This crochet diagram is all about upcycling! 

With this diagram, you'll be able to use plastic bags, old gift ribbon, or an existing stash of yarn to create a sturdy gift bag. The Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag pattern is a simple crochet diagram that you can follow step by step. For every step, there is a chapter in the YouTube video guide:

https://youtu.be/an0E7UPaCUU

And we go through everything – from start to the end of how to crochet the bag in split single crochet. But there is more! The guide also covers how to make yarn from gift ribbon and plastic bags! It is good crochet fun!

This Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag is a statement when you gift it away! It’s sustainable but also a beautiful piece of artisan craft created with crochet. It speaks of love and a thoughtful gift for the special people in your life. Maybe it is a bag to pass on; it could travel from one person to the next with gifts? Along this journey, it could save so much gift wrapping ;-)

Using gift ribbon and plastic makes it very sturdy and tough, saving you and the environment on wrapping paper. It makes a gift personal and with a deep loving effort. Not only is it a beautiful and unique gift, but it's also an eco-friendly and sustainable way to upcycle materials.

The end result is a beautiful and functional bag. The checkered design and its functional use make it a fun gift bag. You can really make it unique using what is available to you at the tip of your fingers. Don't wait - start upcycling today with this Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag!

If you don't have gift ribbon or plastic available to you, hit your stash and use the yarn that is already available to you!

The Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag is an intermediate crochet pattern.

To get the clean checkered look, you must manipulate the single crochets a little. Therefore, the diagram is intermediate, since you must be very comfortable with single crochets, slip stitches, and chains. The bag is made in one piece and is worked in the round.

The Crochet Diagram

The diagrams will help you understand the steps involved in creating the gift bag. This means that there is not a written pattern. The pattern is a crochet diagram. There are two diagrams: Diagram 1 and 2. For every new step in the crochet diagram, there is a letter. The letters go from a, to b, to c, and so on.

Every letter is followed by a very short written instruction. Every letter is also followed by a chapter in the YouTube guide. When or if you need help, find the letter, and jump to the chapter you need. This way, you don’t have to trawl through the entire instruction to get the help you need.

You can zoom in on the details of the PDF pattern on your device. The diagram can be printed on a regular A4 piece of paper for a complete overview. If you want the diagram to be larger, you can print it on a bigger sheet of paper like A3.

On my YouTube, you find a guide to support you in making the Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag. This guide shows you how to make the crochet bag. You find the guide on my YouTube channel. Follow the link above or the social icons here on this page to get there.

Once you finish the bag, bake it, and do a bit of pressing under heavy books. All the instructions are in the YouTube guide and the diagram.

Tools

This bag was made on hook size 6 mm, US J, or UK 10. You also need a darning needle and a pair of scissors.

Crochet Tension

Crochet tension: 10 by 10 cm = 13 stitches and 17 rows.

How much yarn do you need?

I have used approximately 160 grams of gift ribbon and plastic yarn (80 grams of each). This amount is generous and makes sure you have enough to complete the bag.

Below you can read about how to make the yarn and where to get help 😊

How to Make the Ribbon and Plastic Yarn?

The YouTube Guide shows you exactly how to make both kinds of yarn. Go to chapter a and b in the guide, so this is the first thing you do before making the bag. This is also written in the crochet diagram.

You make the ribbon yarn from leftover ribbon – that is left behind after Christmas, birthdays, or any other occasion where you bring gifts. The guide also shows you how to make the plastic yarn.

Making your own Ribbon Yarn is a great way to upcycle and reuse ribbon from gifts that you have received. It's also a great way to get creative and make something unique. The process of making Ribbon Yarn can be quite meditative, as it takes time and patience to create the upcycled yarn. You never know what the outcome will be when making the ribbon yarn until you are finished! It is always interesting to see the next step, where you work the ribbon yarn into a piece of fabric.

To get started, you will need to save the ribbon from gifts that you have received. Once you have done this, you then tie all the pieces of ribbon together with simple knots. If necessary, cut off any small ends of ribbon that are too long.

