Earth-Friendly Shopping Bags You Can Make

Size F and Size J aluminum crochet hooks
Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn approx 6-8 oz.
Large needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: not critical

Stitches used: sl st (slip stitch), ch (chain), sc (single crochet), dc (double crochet),
tr (triple crochet)
Triple crochet: wrap yarn twice around hook, insert in indicated space or stitch, yarn over
hook and pull through, (yarn over & pull through 2 loops) 3 times.

Rnd 1: Using smaller hook, loop yarn twice around center finger (see photo),

insert hook between yarn and finger (see photo), yarn over hook and pull through loop (see photo), ch 3 (counts as 1st dc, see photo),

remove yarn from finger and work 15 more dc in loop. Pull thread to tighten loop. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of first ch-3.

It took me quite a while to be able to use this technique. If you have too much trouble, just start like this:

Rnd 1: Leave 4-8" starting tail, Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 3, 15 dc in same ring, join with sl st to 3rd ch of first ch-3.

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as joining sl st, 2 dc in each remaining stitch around, join with sl st. (32 dc)

Rnd 3: *Ch 7, sl st in next dc* around to last dc. Ch 3, tr in 1st sl st to make final loop. (32 ch-7 loops)

Rnd 4 - 28: *Ch 7, sl st in next loop* around to last loop. Ch 3, tr in top of tr of previous round to make final loop. (32 loops)

Rnd 29: Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc, ch 1), *(dc, ch 1) in next sl st, (dc, ch 1) in next loop. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (64 dc, 64 ch-1 spaces)

Rnd 30: Ch 3, dc in next space, *dc in next dc, dc in next space. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3. (128 dc)

Rnd 31: (Eyelet Round) Ch 4, skip next dc, (dc, ch 1) in next dc, * sk next dc, (dc, ch 1) in next dc. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch-4. (64 dc, ch-1)

Rnd 32: Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in next 14 st, ch 46, skip next 18 st (1st handle made), sc in next 46 st, ch 46, skip next 18 st (2nd handle made), sc in last 31 st. Join with sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 33: Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in next 14 sc, hdc in 1st ch, dc in next 44 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next 46 sc, hdc in next ch, dc in next 44 sc, hdc in last ch, sc in final 31 sc, Join with sl st to 1st sc. End off, leaving a 4-8" tail.
Weave in beginning and ending threads.

Using larger hook and 3 strands of yarn, leaving about 4" tail, ch 120. End off, leaving about 4" tail.

In the Eyelet Round (Rnd 31), and using the handles as a guide in finding center front, weave one drawstring from center front all the way around to the front again. Tie ends in knot. Trim threads to about 1".

Repeat with the other drawstring from the center back and all the way around to the back again.

·Add rounds to the Rnds 4-28 section.
·Delete rounds in the Rnds 4-28 section.
·Decrease the number of chains in Rnds 3-28 from 7 to 5.
·Increase the number of chains in Rnds 3-28 from 7 to 9.
·Use smaller thread with smaller hook.

Dress up your bag a little by stringing beads, shells, charms or whatever before starting. Just pull bead/shell/charm up next to the hook any place you like in Rnds 3-28 and chain around it.

Put a round of shell stitches around the top of the bag:
Rnd 34: Ch 3, 4 dc in same st, skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, *5 dc in next st, skip next st, sl st in next st. repeat from * around. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of 1st ch-3.

Or try a picot (say "pea - koh") edging:
Rnd 34: Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, ch 3, sl st in 1st ch of ch-3, skip next st, *sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in 1st ch of ch-3, skip next st. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st in 1st sc. End off.

Try using a contrasting color for your round of edging. Or use beads in each sc around the top. Just 'imaginate' and you can make a special unique bag for yourself.

I made one bag by using 2 strands of size 10 cotton thread and a size "B" aluminum hook. It made the perfect size for carrying my car keys, wallet, cell phone, a clean pair of socks and a bandana to the gym. Another bag, made a little larger with knitcrosheen and a 00 steel hook, is used to hold my lunch bag and 2 bottles of water for work. I made a couple of large bags which two of my granddaughters use as weekend bags when they come to spend time with us. Two more bags, one for my daughter and one for myself, to use as produce bags when grocery shopping.

These bags are so easy to make and work up fairly quickly. It's quite satisfying to be able to complete a project in a couple of evenings or a weekend afternoon.

Now when you're asked, "Paper or plastic?", you can say, "Neither!" Yay, You.