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 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 in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, 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.
I love the project, but stuck on round 25. “Work 38 sc over ch 23 to cover”.
Does cover mean top of bag? And do I work 38 sc evenly into the 23 chains?
Is there a tutorial for this bag ?
Hi, I would love to use this amazing project in a round up on my site. Please let me know if that would be okay with you. [email protected]
Love this! I have waaaaay too many bags that need a good purpose. I did have a couple of questions, though. First, does this bag stretch to a larger size to accomidate things like cereal boxes? If not, how can I make it bigger? Thanks!
Hi Kayla 🙂 It does have a small amount of give to it but not as much as yarn would.
I can’t believe that you can crochet all of those bags together. I am a fan of recycling and love to crochet. I might have to try this sometime. I usually end up donating my plastic baggies to the daycare that my son used to go to.
Donating them to your sons school sounds like a great way to recycle them as well 🙂
This is ingenious. I’ve seen these types of items, but never even considered how easy it would be to make. Now I need to find a store that uses yellow or red ones all I get near me is grey, white, tan, or blue 🙂
So glad you like the idea!
I get my yellow from Grocery outlet, but haven’t found a good source of red ones yet
Love love love this!! I made a large grocery tote and everyone who sees it loves it! Now I have everyone collecting their bags – lol. I may try the doormat idea too – sounds great!
Glad you like it!! Let me know how the doormat comes out 🙂
Just found your site – good pattern! I’ve made plarn bags in the past, but with a twist. I use a strandof plarn and a strand of leftover yarn together. Didm this as I was unsure of the strength of the plarn by itself. Any acrylic yarn will do – variegated works well, making an interesting tweedy pattern. I have a fairly large stash of bags which I guard jealously, as many communities in my area have outlawed single use plastic bags. Will definitely try your bag pattern next time I make a tote.
Lynn
San Jose, CA
I really like your idea of adding strand of yarn! I will have to try that 🙂
Hello. I am very new at crocheting and am attempting to make your Grocery Tote. At the end of each round the directions say …slip stitch in top of beginning ch-2 — 34 (or however many) stitches. What kind of stitches? I don’t think you mean chain stitches. Sorry for my lack of understanding. Thank you
No problem at all! I am glad to help 🙂 The numbers at the end of each round indicate how many stitches you should have in the round, in this pattern, they are half double crochet stitches. So for the example you used, there would be 34 half double crochets in that round. But don’t forget that the beginning chain counts as your first half double crochet of the round. Does this help clarify? If not, let me know and I will try again 🙂
Yes, that does help. I was thinking you were saying to make 34 stitches but I get it now. Another mistake I made is that I was using different types of plastic bags. Some were stiffer than the regular grocery bags. When I crocheted them with the others, it created an uneven, lumpy effect. Fortunately I was only on the foundation round when I figured it out. Thank you so much for your help. I am looking forward to finishing my new tote.
Nancy
If you want to use stiffer bags because of color, cut the strips smaller to make them less lumpy. I’ve gotten better at judging how wide to make the strips based on the thickness of the bag, but I often cut off one strip and do a quick chain with it to check the thickness before I cut up the rest of the bag.
I like the idea of using this for a door mat. I would think a door mat would be thicker than the totebag so would you recommend making the strips wider to make the thicker door mat? This is such a wonderfull idea. Thank you very much for posting it. I can’t wait to get started.
Jeannie
A door mat does sound like a good idea! Yes, I think I would try wider strips and a larger hook. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Thank you Kara, I will try that. Thank you for responding so quickly. I am so new to this blogging stuff I was not sure I posted the question right. I will let you know how it works and if it looks good I will try to post a picture. Thank you again.
Great! I can’t wait to hear 🙂
I was at a laundromat many years ago. A lady there opened a package she had received in the mail. It was 2 doormats crocheted from bread bags. She just laughed and brought them over to show us. She couldn’t believe her Mom had made them from bread bags! I had forgotten all about it until I saw this pattern today. I should make both a bag and a mat! I sure have plenty of bags!
good thing…
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
If you had to pull apart your project and start over (due to a mistake) would you cut off the “used” plarn and start with fresh plarn? Once the plarn has been crocheted, it is like half the size of the other unused strands. If used plarn was reused, would this affect the end result of the project? Thanks – Ellie
Hmmm … I think I would try to reuse the portion I pulled out unless it seemed really shoddy. I think the condition of the used plarn would determine the quality of the final project. It really would vary from project to project. I would just use your best judgement. If in doubt, just use new plarn; it would stink to invest time into a project where you wouldn’t be happy with the final result. Hope that helps 🙂 Let me know how it works out.
I’ve never had a problem using already crocheted plarn, but I use a pretty tight stitch. It might make more of a difference with a large loose stitch. It actually makes it easier to crochet with some of the heavier plastics if it’s been crocheted once 🙂
Thank you so much for joining JAQS Studio’s Linky Part. I featured your project today :).
-Q
What a great idea for recycling all those grocery bags. I always get so upset when I forget my reusable bags because it wastes all those plastic ones. I hope you stop by my party and link up…
http://www.serendipityandspice.blogspot.com
-Melissa
This is awesome! The result looks so professional! Thansk for sharing! Happy weekend!
heronscrafts.blogspot.com
Hi and thanks for sharing your fabulous project on last week’s T.G.I.F. Linky Party at Craft Junkie Too. CONGRATS it was 2nd most viewed linky. 🙂 Woot! Woot! Stop by and grab the Top 3 button for your blog. 🙂
Stop by again when you can…
Tracy
This is a really amazing project.I have to try this! Wow this is so neat! New follower!
http://newyearsresolutionexercise.blogspot.com/
Thank you!! Glad you stopped by 🙂
Hi Kara,
I wanted to let you know I posted a follow up on your Plarn on this weeks linky party! I would love it if you would stop by and link up again!
Kim@madeinaday
http://madeinaday.com
I definitely will!! Thanks, Kim!
I was so looking forward to this post! After you added a new word to my vocabulary last week, I was anxious to see what came next! These bags are just so much fun! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sharon, I am glad you like how it came out. I think they are fun too 🙂
We bought a bag similar to this at a boutique a while back. She made with it plastic table cloths. My little DIVA loves it…it’s great for taking the pool because it just dries and doesn’t get moldy! I’m so glad to see a tutorial on it. Thanks for linking to Totally Tutorial Tuesdays 🙂
What a great idea you have given me 🙂 Thanks for visiting my site!
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 🙂