Last updated on March 22nd, 2025 at 12:02 am
This year, I bought a mesh bag of multiplier onions to plant in my garden and, after planting, I folded it up to stash in my pocket. That’s when it struck me – why not crochet an edge around the folded bag to make a pot scrubber?
How to Make a Recycled Mesh Bag Pot Scrubber with Crocheted Edging
The instructions that follow can be amended to suit the kind of bag that you have: because these produce bags come in all different sizes and are often roughly sewn together, you may want to cut the bag down into a rectangle that is suitable for folding before proceeding to the crocheted edging.
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Craft Supplies:
- fine mesh plastic produce bag
- cotton crochet thread (I used Handicrafter Cotton Yarn Solids-French Blue)
- crochet hook
- darning needle or any needle with a large enough eye to thread the yarn
- scissors
Pattern Instructions:
- Folding the Mesh Bag
Smooth the mesh bag so that it lies flat on your working surface.
If the bag has a thick or lumpy bottom seam, cut it off. Experiment with cutting and folding the bag so that you end up with a folded rectangle of a suitable size for a pot scrubber.
I folded mine horizontally, then in thirds, but on the next one I will try to make sure that all cut ends are on the inside. This isn’t essential, but it can be easier to work with and tidier.
2. Blanket Stitch
Thread your needle with yarn long enough to sew a blanket stitch all around the mesh rectangle.
This not only fastens the meshed bag rectangle into its permanent shape.
It also provides a base for the crocheted edging.
3. Begin the Crocheted Edging
On the sample shown, above, I have hand sewn the blanket stitch all the way around with a large-eyed needle, then I attached a ball of yarn to continue the edging in single crochet.
You can see on the sample that three sides have the single crochet, and I’m just about to finish the fourth side in single crochet which still shows the initial row of blanket stitch.
4. Variations
From this point on, if you have any crochet experience, you can develop almost any kind of edging that takes your fancy.
To reproduce what I did, do another row of single crochet all around, followed by a row of double crochet. Remember to increase as you go around the corners, doing two stitches in one, repeating this once or twice if you have to, so that the pot scrubber will lie flat.
Scalloped Shell Stitch Edge
This is entirely decorative, but I thought it looked pretty. If you’re making these for a fundraiser, or bazaar craft, it’s an easy way to finish off.
Simply do five single crochet in one stitch of the previous row; one single crochet in the next stitch, then five more single crochet. Repeat all the way around. Tie off, cut thread, and weave the cut end through a few stitches to hide it away.
Related AllFreeCrafts Kitchen Crochet Patterns:
Flip-flop Style Coasters, Vintage Daisy Pot Holder, Flower and Grape Pot Holder Set, Single Crochet Classic Dishcloth Pattern., Small Crocheted Jar Cover, and Pot Holder Pouches.
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