Plastic Bag Belt

Despite my best efforts, my collection of plastic shopping bags seems to be slowly growing. This crochet plastic bag belt uses up around 20 plastic bags and is a unique 'trashion' statement.

You will need:

• approximately 20 thin plastic bags
• size 6.5 crochet hook (US size 10 1/4, UK size 3)
• old belt buckle
• scissors
• darning needle

Begin by rolling up your plastic bag to make it easier to cut into rings. Cut off the handles and the base of the bag.

Cut into rings approximately 1.5" wide.

Knot the rings together by looping them inside each other. The resulting plastic yarn, or 'plyarn', will be double thickness.

Tie a slipknot onto your crochet hook.

Make enough chain stitches to match the width of your belt buckle shaft. To make a chainstitch, hold the slipknot between your left thumb and middle finger. Holding the yarn taut over your left index finger, rotate the hook to grab the yarn.

Draw the yarn through the loop on the hook. You are left with one new loop on your hook. You have just completed one chain stitch.

Once you have enough chain stitches to match the width of your belt buckle, make 1 extra chain stitch. You are now ready to single crochet the remainder of the belt. To make a single crochet stitch, insert the hook into the third chain stitch (the stitch next to the stitch next to the one on the hook). You now have two loops on the hook.

Holding the yarn taut over your left forefinger, rotate the hook to grab the yarn.

Draw the yarn through one loop. You now have two loops on your hook.

Rotate the hook again to grab the yarn.

Draw the yarn through both loops, pulling them off your hook. You are left with one loop on your hook.

You have just completed one single crochet stitch.

Continue working a single crochet stitch into each chain stitch until you reach the end of the row. Make 1 extra chain stitch and turn your work around to begin the next row. When beginning a new row, take care to insert the hook into the third stitch (the stitch next to the stitch next to the one on the hook).

When the belt is the desired length, fasten off by threading the yarn through the last loop. Use the remaining yarn and a darning needle to wrap the end of the belt around the buckle shaft. Hide the loose ends by weaving them into your work with a darning needle.