How to Crochet a Purse From Grocery Bags

Plastic grocery bags seem to be everywhere, and they pollute the environment. A green solution to this problem is to crochet a purse from grocery bags. The purse is surprisingly strong and durable. A nice feature of using grocery bags is that anything you make with them is waterproof. The crocheted purse made from grocery bags is easy to clean. You just wipe it off with a damp cloth.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic grocery bags
• Large crochet hook, size K or larger
• Scissors
• Tape measure or ruler

Instructions

1. Collect as many plastic grocery bags as you can get. You need about 100 for this project.

2. Cut the grocery bags down the sides so they lie flat. Measure and mark 2 1/4-inch-lengths along the grocery bag. Plastic does not have a bias, so it does not matter in which direction you choose to cut.

3. Cut the grocery bags into 2 1/4-inch-strips. Join the strips together with a square knot. When you connect all the strips, roll it into a ball.

4. Attach plastic yarn to a crochet hook with a slip knot. Make 38 chain stitches. Start with the second chain stitch from the hook, and make one single crochet stitch in each chain stitch. When you get to the end of the row, make one chain stitch and turn.

   Make one single crochet stitch in each of the previous single crochet stitches. When you get to the end of the row, make one chain stitch and turn. Repeat this row until your purse is approximately 12 inches long. Do not make a chain stitch on the very last row. Do not fasten off.

5. Make two chain stitches. Skip the next single crochet stitch, make a double crochet stitch in the next single crochet stitch, and skip the next four single crochet stitches. In the next stitch, make one double crochet stitch, one chain stitch, one double crochet stitch, one chain stitch, one double crochet stitch, one chain stitch and one double crochet stitch. This is one shell.

   Skip the next four single crochet stitches and repeat the shell stitch, skip four stitches, shell stitch pattern until you get to the end of the row. Make two chain stitches and turn.

6. Skip the next double crochet stitch and make a double crochet stitch in the next double crochet stitch. Make a shell stitch in the center chain one space of each shell stitch. Repeat to the end of the row. End the row with a two double crochet stitches in the last double crochet stitch. Make two chain stitches and turn. Repeat this step until the purse measures approximately 17 inches. Fasten off and weave the loose ends through the stitching, using a crochet hook. The clutch purse is complete.