Plarn Crocheted Baskets

Good morning and come in out of the really hot weather.  90 + for several days and with the rain, the humidity is out the top.  Hibernation in an air conditioned home is the only answer I know so come on in out of the heat.

As I wrote awhile ago, I have been crocheting bags and totes from plarn.  This is yarn made from strips of plastic bags which would be tossed in the trash or used as trash can liners.  Having shown how to do this on Plarn Crocheted Bags, I will show you how it evolved into baskets.

I am fascinated by baskets of all types and many throughout the house holding magazines, yarn, this that and the other.  They were bought in many places and I use them to "hide" lots of "stuff."  Because I have many bags and totes I have crocheted, I began making baskets. 

The one at the top is a little stash basket I keep close by my usual sitting place to keep a pet brush, fingernail clippers, and whatever else I want close by.  It is crocheted from strips made from Piggly Wiggly bags with a Dollar General bag thrown in for a little color and some other store that I can't recall.



They make great fruit and vegetable  baskets for they allow air to circulate, easy to clean - put in sink with warm water and detergent - and will hold lots for it stretches.  These are Walmart bags and I crocheted over poly rope I buy at Dollar Tree.  This adds strength and helps it keep its shape better.  Being plastic rope, it can be washed also.

Another little vegetable bag and I did not crochet over the poly rope but  plarn I made from  clear plastic bags.  This adds strength and keeps those large, clear bags from the landfill.

I tried squaring off the bottom on this one by single crocheting over the row in which I began the sides.  Not sure I like it but it is different and this one is crocheted from large newspaper sleaves from Houston, TX.  My sweet sister-in-law brings them to me.  These are bit heavier and makes a sturdy bag or basket.

 This is my most, difficult one I have made so far.  Adding the top was an experiment that worked out pretty well.  I did a shallow basket a little larger than the bottom and added a wooden button on the top for a handle.  The button was cut for me from a branch I found in the yard.  This one is crochted over heavy twine.  It turned out pretty well and I am using it for sewing projects.

My little project bag made from clear and white bags crocheted over blue poly rope.  This rope from the Dollar Tree is available in red, blue and green and is easy to work with.

This the basket I am working with now and this is how I crochet over the rope.  I hold it along the row I am  crocheting and carry the plarn over it with each stitch - easy as pie.  I use a size G crochet hook and single crochet for most of the basket with some half double crochet for the sides. 

I don't use a pattern for I have been crocheting for so long I design my own as I crochet so no basket or bag is the same.  You can use any basket or bag pattern you like and they are easily found on the Internet.

There are several baskets and bags in my Etsy shop for sale if you would like to have a peek at Yarn & More.  I will adding more baskets in the future so check back often.

 I hope you will try this if you crochet and save lots of plastic bags from the landfill.  Your friends will be glad to save bags for you.  They are good for the beach and pool, shopping, or diaper bags.  Try it.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Plarn Crocheted Bags

Good morning, ya'll. Come on in and have a cup of coffee and I will explain why I have a pictures of "pocket books". This is what we called purses or bags back in the olden days before they became known as bags or totes.

As you know, I like to crochet, knit, loom knit, and just generally play with thread and yarns to make stuff. I also like for it to be quick and easy and if I can recycle, it's even better. In a library book about bags to make, I found the instructions for crocheting strips made from plastic bags. I was fascinated by the idea and began a hobby which I enjoy and saves hundreds of plastic bags from the landfills.

I found several good websites about this idea and discovered it is called "plarn" or plastic yarn. Rather than bore you with details, I am attaching several websites you can look at and see how I make these bags.Each one is different for I have to change the directions on each one to make it mine. I like to add buttons, shells, yarn and string to decorate them.

This is my favorite website about plarn, www.myrecycledbags.com/, for she does a fantastic job with designing and explaining the process. Planet M Files has great pictures and instructions for making the plarn and you can find them at http://planetmfiles.com/2008/09/06/how-to-make-plarn/. These 2 sites will show you how and what some creative people are doing with this hobby.

