ch of the 1st 5 ch in round 1, then ch 5, sc to the 3rd ch of the 2nd 5 ch in round 1. Rep till the 5th 5 ch in round 1, then sl st.

Edging

*ch 3 then sc alt

Sew the flower to the body of the bag using blunt pointed and large eye sewing needle. Use plarn as thread.

By Nelly from Estacada, OR photo of an ecofriendly tote