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Category: Holiday

Happy Halloween 2018

CindyLeave a comment

It’s nearly Halloween again and time to share some recycled Halloween ideas.

Over at My Useful Ideas, there is a great post about celebrating Halloween with less Trick-or-Treat trash. Every year the Halloween holiday creates tons of leftover trash. Everything from pumpkins to plastic candy bags, old decorations and costume castoffs. Then there are the candy wrappers and dropped candies that can be found on the sidewalks and along the streets.

Let’s face it, Halloween creates a lot of trash. But there are alternatives and ways to help make the Halloween holiday a bit more greener with less trash.

First consider using recycled decorations and a recycled or reusable candy bags for trick-or-treating. I have several patterns and ideas for making Halloween candy bags and decorations here.

Here is one crocheted plastic treat-or-treat basket that could be reused year after year. It is made from recycled plastic bags and the base is a recycled microwave dinner tray.

BLO Mini Christmas Stockings

Cindy2 Comments

I have a new mini Christmas stocking pattern to share here at My Recycled Bags. This stocking is crocheted all in the back loop only or BLO as the commonly known abbreviation in the crocheting world.

The pattern can be worked in worst weight yarns for a 6 inch long stocking from top to toe. Or if you use an Aran or light weight yarn, the stockings measure about 5.5 inches long using a G (4 mm) crochet hook. I have shared a few photos here of the basic pattern, but feel free to crochet this pattern in stripes, work the first few rounds of the toe in a different color or even make a scrap yarn stocking by crocheting a mash of colors.

As always, here is the free BLO mini Christmas stocking pattern for your crocheting pleasure.

BLO Mini Christmas Stocking Pattern

6 inch long stocking with Red Heart WW yarn
5.5 inch long stocking with Aran yarn

G (4 mm) crochet hook
Pattern uses less than 1 ounce of total yarn

This stocking should be crocheted in the back loop only (BLO) unless otherwise directed.

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Chain 4 and join to form a circle.

Holiday Crocheted Towel Topper

Cindy3 Comments

I am busy finishing up a few last minute Christmas gifts. I love crocheting towel toppers and using holiday towels make wonderful gifts. Here are a few I crocheted using the double-layer method. You fold over the towel and crochet through both layers to create a useful kitchen towel and an attractive gift.

These were crocheted using the free pointed handle towel topper pattern. I added a jingle bell for the closure in place of a button.

These are fun and quick projects. You can crochet the complete towel topper in just a matter of a few hours. So if you are in need of a last minute gift, consider hand making a gift which will be long remembered after a store bought item.

More Mini Christmas Stockings

Cindy1 Comment

We have been making mini Christmas stockings for Warmth for Warriors over at Ravelry for the past month. Cindylen of Good Things Together helped host a stocking along in which over 250 handmade mini socks were made.

I tried my hand at more crocheted waistcoat Christmas stockings. I find if I work the waistcoat stitch only on the chart portion of the stocking, I have a much easier time crocheting the pattern. I use the waistcoat crochet mini stocking pattern and only crochet the waistcoat stitch for the chart. There are many different chart patterns that a person can use on the mini Christmas stockings. I find the ones that are about 10-12 stitches across are the best suited for the stocking fronts. Here are a few examples