Reduce, Reuse, Re-purpose? Today we’re exploring a great option for giving new life to all of the plastic shopping bags collecting in your house! Plarn (plastic yarn) can be used for SO many projects, one being creating reusable shopping bags!

Don’t know how to make plarn, yet? Don’t worry! I’ll post a tutorial next with a pattern for a plarn bag holder!

Plarn Reusable Tote

Supplies Needed: plarn, 6.0 mm hook, yarn needle.

Stitch Abbreviations Used: ch – chain, sc – single crochet, hdc – half double crochet, slst – slip stitch, BLO – back loop only.

Bag (worked in rounds)

Round 1: ch 21, begin stitches in second chain from hook, 2 sc in same stitch, sc each of the next 18, 4 sc in last chain, turn work to continue stitches along the back side of the foundation chain, sc next 18 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch.

Round 2: 2 sc in each of the first 2 stitches, sc next 18, 2 sc in each of the next 4 stitches, sc next 18, 2 sc in each of the last 2 stitches. (52 stitches)

Round 3: sc first 3 stitches, ch 2, sc each of the next 21 stitches, ch 2, sc next 5, ch 2, sc next 21, ch 2, sc last 2 stitches.

Round 4: hdc each of the first 3 stitches, 2 hdc in chain space of previous round, hdc next 21 stitches, 2 hdc in chain space, hdc next 5, 2 hdc in chain space, hdc next 21 stitches, 2 hdc in chain space, hdc each of the last 2 stitches. (60 stitches)

Round 5: hdc in each of the first 4 stitches, ch 2, hdc next 21, ch 2, hdc next 9, ch 2, hdc next 21 stitches, ch 2, hdc last 5 stitches.

Round 6: sc each of the first 4 stitches, 2 sc in chain space of previous round, sc next 21, 2 sc in chain space, sc next 8, 2 sc in chain space, sc next 21 stitches, 2 sc in chain space, sc last 5.

Round 7: sc first 5 stitches, ch 2, sc next 22, ch 2, sc next 9 stitches, ch 2, sc next 22, ch 2, sc last 4.

Round 8: sc first 5 stitches, 2 sc in chain space of previous round, sc next 22, 2 sc in chain space, sc next 9, 2 sc in chain space, sc next 22 stitches, 2 sc in chain space, sc last 4 stitches.

Round 8 completes the base of the bag.

Round 9: BLO sc each stitch around.

Round 10 – Round 33: sc around.

Round 34: sc around, slst to first stitch of round.

Round 35: sc first 5 stitches, create the first strap, sc next 9 stitches, create the second strap, sc last 4 stitches, slst to first stitch of round.

Fasten off, weave in ends using large yarn needle.

Strap Round

Row 1: sc next 5 stitches, ch 1, turn.

Row 2 – Row 39: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn.

Row 39: skip next 16 stitches of round 35, slst 5 to connect row 39 of strap to round 34 of bag.

Do not fasten off, continue with remainder of round 35 on bag.

Happy shopping! Don’t forget to check beck here for more patterns coming soon!