Crocheting With Plastic Bags - A Hobby To Help the Earth

Crocheting To Recycle

A Guide To Crochet With Plastic Bags, and A Pattern For A Super Cute Flower!



Intro

Crocheting is an amazing hobby, (in my opinion), you can create so many cute, cuddly, soft, wearable, usable, items. But, ever thought of the idea that your hobby could actually be impactful by helping the Earth? 


This step by step guide about crocheting with plastic bags gives picture examples of each step, comes with a flower pattern that's made from plastic bags, and along the way informs you on how much you're actually helping the Earth! (Scroll down to the bottom, and there will be sources from these facts if you're interested.)


P.S. in order for me to acquire all the plastic bags, I DID NOT ask for extras at grocery stores, I simply started saving the ones I already had, and asked friends and family for their extras. Just an extra little step to make sure to be using already-used bags.    


First things first, what will you need??


  • A large crochet hook (recommended 12 mm)
  • Multiple plastic bags (recommended 3-4 bags for a bundle of yarn, but for just the flower pattern, only 1 bag is needed)
  • Scissors
  • Possibly colored yarn, depending on the pattern you choose


Step 1: Marking the Bag

Mark where each cut is going to be (1-2 inches apart)
so that you know where to cut when it is time to
divide the bag into strips. 





 Fact #1: 

 Did you know that about 34% of dead Leatherback   Sea Turtles have ingested plastic, leading to a sooner   death? Let's get these bags out of the ocean!



Step 2: Cutting the Bag

Now, cut off the top and bottom just as shown in 
the picture. Right after that, take the rest of the bag, 
and cut the sections into strips where you marked it. 
 

  Fact #2:

 It takes a plastic bag 1,000 years to degrade in a   landfill, but even after that, it doesn't decompose   completely, and leaves microplastics that continue to     pollute the environment. 





Step 3: Begin Knotting

Each strip of bag is a ring. Place one ring
under another ring, just as shown in the picture:






 Fact #3:

  The world uses roughly 3 trillion plastic bags a year (YIKES!)




Loop the rings around each other to form
a knot. (Pull the end of one ring over the
other ring and through itself.)
(Remember not to pull too hard, 
these things are DELICATE)


                






   Fact #4: 

   Carcinogenic chemicals found in plastic bags can leach into tap      water, and end up causing negative health effects such as                  immune, reproductive, and neurological disorders. 
      


Step 4: Make Knots 

Continue making knots as you 
did in step 3 until you have a reasonably sized 
chain of rings -- this chain is your "yarn". 

   Fact #5: 

  Plastic bags littered all over the ground can be ingested   by animals and livestock, and cause severe blockages in  the digestive system.                                                                                       

Step 5: Grab your hook, and start crocheting!! (If you would like the pattern for the flower or mini bag, scroll down just a wee bit)



Step 6: Oh my goodness! You just crocheted using plastic 

bags! The turtles will thank you later. 


Thanks so much for being interested in turning your hobby into something that helps our Earth! Don't worry, this isn't the end of all the content, scroll down for the plastic bag flower and mini bag patterns. Also, make sure to keep in touch with this blog! More content on crafting for the Earth will be updated often. -Jday



Pattern for Plastic Bag Flower


For this pattern, you'll need:

  • A strand of plastic bag yarn (For one flower only 1 bag is needed)
  • Another color of your choice for the petals of the flower, preferably acrylic yarn
  • A 12 mm hook

Let's Get Started!

R1 (using plastic bags): Sc 6 in a magic ring (6)

R2: Inc all around (12)

R3: Sc, Inc all around (18)

Bind off here! You've created the center of your flower using plastic bags, impressive.

Create a slip knot with petal color, then attach by creating a sc in the last stitch of your circle.

R4: In the stitch you just crocheted in, (ch 2, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) then sl st in the next stitch. 

This is your first petal, continue all around doing, *(ch2, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) sl st in next stitch*, until you reach the first petal you created. 

Sl st in the last st

Bind off here

TADA!!! Your beautiful flower is made from a plastic bag and colorful yarn! This pattern is perfect for desk decorations, hanging decorations, or cutesy gifts. Thanks for following along, feel free to share this pattern with others! 






References:


Center for Biological Diversity. (2018). 10 Facts about single-use plastic bags. Center for Biological Diversity. Biologicaldiversity.Org. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html 

Cente


Plastic bags - get the facts. (n.d.). Beyond Plastics - Working To End Single-Use Plastic Pollution. Retrieved August 31, 2026, from https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/plasticbags 


US EPA, O. (2023, July 15). Impacts of Plastic Pollution. Www.Epa.Gov. https://www.epa.gov/plastics/impacts-plastic-pollution#human 

US 

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