How to Make a Plastic Bag Purse

As more people become environmentally aware, it's becoming popular to find new uses for old items. There are items that can also be used to make new products and plastic grocery sacks are one of those items. Because recycling is fashionable, why not use your old plastic bags to make a new bag that you can use over and over again? If you know how to crochet, this is a project you can complete in a weekend.

Things You'll Need

• A collection of grocery bags in your favorite colors Scissors 2.5mm - 3mm crochet hook Scrap material for lining (optional) Purse closure magnet

Instructions

1. Cut your plastic bags into strips. Use your scissors to do this. First, remove the handles from the bag. Next, cut off the bottom seam. Then cut down one side to open up the bag into a long rectangle. Beginning at one corner, cut your bag into a spiral one-inch wide. This will give you several feet of inch-wide plastic to work with. Before you start, make sure the bags are clean on the inside.

2. Sort the strips. Separate the strips by colors, and roll them into balls. As you get to the end of one strip, you can tie the next piece onto it with a simple knot. Tighten the knot so that it's small, and it won't get in your way when you go to crochet your bag. Snip off any excess pieces, and continue rolling. Do this until you have all your plastic strips rolled up into balls. This is your "yarn" that you'll be working with.

3. Create a loop to hook onto the crochet hook. Crochet a foundation chain in a length that is twice as wide as you want your purse to be. In other words, if you want a purse 12" wide, crochet a 24" chain. When you get to the last loop in the chain, attach it to the first loop, creating a 24" diameter circle.

4. Single stitch in rows, all the way around. Do this until your purse is the height you want it to be.

5. Create straps. Do this by attaching a loop to the top of the purse, and chain stitching until the strap is the length you want. Add several rows of single stitches so that the straps will be wide enough.

6. Sew the bottom of the purse shut. Do this by weaving a length of plastic yarn through the meshing at the open bottom. Tie off any extra ends, or weave them into the inside of the meshing.

7. Add a lining if you want one. To do this, cut a piece of scrap fabric and machine sew it so that it is the size of the inside measurements of your purse. Hand-sew it in place inside the purse.

8. Attach a closure magnet. This is available in nearly any craft store. Follow the manufacturer's directions to attach the magnet, so your purse will snap shut. Put your wallet and keys in your purse, and then go show it off to your friends!

Tips & Warnings

• If you make your bag big enough, you can use it to go grocery shopping.

• Don't use an iron to smooth out the bags when you're cutting them. They'll melt, and the fumes can be toxic.