Craft Project: Eco-friendly Tote Bag

This crochet project I made is eco-friendly because I help reduce plastic bag garbage litter in our environment.

Approximate Time: 48 hours

Supplies:

• grocery plastic bags cut into strips
• crochet hook size E
• scissors
• cotton yarn
• button
• sewing needle with large eye
• thread

Instructions:

Start: Ch 50

Base:

Round 1: dc in each st. Do not turn.
Round 2 and 3: rep. round 1

Body:

Round 4 to 20: tr in each st. Do not turn.

Cover:

Row 1: 27 dtr in each st. Turn.
Row 2 to 5: rep. row 1. Turn after each row.
Row 6: 11 dtr, 5 ch (st), skip 5 st (this acts as the button hole), then resume 11 dtr.
Row 7: 27 tr in each st. Turn.
Row 8: 2 sc, 2 dc, 19 tr, 2 dc, 2 sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Handles & Strap:

(make 2 straps)
Row 1 to 3: 9 dc. Turn after each row.
Row 4 to 41: 9 dtr. Turn after each row.
Row 42 to 44: 9 dc. Turn after each row.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Edges of Bag Cover:

1 sc, 3 ch (st), 1 sc alt.
Sew the straps into the bag's body using sewing needle with large eye and blunt points. Use plastic yarn as thread.

Flower Decoration:

Base Layer:

Start ch 5 sl st to join or make a ring.
Round 1: *ch 4, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, ch 2 then sl st to *
Round 2: *ch 2, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1 then sl st to *
Round 3: *ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, then sl st to *
Round 4 Edging: *ch 4, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3, sc, ch 3 alt.
Continue til you reach * then weave and fasten off.

Top Layer:

Round 1: Start sl st at any in-between of 2 dc you made in round 1 of the base layer of your flower, *ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc, sl st to *
Round 2: ch 5, sc to the 3rd ch of the 1st 5 ch in round 1, then ch 5, sc to the 3rd ch of the 2nd 5 ch in round 1. Rep till the 5th 5 ch in round 1, then sl st.

Edging

*ch 3 then sc alt

Sew the flower to the body of the bag using blunt pointed and large eye sewing needle. Use plarn as thread.

By Nelly from Estacada, OR