Plastic bags are a huge environmental concern, but they can be upcycled into something useful and beautiful with crochet techniques. Plarn is yarn made from twisting strips of plastic bags, and it can be used to crochet bags, purses, and even garments.
One of the most popular items to crochet with plarn is a tote bag. A tote bag made from plastic bags adds personal style and functionality while helping to save the environment. It's a cost-effective and sturdy material that can be customized with different colours and patterns.
There are many free crochet patterns available online for plastic bag tote bags, with some even suitable for beginners. These patterns can guide you through the process of making a structured and stylish bag that is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Colours | Rainbow, multicoloured, striped, single colour |
Style | Tote, backpack, handbag, envelope purse, basket, floor mat, fruit basket, sun hat |
Yarn Type | Plarn, cotton, wool, raffia, bamboo, acrylic |
Yarn Weight | Medium, light, super bulky, bulky, worsted |
Yarn Brands | Lion Brand, Cascade, Curio, Dishie, WeCrochet, Lily Sugar, CotLin, Catania, Ispie, Yarn Bee, Sugarwheel |
Skill Level | Beginner, intermediate, advanced |
Techniques | Crochet, Tunisian crochet, knitting |
Additional Features | Lining, drawstring, tassels, strap, handle, magnetic clasp, interior pocket, tassel, bobble stitch sides, cross-body strap, zipper, stitch markers, star stitch |
What You'll Learn
Rainbow plarn tote bag
Materials
- Plastic bags in a variety of colours
- Scissors
- Crochet needle
- (Optional) Iron and parchment paper
Steps
- Cut the handles off the plastic bags and stack them evenly.
- Fold each bag twice, leaving one side edge seam sticking out.
- Cut the bags into strips, keeping the width of the strips uniform.
- Turn the plastic roll over and make your second strip cut from there, skipping 3-6 inches and leaving the uncut end intact to create a continuous yarn.
- Loop your yarn with the crochet needle.
- Select a large diameter needle, larger than you would normally use for common yarn.
- Crochet chain stitch into the same loop to make a round or oval bottom of the bag.
- Keep casting on the round using only the chain stitch or the single crochet to avoid gaps in your pattern.
- You can alternate colours every circle turn you complete using a second plastic yarn.
- Add extra stitches per turn until you reach the desired size of your tote's bottom.
- Count the same number of stitches when you build up the sides.
- Continue your on the round crochet pattern until you reach the desired height of your bag.
- Cast a chain stitch to form the handles of your bag. Make sure they are wide and strong enough to handle the load.
- (Optional) Run a wire or nylon line through the handle to give it strength and support.
- (Optional) Use an iron to weld and join thicker plastic strips to reinforce the sides, edges, handles and bottom. Set the iron temperature under the polyester setting and use parchment paper to keep the iron from sticking to the plastic.
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Plastic bag backpack
If you're looking for a creative way to upcycle plastic bags, crocheting a backpack is a fun and functional project to try! Here's a step-by-step guide to making your own plastic bag backpack:
Preparing the Plastic Yarn:
- Choose the colour, pattern, and desired thickness of your backpack. You can recycle plastic bags or buy a roll of plastic bags in your preferred colour. Thicker plastic materials like shower curtains can also be used.
- Collect and sort the plastic bags based on colour, thickness, and material.
- Cut the top handles of each bag and stack them evenly.
- Fold the bags twice, leaving one side edge seam sticking out.
- Cut the bags into strips of uniform width. You can cut along the entire length of the unrolled bags or fold and cut a large plastic sheet.
- Keep a continuous long yarn by turning the plastic roll over and making your second cut from there, skipping a few inches to leave the uncut end intact.
Crocheting the Backpack:
- Select a large crochet needle, larger than you would normally use, to accommodate the plastic yarn.
- Crochet chain stitch into the same loop to create a round or oval bottom for the backpack.
- Continue crocheting in rounds using only the chain stitch or single crochet to avoid gaps in your pattern.
- You can alternate colours every circle by using a second plastic yarn.
- Add extra stitches per round until you reach the desired size for the base of your backpack.
- For the sides, continue crocheting in rounds until you reach the desired height.
- Cast a chain stitch to form the straps of your backpack, ensuring they are wide and strong enough to handle the load.
- Reinforce the straps by running a wire or nylon line through them.
- Use an iron to weld and join thicker plastic strips to reinforce the sides, edges, straps, and base. Set the iron temperature below the polyester setting and use parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Additional Tips:
- You can add a flat plastic base to the backpack to keep small objects from falling out.
- To create a drawstring top for your backpack, follow the instructions from Bags Be Gone.
- Experiment with different colours and patterns to make your backpack unique and stylish.
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Striped plarn hand bag
Materials
- Plastic bags
- Crochet needle
- Scissors
- Iron
- Parchment paper
- Nylon line or wire
Steps
- Choose the colour, pattern, and thickness/strength of your tote.
- Cut the top handles off the plastic bags and stack them evenly.
- Fold the bags twice, leaving one side edge seam sticking out.
- Cut the bags into strips. You will need to cut the bags into two or three sections, depending on the thickness you desire.
- Keep the width of the strips uniform.
- Hook and loop your yarn with the crochet needle.
