Recycle Plastic Shopping Bags into 'Yarn'

Step 9 Finished crocheted shopping bag.

These are pics of a shopping bag made from 124 recycled grocery bags, all from the same store.

The pattern for this bag can be found at: <http://orangeflower.typepad.com/orange_flower/2008/02/crochet-basket.html>

I have been informed that the afore mentioned link is no longer valid. Please try this one: http://chickpeastudio.typepad.com/chickpea_sewing_studio/2008/02/the-little-croc.html

I crocheted my round until it had 64 stitches around. I then kept crocheting those 64 stitches in the round until I wanted to do my handles.

When you get to the point where you want the handles: Place marker and single crochet 7 sts, chain 18, count 18sts from where you did the 7th single crochet and slip stitch to here. Single crochet 14 stitches. Chain 18. Count 18sts from where you stopped the 14th single crochet and slip stitch to here. Single crochet 7sts. Join with a slip stitch to Beginning Single crochet (by marker). Chain 1 and turn. Do at three more rounds like this for strong bag handles.

Remember you're carrying groceries in this.

Comments

[Saturn V]

That's pretty cool! I'll have to do this!

[MaggieTCat]

A group here in New Orleans made plastic yarn blankets for homeless people since they were lightweight and pretty water-proof. I've been looking for the directions since, so thanks! =^.=

[Kalispelldude]

there is another grocery bag pattern available here... http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/12/02/recycled-grocery-tote-bag/

[weezie putman]

Very nice instructions, especially the video.

[Ouchimoo]

That bag actually looks so great it makes me kind of wish I know how to crochet.

[Sullen70]

I was hoping someone would put up this instructable. Thanks! Our church did a humanitarian project last year, collecting bags and cutting them into strips which we then sent to a group in Africa. The women in this group would make the bags and sell them to tourists. They could feed their family for a month with the revenue from selling one bag.

[tachu]

Do you know where in Africa we can send these to?

[msdrpepper]

OH what a neat idea! What part of Africa? I could share this with my pastor - he's off to Ghana later in the summer. I really don't know the situation there, how many tourists actually visit the areas where his congregations are, other then the ones that might live near the larger cities like Accra ?

[katz]

This is a great! I have come up with some really cool things made by recycling very common things, like plastic bags or beer caps that people in very poor countries can make without spending money on materials and earn themselves a living (like jewellery etc). But I have not found a way of contacting with someone "on the other side" and interested if you can give me contact details or info on how you found where to send it in Africa. Thanks!

[NatureGeek24]

I really like this bag without using the "fuse" method. I'd been thinking of some sort of project using bag-yarn, and I like what you've worked out here. Like you, I do most of my crochet while waiting-- kids at ballet, kids at tennis, doctor, dentist...Nice Instructable!

[double2]

My ex's mom did this but I never knew how she did it. Supposedly her bags were water tight for her son, a river guide. I learned how to crochet a while ago and have thought of doing this but wasn't sure how to. Thanx for the info. About how many bags did you use to make this? About how many pounds can/do you carry in the bag? What size hook did you use? About how long have you been using your bag? Loved your belief on time!!!!!! toootles.emmi

[tldudenhoeffer]

It depends on the size you want to make. I used 124 bags. This bag is not water tight. It can be hosed off to clean it. It holds about 30 pounds of groceries with minimal stretching. I used a size N crochet hook.

[littlecog]

Just to let you know the knot you used to tie two lengths together is referred to as a 'larks head hitch'. Used a lot in kite construction.

[Evil is the name]

cool I'm ganna do that now while listening to music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!by the way people go to my file and look at how to teach ur dog stay.

[muzcee]

Nice work, But you you must have too much time on your hands :)

[tldudenhoeffer]

Quite frankly, I tell everyone that time is the only thing we have more than enough of. You have to decide what you want to do with it. Knitting & crocheting are things that can be done while walking, watching tele, riding the bus, waiting for an appointment. So, it's not a matter of too much time, but a matter of how to allocate the free time God has given you while you're waiting for the rest of your life to get moving. ;)

[rhubarb]

That a real labor of love. Great idea. What are you going to crochet with it next?

[tldudenhoeffer]

I'm making a striped doormat now. The ones you buy at fleetfarm always fall apart and I want to try this.

[Silver_Duck]

Very cool...I like the idea of making a bag into a bag...it's pretty funny but great results

[swedo]

Vey nice instructable. Good work!