Apr
22

Plarn Lunch Tote for Earth Day

Plastic Bag Yarn Crocheted Lunch Tote, by Vickie Howell #plarn #crochet #recycle #upcycle #recycled #earthdaycrafts

Plarn Lunch Tote

In many cities, plastic grocery bags are, thankfully, a dying breed. In others, however, trashcans and landfills are still being bombarded with these little plastic problems every single day. Do your part by transforming your supermarket sacks into reusable lunch totes. Remember, anything that can be cut up can be crocheted!

This plarn lunch tote was originally featured in my book AwareKnits but, is free for you today. Happy Earth Day!

***Get Plarn instructions here.***

 

Materials and Tools

“Plarn” (recycled plastic bag yarn), approx 350yd/319m of bulky weight yarn

Crochet hook: 6mm (size US J) or size to obtain gauge

Stitch markers

Tapestry needle

Black waxed twine

Gauge
12 sts and 8 rows = 4″/10cm in sc

Size
One Size

Finished Measurements
15″ x 11 1/2″/38cm X 29cm (including handles)

Plarn Lunch Tote Instructions

Tote Bottom:

Ch 4, join in a ring with a sl st.

Round 1: Work 6 sc in center of ring. Join round with a sl st—6 sts.

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Join with a sl st—12 sts.

Round 3: Ch 1, *sc, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join with a sl st—18 sts.

Round 4: Ch 1, *2 sc, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join with a sl st—24 sts.

Continue in this manner, increasing 6 sts evenly around, every round, 11 more times. Bottom measures 11″/28cm in diameter—90 sts.

Body:

Next round: Ch 1, sc in every sc around.

Rep last round until sides measure 8″/20cm tall. Fasten off.

Shape Top:

Place marker at center of top edge at front and back of bag. Place marker at left and right side edge of bag (4 markers evenly spaced along top).

*Join “plarn” at marker on front of bag. With RS facing, work to marker at side as follows:

Sc2tog, sc to 2 sts before marker, sc2tog, turn.

Rep this row 3 more times, working between these 2 markers only. Fasten off.

Rep from * 3 more times for other handle points.

<<B hed>>Handles:

Join “plarn” at top of 1st handle point. Ch across to other handle point on same side of bag. Join with a sl st, fasten off. Rep on opposite side.

Finishing

With black twine held double, sc around the bottom perimeter of tote.

Rep this step around top edge and on both sides of handles.

Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

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4 Responses to “Plarn Lunch Tote for Earth Day”

  1. Carol Lee Parry

    thx for sharing. Looking forward to making some plastic yarn — nice of you to gift the pattern!!! And the video! DH and I watched and I think we have enough bags around here to get a good ball of plastic yarn started ; )

    • Vickie Howell

      Fantastic! Be sure to tag me with photos of your finished bags. 🙂

  2. annie

    Fun and useful pattern, thanks! Question: is the waxed thread necessary to add strength, or is it for looks?

    • Vickie Howell

      I like it for the latter, but it’s not essential. 🙂