- Select a large diameter needle, larger than you would normally use for common yarn.
- Crochet chain stitch into the same loop to make a round or oval bottom of the bag.
- Keep casting on the round using only the chain stitch or the single crochet to avoid gaps in your pattern.
- You can alternate colours every circle turn you complete using a second plastic yarn.
- Add extra stitches per turn until you reach the desired size of your tote's bottom.
- Count the same number of stitches when you build up the sides.
- Continue the round crochet pattern until you reach the desired height of your bag.
- Cast a chain stitch to form the handles of your bag. Make sure they are wide and strong enough to handle the load.
- Run a wire or nylon line through the handle to give it strength and support.
- Use an iron to weld and join thicker plastic strips to reinforce the sides, edges, handles, and bottom.
- Set the iron temperature under the polyester temperature setting.
- Use parchment paper to keep the iron from sticking to the plastic.
- Add a flat plastic bottom to keep small objects from falling out.
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Plarn bottle holder sleeve
A plarn bottle holder sleeve is a great way to upcycle plastic bags into something useful and reduce your environmental impact. This project is perfect for those who love to crochet and experiment with new patterns. You can make a simple yet stylish bottle holder sleeve by following these steps:
Materials Required:
- Plastic bags in your desired colour and pattern
- Scissors
- Crochet needle
- Iron
- Parchment paper
Preparing the Plastic Yarn:
Start by recycling plastic bags or buying a roll of plastic bags in your preferred colour. Cut the top handles of the bags and stack them evenly. Fold the bags twice, leaving one side edge seam sticking out. Cut along the entire length of the unrolled bags to create uniform strips. Keep the width of the strips consistent to ensure the strength of your bottle holder.
Crocheting the Bottle Holder:
Select a large crochet needle, larger than you would normally use. Crochet chain stitch into the same loop to create a round or oval bottom for the bottle holder. Continue casting on the round using only the chain stitch or single crochet to avoid gaps. You can alternate colours every circle by using a second plastic yarn.
Adding Details:
To personalise your bottle holder, consider adding extra stitches per turn until you reach your desired size. You can also add a flat plastic bottom to keep small items from falling out. Use an iron on low heat, with parchment paper underneath, to weld and join thicker plastic strips for reinforcement.
Final Touches:
Once you're happy with the size and shape of your bottle holder, finish it off by crocheting a few extra rounds at the top to create a secure opening. You can also add a strap or handle to your bottle holder by crocheting a long chain and attaching it to both sides.
There you have it! A unique and eco-friendly bottle holder sleeve made from plarn. This project is a fun way to get creative and reduce waste. You can find more plarn bottle holder sleeve ideas and patterns online, or even sell your creations on platforms like Etsy.
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Drawstring top plarn bags
Preparing the Plastic Yarn:
Start by choosing the colour, pattern, and thickness you want for your bag. You can recycle plastic bags or buy a roll of plastic bags in your desired colour. Thicker plastic materials, like shower curtains or plastic drop cloths, can also be used.
Collect and sort the bags by colour, thickness, and material. Cut the top handles off the bags and stack them evenly. Fold the bags twice, leaving one side edge seam sticking out.
Cutting the Plastic Bags:
You can cut the bags into strips using either the "slit skirt" method or the spiral method. The slit skirt method involves cutting the bag into layers and then cutting strips from the bottom fold to just short of the top fold, resulting in a hula skirt-like shape. The spiral method involves cutting diagonally around the bag in a single layer, moving in a spiral and keeping the strip width consistent.
Crocheting the Bag:
Use a large crochet needle and select a thicker yarn than you would normally use. Start by crocheting a chain stitch to form a round or oval bottom for the bag. Continue using the chain stitch or single crochet to build up the base of the bag, alternating colours if desired.
Once the base is the desired size, continue crocheting up the sides, maintaining the same number of stitches. When you've reached the desired height, cast a chain stitch to form the handles, ensuring they are wide and strong enough to bear weight. Reinforce the handles with a wire or nylon line.
Adding the Drawstring:
To add a drawstring closure to your bag, simply crochet a long chain stitch or use a separate piece of plarn (plastic yarn) and thread it through the top of the bag. You can add beads or a stopper to each end of the drawstring to make it easier to open and close the bag.
With these steps, you can create a unique and functional drawstring top plarn bag, reducing waste and adding a pop of colour to your wardrobe!
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Frequently asked questions
Natural fibres are a good choice for crochet purses as they can be quite sturdy and provide crisp stitch definition. Mercerized cotton is strong, has a silky smooth appearance, and holds colour brilliantly.
When designing a bag, choose tight, durable stitches that hold their shape well. Closed stitches add lots of beautiful texture while providing stability. Good options include the half double crochet, corner-to-corner technique, herringbone double crochet, moss stitch, knit stitch, and Tunisian crochet simple stitch.
To avoid stretching, opt for a hard-wearing material such as leather, or choose specific stitches that lend themselves well to being used as straps, such as the Romanian cord stitch. You can also reinforce crochet handles by strengthening straps made with yarn.
Cut plastic bags into strips to create 'plarn' (yarn made from plastic bags) and then crochet as normal.
Use the size of crochet hook recommended on your yarn label.