Plastic Bag Crochet

Plastic bag crochet is economical and eco friendly. You can use up all your plastic carrier bags to make a strong new one and it is quite simple to do. Although I am not giving you a crochet plastic grocery bag pattern as such, you will have all the info here to be able to design and make your own.

How to make the "yarn" for plastic bag crochet

Lay your bag out flat

Roll it up sideways.

Cut off the bottom and the handles and discard these. Then cut the bag into approximatley one inch width pieces.

This will give you circles of plastic. Loop one through another

Pass one end of the second piece through the other end

As you pull you will make a knot

Pull the knot tight.

Continue joining the peices to gether and roll them up into a ball of "yarn"

I haven't actually designed a crochet plastic bag pattern. There are two reasons for this.

One is that it is not possible to to give an exact design. There are too many variables - the thickness of the plastic, the width of your pieces and the hook you will find easiest to use.

The other is that, to be honest, I personally found it hard work and tedious. It's not at all like working with yarn or cotton thread. However, please don't let me put you off. Making an eco plastic bag using crochet would have taken far too long and I want to get on with designing and making more patterns for you

Basically though, make a length of chain roughly the width you want your bag and keep crocheting until it is the length you want it.

These photos will give you an idea of what your fabric will look like worked in single crochet (UK double crochet)

You should end up with a sort of net bag which is nice and strong.

You might find it easier to work in a round using slip stitch so that you have fewer seams.

See video tutorial for another brilliant way to recycle plastic carrier bags

For more techniques and ideas other than plastic bag crochet, click here

Further Reading

For the eco conscious crocheter looking for ideas similar to plastic bag crochet, I have found this interesting book, Awareknits?: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher

available from Amazon for UK residents.

Or if you live in the US click here: AwareKnits: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher

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