This bag is the ideal way to upcycle all of the used surgical masks your family may be generating! Not only will each bag keep 23 masks out of the landfill, it will give you a reusable grocery bag to replace single use plastic bags! Double Win!

You will need:
1.25 mm steel crochet hook
23 pre-worn surgical masks (washed and dried)
450 yards size 10 crochet thread

I found that the 1.25 mm hook was the best compromise between thin enough to punch through the layers of the mask, and thick enough not to bend doing so! You may prefer to work with a hook size one up or down.

Most brands of surgical masks can successfully be washed and dried in your home machines. I have included details in the pattern about my specific findings.

This bag comfortably holds 15 lbs (or 2 gallons) with no sign of stress on the stitching. (It would likely have held more, but that’s about my personal limit for carrying groceries). I have deliberately designed the construction to make the bag as strong possible, so it can be used for a long time.