Now you can make small balls of Ribbon yarn. To do this, simply roll the pieces of ribbon into a ball of upcycled and sustainable free Ribbon yarn. Once your ball is complete, it's ready for use!

The plastic yarn is cut in spirals from used plastic bags. The YouTube guide shows you exactly how to do this. Make sure you use a type of plastic that does not stretch – the crisp kind of plastic suits this purpose really well.

Do You Want to Stash Bust?

The design is made with gift ribbon collected at Christmas and birthday parties and plastic from grocery shopping. But it also gives you a great way to bust your yarn stash ;-) Using what you have stops you from buying new yarn and supporting further production of textiles. And stash busting is fun!

Mix your yarn stash, so you get approximately the same tension as the Gift Ribbon / Plastic version. You go for mixing yarn that has the following yardage:

• One strand of 165 meters per 50 grams
• One strand of 230 meters per 50 grams
• One strand of 200 meters per 50 grams

It always depends on the tension of your personal crochet style, so try out what works for you.

To get creative with your yarn stash and mixing colors is both playful and fun, but it takes effort to create something unique. The pleasure is in this effort, but also in the right kind of support when you need it. There are plenty of resources on my Instagram that can help you find new ways to use up your yarn stash and bring it back to life, that are more general than the specific YouTube guide for this bag. Have a look and see what kind of beautiful creations you can make :-)

Let's Get Social!

Get all the crochet hacks and news of when I release new crochet diagrams and join me on social media. Hit the small icons here on the webpage!

On Instagram, I make short reels that show you great crochet hacks – I also get into real short introductions to how to work my diagrams.

On YouTube, you find the long guides, where you work all the details of the designed diagram.

Here we get into the nuts and bolts of how to work things like increases, change of color, joins, and finish of the project. Hope you will join me for this crochet geekiness.
I hope you enjoy making your own unique Crochet Ribbon Candy Bag! Have fun and don't forget to share your creations with us on social media using #ribboncrochetgiftbag!

Reach out with questions or comments! You are always welcome. I love to know your experience with my pattern or wishes for new designs. You can send me a mail, reach out through the contact form or through social media.

Upcycling and Crochet

Upcycling is an important part of sustainable living. It is the process of taking something that would otherwise be discarded and transforming it into something new and useful. Upcycling helps to reduce waste, conserve resources, and create unique items that are often more beautiful than their original form.

Crocheting with upcycled materials is a great way to practice sustainability while creating something beautiful. By using yarn made from recycled materials such as fabric scraps, old t-shirts, or even plastic bags, you can create unique pieces that are both eco-friendly and stylish. Crocheting with upcycled materials also allows you to express your creativity in a way that is both fun and rewarding.

When crocheting with upcycled materials, it is important to take your time and enjoy the process. Upcycling takes time and patience, but the end result can be incredibly rewarding. The joy of not knowing what the outcome will be is just as exciting as seeing the finished product. Taking your time also allows you to appreciate the beauty of each stitch and the uniqueness of each piece you create.

Upcycling is an important part of sustainable living, and crocheting with upcycled materials is a great way to practice sustainability while creating something beautiful. By taking your time and enjoying the process, you can create unique pieces that are both eco-friendly and stylish while expressing your creativity in a fun and rewarding way.

Important Note

Thank you so much for your interest in this crochet diagram! I’m genuinely excited to see the wonderful creations you'll make with it.

It's important for us to mention that this pattern is specially designed for personal use. This means that the design/diagram is only allowed for private use and may not be used for commercial purposes. In other words, you're more than welcome to use it for all your private projects and crafts, adding a special touch to everything you create.

However, I ask you not to use it for commercial purposes or business-related activities. This helps Ann-Gerd.com maintain the uniqueness and special charm of the crochet diagrams we create here. I really appreciate your understanding and adherence to this guideline.

If you have any questions or need more ideas on how to use the diagram for your personal projects, feel free to reach out.

Happy creating and enjoy every moment of your crafting journey!