Flatten out your clean grocery bags and fold them in half. Cut off the handles.

Cut off the bottom of the bags. Place these cut off pieces into a pile for the recycling bin.

Flatten out the round piece of plastic you now have and fold it in half. Fold that into thirds. Fold that in half again. Cut this folded piece into 1 inch pieces, discarding the pieces from both ends. I often layer 3 of the flat pieces and fold and cut them up together to save time, since we have so many bags to do. You can also cut them quickly on a cutting board with a rotary cutter and metal t-square.

Now we have created plastic loops that can be connected to create the plarn. Bring one loop through another.

Pull the other end of the loop through the end you just put through the first loop. They should now be connected.

Slowly and with finesse, pull the loops tight. You want that connection to be as flat and smooth as possible. If your loop is weak and breaks simply put it in your recycling pile and go on to the next piece.

Wind your plarn into a ball that feeds out of the center.

Create a slip knot and place it on your crochet hook.

Now you're ready to make the first handle. Chain 20 stitches. Hold it up to the bag and see how you like that length. Want longer/shorter handles? Simply chain more/less stitches. Be careful not to twist your handle as you're chaining. Count 8 stitches from where the chain started on your work and attach your chain to the bag with a single crochet stitch.

Stitch 12 single crochet stitches around to the other side.

Pattern:

Abbreviation Key: ch = chain stitch ss = slip stitch sc = single crochet stitch hdc = half double crochet stitch dc = double crochet stitch

Instructions for the Plarn Tote, for the crochet-inclined ch 20. Stitch hdc in the round. Crochet the tail into your work. After 4 rows hdc turn your work right side out. Continue working hdc to the left now. Complete 14 rows hdc. Stich 6 sc. ch 20. Count 8 stitches on your work and attach your chain with sc. Stitch 12 sc. ch 20. Count 8 stitches on your work and attach your chain with sc just like you did on the first side. Stitch sc around and onto the first handle. Stitch sc along the handle. Continue sc around to the other handle. Stitch sc to edge. ss and finish ends off by hiding them in the stitches on the inside of the bag.

Attach the flower.

Instructions for Flower ch 4. ss into first stitch to make circle. work 10 sc around circle, crochet tail in as you work. join by ss into first sc. first petal: into first stitch do sc, 3 dc, sc. ss into next stitch. repeat petal stitches 4 more times to make five petals. ss into last stitch and finish by hiding ends in the back.