These are the instructions for my basic bag but I design new patterns with each one for I let my imagination go and see what happens.

Basic Plarn Tote Pattern

Materials: Several large balls of plarn (plastic bag yarn)
Crochet Hook: Metal J or K

chain 25

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain.
Continue to the corner end st, work 2 Sc in end st. Continue around and down the back side of chain by working a Sc in every stitch of chain, work 2 Sc in end st.

Rnd 2
Sc in each st down to first end. Work 2 Sc in the two end sts, and then SC in ea st down to other end. Work 2 Sc in ea of the two end sts. Do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Sc in each st to create a seamless bag bottom.

Rnd 3 – Same as row 2 but 2 Sc in the 3 end sts.
Rnd 4 – Same as row 3 but 2 Sc in the 4 end sts.

Rnd 5 - Change to Hdc
Hdc in each st around entire bag continuing until you have it as deep as you like. I like mine to be about 14 inches deep.

Top Edging:
Row 1 – Sc around in each stitch around the bag. Join to the first Sc.
Row 2-4
Ch 2- Hdc in each Sc around the bag and join with Sl St in top of Ch 2.
Row 5
Ch1 , Sc in each stitch around the bag and join with sl st to the Ch1 and end off by leaving a length of yarn to weave in (to secure the end), cut the yarn. Pull the cut end of the yarn through the final loop that is left on the hook.

Straps (Make two)
I like to make my straps and attach them to the sides with yarn or plarn.

Chain 5 stitches.
Turn and SC in each of the 5 stitches

Continue until desired lengths are reached. I usually make mine about 18 inches long. You can make it shorter or longer and finish off.

To attach the straps I thread a needle used to make seams in crochet. Place one end of the strap about 2 inches from the side of the front or back of the bag and about 1 ½ inches down the bag on the inside. Sew the strap to the bag using an X pattern. Do the same for the other side and the back piece of the bag. If you use a contrasting yarn or heavy twine, it adds a decorative X to the bag. You can also attach them to the front of the bag and sew a button on each end of the strap for embellishment.

Abbreviations:
Ch - Chain
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
Plarn - Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd - Round
Sc - Single Crochet
Sl St - Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
If you have any questions about these instructions, please email me at fprobson@yahoo.com
This pattern is copyrighted by Frances Robson and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2010

This is my first tutorial so forgive me if it is not correct. I tend to free crochet but I usually begin with chain 25 for a medium size tote and will chain 35 for a large one.

You can check my Etsy site for some pictures of my bags. http://www.etsy.com/shop/francesrobson?ref=si_shop

Ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me sometimes.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Bags and Such

Come on in and have a cup of coffee. It has become a rainy Sunday in Georgia but that's OK for we need the rain. We had a great day of worship at church this morning and a few of our vacationing families were back and it was good to see them. We have lost 2 of our families and we hated to see them go but when better jobs beckon, you take it. Having been in that situation several times I appreciate how hard it is to leave a place you like but off you go. We wish the Wilsons and the Hawleys all the best.

As you know I was raised in South Alabama, out in the country by thrifty parents. They both had been children during the Big Depression and raised in rural Mississippi and we learned to live frugally and use everything until it was worn out. Mama saved plastic bags which we used to line trash cans, luggage, pick vegetables, or anything else you needed a plastic bag for. She kept them stuffed in a plastic bag, hanging by a clothes pin, hooked over a bar on the door of the pantry. It was always stuffed with bags.

Because the apple doesn't fall from the tree, I did the same thing. I very seldom ever through away a plastic bag and have always had an abundant supply. As many of you know, I like to crochet, knit, loom knit, and just generally play with thread and yarns to make stuff. I also like for it to be quick and easy and if I can recycle, it's even better. A couple of years ago when reading a new library book about making bags from everything, I found the instructions for crocheting strips made from plastic bags. I was fascinated by the idea and began a hobby which I enjoy and save hundreds of plastic bags from the landfills.

