Plastic Bag Sleeve
Are you like my family and end up with about a million of those plastic shopping bags from grocery and convenience stores? I know that some stores have a deposit box for recycling all of those bags, but, most of the time, I forget them when I’m walking out the door. So what’s the next best thing?
Reuse them!
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I’m not going to get into all of the things you can do with plastic bags. Ahem…plarn anyone? I still want to try that one. I hear they make great rugs and bags. Anyway, I’m sure you know how you reuse these bags. Today, I’m here to share my cute design for storing them!
This Plastic Bag Sleeve pattern is easy. Maybe not beginner friendly, but not too far from it. The only stitches you need to know are single crochet and double crochet. You will use the single crochets for the main body, the double crochets make up the decorative shell stitches at the bottom of the bag and then you will use single crochet two together (sc2tog) to create the decrease at the top of the bag. Nothing overly difficult.
Now, my versions change colors to create the striping effect, however, you can certainly make this in a solid or use only those beautiful variegated yarns. Just ignore all of the instructions to finish off and change to a new color.
This plastic bag sleeve is generously sized at 18 inches tall and can hold quite a few bags. The bottom has a tie that can make the opening larger or smaller to accommodate your hand size. I’ve left mine pretty wide at the bottom and the bags still don’t fall out when there’s only one or two left if you don’t ball them up to tightly.
I have a confession. I’ve been using the tan version for about eight years! Yes, it’s true. Other than some slight stretching of the hanger, it has been amazing and well worth the effort to crochet one. To get the pattern (that I didn’t write down at the time) I reverse engineered the bag, counting stitches and rows, writing it all down. Then I used that pattern to create the blue version and it came out just as beautiful.
So, similar to my clothespin bags that I designed, the plastic bag sleeve is fully tested and definitely stand the test of time. You can see the Blue Ribbon Clothespin Bag here and the Garden Window Clothespin Bag here.
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Plastic Bag Sleeve
Materials Used:
Blue Version:
- Less than 1 skein of I Love This Yarn – Denims Ombre – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m (Variegated)
- Less than 1 skein of I Love This Yarn – Light Gray – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m (Solid #1)
- Small amount of I Love This Yarn – Dark Country Blue – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m (Solid #2)
- Or any worsted weight yarn.
- 5.00 mm (H/8) hook – This is the set I bought and I love them and use them daily!
- 1” button – I bought these at Wal-Mart
- Tapestry needle
Tan Version:
- Less than 1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver – Aran – 7 oz/198 g – 364 yds/333 m (Solid #1)
- Less than 1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver – Aspen Print – 5 oz/141 g – 236 yds/215 m (Variegated)
- Small amount of Red Heart Super Saver – Warm Brown – 7 oz/198 g – 364 yds/333 m (Solid #2)
- Or any worsted weight yarn.
- 5.00 mm (H/8) hook – This is the set I bought and I love them and use them daily!
- 1” button – I bought these at Wal-Mart
- Tapestry needle
Finished Size Approximately:
18” from top of buttoned hanger to bottom shells, 12” around middle.
Gauge:
Not important
Special Stitches:
Shell Stitch
5 double crochets in same space
Single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)
Insert hook into designated stitch, YO, draw back through the stitch, insert hook into next stitch, YO, draw back through the stitch, YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Also called a decrease.
Abbreviations:
FC – foundation chain
ch(s) – chain(s)
ea – each
sk – skip
st(s) – stitch(es)
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
Notes:
- Do not turn your work after each row of the body of the plastic bag sleeve. You will turn your work when crocheting the hanger.
- This bag is worked from the bottom up.
- If you wish to make the bag all in a single color, simply ignore the instructions to finish off after each section. Continue on to the next instruction.
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
Main Body
With Variegated:
FC: Ch 49. Without twisting, sl st in 1st ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in ea ch around, join with sl st in 1st sc made of round. (48 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in 1st st, ch 1, sk next st, *sc, ch 1, sk next st* Repeat from * to * around, sl st in the top of 1st sc made of round. (24 ch-1 spaces)
Round 3 – Round 21: Repeat Round 1. (48 sc)
Finish off.
With Solid #1:
Round 22: Repeat Round 1. Finish off. (48 sc)
With Variegated:
Round 23 – Round 27: Repeat Round 1. After Round 27, finish off. (48 sc)
With Solid #1:
Round 28 – Round 30: Repeat Round 1. After Round 30, finish off. (48 sc)
With Variegated:
Round 31 – Round 33: Repeat Round 1. After Round 33, finish off. (48 sc)
With Solid #1:
Round 34 – Round 38: Repeat Round 1. After Round 38, finish off. (48 sc)
With Variegated:
Row 39: Repeat Round 1. Finish off. (48 sc)
With Solid #1:
Round 40 – Round 51: Repeat Round 1. (48 sc)
Round 52: Ch 1, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. (43 sc)
Round 53: Ch 1, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. (38 sc)
Round 54: Ch 1, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. (33 sc)
Round 55: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. (28 sc)
Round 56: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. (23 sc)
Round 57: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sl st in top of 1st sc. Finish off. (18 sc)
Hanger with button hole:
With Solid #2:
Insert your hook from the outside of the bag toward the inside in any stitch in the top opening; preferably near the back seam of bag to keep the seam behind the bag.
Row 1: Ch 1, sc around entire opening, sl st in 1st sc made of row. Turn.
Row 2 – Row 15: Ch 1, sc in the same st the ch 1 comes out of, sc in next 4 sts, turn. (5 sc)
Row 16: Ch 1, sc in the same st the ch 1 comes out of, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in last st (button hole made), turn.
Row 17: Ch 1, sc in the same st the ch 1 comes out of, 3 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in last st, turn. (5 sc)
Row 18: Ch 1, sc in the same st the ch 1 comes out of, sc in next 4 sts. (5 sc) Finish off. Weave in end.
Using tapestry needle, sew button on hanger at the base just above upper hole opening of the bag.
With Solid #2
On opposite end (bottom) of bag, attach solid #2. Ch 1, *sc, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts* Repeat from * to * around, sl st in top of 1st sc made. Finish off. Weave in end. (8 shells)
Ch 100 for cord. Finish off. Lace through ch-1 spaces of Row 2 of main body of bag. Tie in a bow at the front of bag.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed the Plastic Bag Sleeve pattern! If you make one, please tag me @highlandhickorydesigns in either Facebook or Instagram. I’d love to see your creations!
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