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Hashbrowns Bags Recycled

I have been saving hashbrowns 5 pound plastic bags to recycle them into a crocheted basket. I saved 5 bags and cut them into plastic bag yarn or plarn. Because the bags are made from thick plastic, I cut one long continuous strip about 1/2 inch wide. I joined the strips together with a knot which I then just hid within my stitches as I worked the basket.

Each bag cut in a single 1/2 inch wide strand equals 23 yards of plarn. When I started this project I had 5 bags cut up and began crocheting the basket using my small recycled plastic basket pattern. Here is the link to crochet the project

Waistcoat Crochet Mini Christmas Stocking

Here is a new crochet pattern for a mini 6 inch long Christmas stocking. This pattern uses the waistcoat stitch. I love the look of this stitch as it appears to be a knitted sock when it is really crocheted. Here is a link to a waistcoat stitch tutorial to help demonstrate how to crochet this knit-look stitch. I also found doing graph images can add a nice touch to a crocheted waistcoat stocking.

I have been practicing this stitch and I must say it is a bit hard to master. It is very dense and finding the V space to crochet into can be difficult. I found a larger crochet hook helps and crocheting in bright light makes it easier too. One important tip to pass along is to go slow and have patience as you crochet this stitch. I also found that the more I practiced the stitch, the better I became so keep at it if you find it difficult.

In working the heel in waistcoat stitch, you have to cut the yarn for each row. I found in future stockings I crocheted that it was easier to work the heel in regular single crochet stitches. It also helps so the heel isn’t so pointy looking. I have included both options below in the written pattern. So if you want to do the whole stocking in the traditional waistcoat stitch you can or use option 2 below.

Waistcoat Mini Christmas stocking pattern
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5-1/2 to 6 inch Mini Christmas Stocking
H (5 mm) crochet hook – 1 ounce of medium weight yarn (50-52 yards)

Chain 3 and join to form circle or you can use a magic circle.

V Stitch Blanket and Scarf Pattern

I have a new crochet stitch that I am just in love with. It is called the V Stitch and it is very easy and simple to crochet many different projects using this stitch. I have already used the stitch pattern to make a blanket and a scarf.

There are several different versions of the V Stitch and I do mine without a chain stitch between my double crochet stitches. It makes for a less-holey project and works up faster for me without having to chain between stitches.

To crochet the small blanket or lapghan, I chained 101 stitches to start with a H (5 mm) crochet hook.

Mother Bears for 2017

Here are my first two bears for the Mother Bear Project for 2017. These both were crocheted in the round without turning or chaining to start each round. I have a seamless bear tutorial here if anyone wants to learn more about how I crochet my bears.

The Mother Bear Project is an organization dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.

Photos are shared of the children receiving the bears from time to time through the organization. I must tell you that it is just priceless when you see a bear you have made in the lovely arms of a child so far away. I just spotted this Scotty bear of mine that I crocheted in 2016 in the last photo group.