I found several good websites about this idea and found it is called "plarn" or plastic yarn. Rather than recreate the wheel, I am attaching several websites where you can see how I make these bags. Of course, each one is different for I have to change the directions on each one to make it mine. I like to add buttons, shells, yarn and string to mine to decorate them.

This is my favorite website about plarn, www.myrecycledbags.com/, for she does a fantastic job with designing and explaining the process. Planet M Files has great pictures and instructions for making the plarn and you can find them at http://planetmfiles.com/2008/09/06/how-to-make-plarn/. These 2 sites will show you how and what some creative people are doing with this hobby.

These are some of the bags I have made.

As you can see, I am a bit fascinated by this hobby for these are just a few of the bags I have crocheted. I made my great nieces some to use to carry stuff to the swimming pool. I have lined one and use it as my knitting and crochet bag. It s fun and keeps my hands busy for you know idle hands are the devils workshop and I'm working on sainthood.

These are the instructions for a basic tote and I usually begin with these and add and take away and design as I crochet. I add yarn, ribbons, twin, buttons, bead and whatever else strikes my fancy. I'm a free designer and just go with my imagination.

Basic Plarn Tote Pattern

Materials: One large ball of plarn (plastic bag yarn) Appox 40-45 bags or more.
Crochet Hook: Metal J or K

chain 25

Rnd 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain.
Continue to the corner end st, work 2 Sc in end st. Continue around and down the back side of chain by working a Sc in every stitch of chain, work 2 Sc in end st.

Rnd 2
Sc in each st down to first end. Work 2 Sc in the two end sts, and then SC in ea st down to other end. Work 2 Sc in ea of the two end sts. Do not connect at end of rounds, just continue working Sc in each st to create a seamless bag bottom.

Rnd 3 – Same as row 2 but 2 Sc in the 3 end sts.
Rnd 4 – Same as row 3 but 2 Sc in the 4 end sts.

Rnd 5 - Change to Hdc
Hdc in each st around entire bag continuing until you have it as deep as you like. I like mine to be about 14 inches deep.

Top Edging:
Row 1 – Sc around in each stitch around the bag. Join to the first Sc.
Row 2-4
Ch 2- Hdc in each Sc around the bag and join with Sl St in top of Ch 2.
Row 5
Ch1 , Sc in each stitch around the bag and join with sl st to the Ch1 and end off by leaving a length of yarn to weave in (to secure the end), cut the yarn. Pull the cut end of the yarn through the final loop that is left on the hook.

Straps (Make two)
I like to make my straps and attach them to the sides with yarn or plarn.

Chain 5 stitches.
Turn and SC in each of the 5 stitches

Continue until desired lengths are reached. I usually make mine about 18 inches long. You can make it shorter or longer and finish off.

To attach the straps I thread a needle used to make seams in crochet. Place one end of the strap about 2 inches from the side of the front or back of the bag and about 1 ½ inches down the bag on the inside. Sew the strap to the bag using an X pattern. Do the same for the other side and the back piece of the bag. If you use a contrasting yarn or heavy twine, it adds a decorative X to the bag. You can also attach them to the front of the bag and sew a button on each end of the strap for embellishment.

Abbreviations:
Ch - Chain
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
Plarn - Plastic Bag Yarn
Rnd - Round
Sc - Single Crochet
Sl St - Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
If you have any questions about these instructions, please email me at fprobson@yahoo.com
This pattern is copyrighted by Frances Robson and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2010

This is my first tutorial so forgive me if it is not correct. I tend to free crochet but I usually begin with chain 25 for a medium size tote and will chain 35 for a large one.

If you are interested in buying one already made, just check out my Etsy store at this link http://www.etsy.com/shop/francesrobson

Well, I have taken up enough of your time tonight with my ramblings so ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach