I keep our plastic grocery bags and re-use them, but sometimes we get way too many to keep around. I fold them flat and cut strips of plastic circle (cutting the bag from side to side after cutting the handles off) and intertwine them by looping one through the other and pulling the opposite end through the loop. As I do this, I roll the strips into a ball because I use it as a crochet material.
I make tote bags for the beach and increase the size of them as much as needed to get the size I need to carry the wet things back from the beach. They are loosely crocheted enough to be sprayed outside with the items in the bag and get the sand off. Then just hang them and they will drip dry.
Make the handles on the tote bag long enough to carry it across the body, or at least over the shoulder, so your hands are free to do other things. You can even make rugs of these to put your wet boots on during the rainy season. Keep it outside though!
Follow any crochet pattern that you have for either of these and experiment on your own as well.
By diane szlucha from Owego, NY
Check out these photos.
This handy tote is made from plarn (recycled plastic bag yarn), acrylic yarn, and a 3 lb. margarine tub. I found combining yarn with the plarn affords wider selection of colors and extra strength.
