Tote Bag Made Out of Toilet Paper Rolls

Step 1: Make the Links

Good ratio for this weaving technique is 1: 4 so I cut up toilet paper 1.5 cm (5/8 in ) wide.

Step 2: The Pinwheel

Make the first pinwheel by wrapping 4 links, one after another and lock the 4th link inside the first one.

Step 3: Adding Pinwheels

You build the next pinwheel by adding 3 links on the right pinwheel.

Step 4: Build Rows of Pinwheels

Building my first row of pinwheels for until I am happy with the length of bag or basket. I added a new row the top right moving back towards the left where the first row started.

Step 5: Three Rows of Pinwheel

Now its the perfect time to add 4 triangle corners to add height.

Step 6: Going Up With Your Rows

After 4 corners are in place, we can the fill the rows moving vertically to our desired height of the bag or basket.

Step 7: Time to Stop and Finish It Off

We can finish it off by folding the flaps and run through our woven basket or bag with needle and thread for extra support (optional if you just want the bag or basket to hold light items like yarn, etc). I thought about glue, double sided duct tape or staples, but I am very happy with needle and thread so far.

Step 8: Try Other Materials

I have tried other materials like milk carton, plastic boxes, magazines, newspapers and brown paper bag. My favorite still toilet paper or paper towel rolls since other materials require a lot more work just to get them ready as links.

Enjoy weaving!

Comments

[Charfire]

I don't quite understand how you did the corners. Could you break down the technique for me?

[TiffanieD1]

This is very smart & creative thinking. I followed your instructions, and made two square baskets. I'm thinking of making a few out of 2L & 500ML plastic cola bottles. I would like to ask; should I apply the same ratio (1: 4)? I'd like to use them to carry veggies from the garden up to the house, and the square openings can't let the cherry, and grape sized tomatoes spill out. Thanks for sharing your creativity!!

[marinaLG]

hola! perdón pero no hablo inglés (debajo pondré la traducción de gogle...)
me encantó el trabajo: puedo reciclar, hacerlo durante mis escasos ratos libres, no tengo que limpiar nada cuando termino... genial!
pero tengo un inconvenienete, espero que se entienda: me queda torcido, chueco, más alto de un lado que del otro, como en espiral. ¿es así? ¿sabés decirme en qué paso pude haber fallado? así no me pasa lo mismo con el próximo!
gracias por haber compartido este trabajo!
saludos! marina.
..........................................................................................................................................................

Hi! Sorry but I don't speak English (I'll put the translation of gogle below ...)
I loved the job: I can recycle, do it during my little spare time, I don't have to clean anything when I'm done ... great!
but I have a drawback, I hope you understand: it is crooked, higher on one side than the other, like a spiral. Is that so? Can you tell me in what step I could have failed? so it is not the same with the next one!
thank you for sharing this job!
regards! marina.

[Luc808]

That so beautiful!
I am so sorry, but I have the same problem.
Perhaps this can be an opportunity for new design on the other half side? Perhaps you can experiment with other materials ?

Thank you for your interest!
Your tote looks way better than mine :)

Best,
Lucia

[marinaLG]

thank you too!
I´m thinking several things... wen I finished I will show you!

regards!
marina.

[Greenman2]

This is so cool. How strong is it?

[14meadeni]

I think very strong

[Luc808]

Greenman2,

It is pretty strong for handling grocery shopping or carrying magazines.

[Luc808]

Thanks Greenman2,

I's say it holds 3 - 5 magazines. As long as it is dry. If you want to be extra strong and weather proof, you can wrap every single links with duck tape. I did it and it holds groceries and big fat laptop easy.

[14meadeni]

very cool !!!

[14meadeni]

I love it !!!

[smoody6]

how did you attach the gray handle in the finished bag? by needle and thread?

[Luc808]

Hello smoody6,

so sorry for the late reply.

I had such a hard time responding through phone.

I used double duck tape to attach the gray ribbon.

Although I believe, if I need to really make it work and use it for day to day... I might seal the tote with sealant and then use stapler to attach it to the tote.

Good luck with your creation. Please send me picture!

[giorgia14]

This is extremely useful! I have like a ton of toilet paper rolls and tried to find a project to recycle them and puff! Just great thank you for sharing!

[Sondzee]

omg! I started keeping paper rolls in order to make some other diy project with it, but now that I've found THIS... hahahah, pretty sure I'm gonna make me a new bag first ;) I'd only need some color, hue or just saturation changed on some links. And I wonder which colors work best in this case.. sorry for my english!

Amazing work!!!

[Luc808]

Hi,

I tried wrapping masking tape or duck tape around the links for colors. White duck tape lets us decorate the piece with colorful sharpie. Happy weaving!

[Sondzee]

Wow, thanks, nice idea! Also, I have this new car spray used only a little, so I guess I could combine...
Such an amazing idea you gave us ;)

[DeborahW7]

Awesome!

[TiffanyB7]

hold up to abuse pretty good?

[Luc808]

Hello,

I have not test this one by using it as grocery bag yet. However, I made a bunch wrapped in clear or colorful duck tape and the comment I received from the mom group I am in was the fact that the piece is very sturdy. It almost feel like I was holding baseball glove.