Hey there, my crochet friend.
For years my plastic bags lived in a sad pile under the sink, and every time I opened that cabinet a few would fall out onto my feet. I finally made myself a bag saver, and now they live somewhere I actually like looking at.
Quick answer: This is a crochet bag saver made by working single crochet and double crochet rounds around a ponytail holder at the top and bottom, so the bags stuff in from the top and pull out from a stretchy opening at the bottom. It uses cotton yarn and comes together in an evening or two.
If your plastic bags have taken over a cabinet too, this one might help.
There are 2 ways to get this pattern:
Option 1: You can purchase the individual pattern as an easy-to-read, print-friendly PDF from Ravelry
Option 2: Scroll down to get the written instructions for this pattern for free
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How do you use and care for your Liri bag saver?
You stuff the bags in from the top and pull them out from the bottom when you need one. That’s really all there is to it.
For care, wash it by hand once in a while with a mild soap and let it air dry. Then hang it wherever your bags actually live, your pantry, a hook in the laundry room, the inside of a cabinet door.
It won’t solve everything, but it does mean the bags stay in one place instead of falling out on you every time you open a door.
The eco friendly part, if that matters to you too
Every bag you reuse is one less bag you buy or throw away, and having somewhere pretty to keep them makes you more likely to actually grab one instead of a new one at the store.
I like that it’s a small, useful thing sitting in my kitchen that I made myself, instead of something plain from a store. You can pick any colors you want and make it completely yours.
For more ideas along the same idea of reuse and reduce, I also have a Gale Water Bottle Holder pattern, and if you want a matching set for your table, the Freyja Placemat pairs nicely.
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Pattern Designed By: Sandra Stitches This pattern is copyright protected; it is unlawful to distribute this pattern in any form (free, sale or trade).
Let’s get to the pattern, shall we?
Materials
Drops Paris Uni color, 100% cotton, 50 g, 75m (82yds) any color, 50 gr
Find substitutions HERE
Hook: US Size (4mm)
Sizes
- It can be modified as you wish
- This sample is: 12” long and 8” in circumference
Stitch Key
- Ch = Chain
- Sc = Single Crochet
- St = Stitch
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Slst = Slip Stitch
Sandra’s tip: Use plain, plastic free ponytail holders if you can find them, the ones with a metal piece can catch on your yarn as you work the first and last round. I learned that one the hard way.
Notes
- The pattern is worked in rounds
- Ch1 does not count as st at the beginning of the round
- Ch 3 counts as st at the beginning of the round
- This pattern uses pattern repeats.
- You can work this pattern with one color or multiple as you wish- I used one color
Instructions
Start to work around the first ponytail holder
Round 1: Introduce yarn, ch 1 and Sc 30 st around one ponytail holder, Sl st to ch 1 closing the round, do not turn work (30)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc 1 in next st, *skip 1 st, ch 1, dc 1 in next 2 st, repeat from * to last st, ch 1 skip last st, Slst to ch 3 (30)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc 1 in 1st st from hook, sc 1 in next st and around to end of the round, Slst to ch1 (30)
Round: 4-31: Repeat rounds 2+3
Round 32: Ch 1, sc 30 around second ponytail holder, Slst to ch 1 to close the round.
Finishing
Hanging Strap: Chain 8-10 for the strap, Slst to next Sc.
Cut your yarn and weave in the ends.
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FAQ
Is this the same as a crochet plastic bag holder? Yes. Bag saver and plastic bag holder are the same idea, a tube you stuff bags into from the top and pull them out from the bottom. Liri is just the name I gave this one.
Why do I need ponytail holders for this pattern? The ponytail holders give the top and bottom openings some stretch, so the bags stay in without you needing to sew or add elastic separately. Any plain, stretchy ponytail holder works.
Can I make this bigger or smaller? Yes. Add or remove a few rounds before you close it off with the second ponytail holder. More rounds means a longer bag saver.
What yarn works best for a bag saver? Cotton is a good choice because it holds its shape and washes easily. This pattern was made with Drops Paris, but any medium weight cotton will work.
A quiet place to keep crocheting
If projects like this one are your kind of calm, you might love the V-Stitch Club.
It is my little corner of the internet for women who crochet for the joy and the quiet of it, with new patterns, gentle company, and the steady rhythm of always having something beautiful on the hook.
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