Stitch up this quick and easy plarn grocery tote pattern for a sturdy and reusable bag to carry your groceries. The great thing about this bag, in addition to recycling your plastic bags, is how surprisingly durable it is and that it can be washed in warm soapy water, air-dried, and be used again and again.
What is plarn? Plarn = plastic + yarn. You can read more about it and how to make your own in my tutorial, How to Make Plarn.
Plarn Grocery Tote Pattern
Here’s what you need:
- Plarn made from approx. 40-45 plastic bags (click here for a tutorial on How to Make Plarn)
- N-15 / 10.00 mm crochet hook
- tapestry needle and scissors for finishing
This free crochet pattern is written in U.S. crochet terms and abbreviations. Stitch counts are provided at the end of each round to help you keep on track.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful for following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations and U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart.
Finished bag measures approx. 15 in. × 12 in.
Ch 12.
Round 1: 2 hdc in 3rd chain from hook and 1 hdc in next 8 ch, work 5 hdc in last ch, working along opposite side of the chain, work 1 hdc in the next 8 ch, 2 hdc in last ch, join with a Sl st in top of beginning ch-2 — 26 sts.
Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), 2 hdc in same st as join, 2 hdc in next st, 1hdc in each of the next 10 sts, 2 hdc in next, 3 hdc in next, 2 hdc in next, 1 hdc in each of the next 10 sts, 2 hdc in last st, join with a Sl st in top of beginning ch-2 — 34 sts.
Round 3: Ch 2, 1 hdc in same st as join, 3 hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next, 1hdc in each of the next 14 sts, 2 hdc in next, 3 hdc in next, 2 hdc in next, 1 hdc in each of the next 14 sts, join with a Sl st in top of beginning ch-2 — 42 sts.
Round 4: Ch 2, 1 hdc in each st around, do not join (work in a spiral from here on; use a stitch marker to keep track of rounds) — 42 sts.
Round 5: 1 hdc in top of ch-2 from previous round and in each st around, do not join — 42 sts.
Round 6: 1 hdc in top of first hdc from previous round and in each st around, do not join — 42 sts.
Rounds 7 through 23: Repeat Round 5.
Round 24: 1 hdc in first 13 sts, ch 23, skip next 8 sts, 1 hdc in each of the next 13 sts, ch 23, skip next 8 sts — 72 sts.
Round 25: 1 hdc in top of first st from previous round and in each of the next 12 sts, work 38 sc over ch-23 to cover, 1 hdc in each of the next 13 sts, 38 sc over ch-23 — 102 sts.
Round 26: 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts from the previous round, Sl st in next st to join.
Fasten off, weave in ends, and enjoy!
Browse more free crochet bag patterns here.
What size crochet hook did you use? Maybe I overlooked it in the directions but I can’t seem to find it. And will it work like yarn in the sense that if I want a bigger bag I can just use a bigger hook instead of a whole new pattern. I am very anxious to make plarn and make this bag!
Hi Bethany, I used an N hook for this bag. If you use a bigger hook, you will get a bigger bag, but if you go too much bigger, there will be more space in the stitches, which is fine if that is the look you want. You can also start off with a longer beginning chain to make the bag wider. Let me know how you make out with your bag 🙂
This is so awesome – I pinned it AND the tutorial on how to make Plarn – putting this on my to-do list!
Thank you Cameron! You will have to let me know how you make out 🙂
I made a wood carrier out of plarn and it works great. I can carry a lot of wood in at once instead of one or two at a time.
What a great idea! I would love to see it. Do you have a pic you could show?
What a great idea, do you have a pattern to share or just wind it?
thanks
Dee
Love this!! Thanks for the tutorial. I’m going to have to try this sometime. 🙂
You will have to let me know how you make out 🙂
I can not believe its plastic.. Kara it’s so neat and a spectacular idea.. I especially love the fact that it’s Green..
Thanks so much for linking at Craftionary..
P.S: I just pinned it.. 🙂
Thanks, Hani!
I pinned this! So cute and seriously sometimes I feel like I am overrun with plastic bags. Surprising considering I have TONS of fabric totes that I bring to the store. Thanks so much for sharing at Taking A Timeout Thursday!
Thank you, Trish!
Just curious… how strong are they? other wise i think this is really an amazing idea.
They are actually surprisingly strong. One website ) did a strength test using a bowling ball! While I don’t think I would recommend it for toting around a bowling ball (LOL ;), it can definitely handle your groceries 🙂
Oh this is so cool! I am totally sharing this with my readers! I am featuring this today at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my “featured’ button.
Thanks Michelle! I grabbed a button 🙂
What a great project! Won’t you consider sharing it with my readers at sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/01/architectural-salvage-jewelry.html. Thanks! Happy New Year!
Thanks, Kathy!! I linked up 🙂
Great idea! I’ve got to send this on to my daughter who crochets. 🙂 Thanks for the pattern.
Thank you Judy! I hope she enjoys it! You’ll have to let me know what she thinks 🙂