Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Instagram YouTube Pinterest Tumblr VK RSS
Close

Reclaimed Heart Hotpad

Cindy4 Comments

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I crocheted this heart hotpad from reclaimed yarn. I scored a free cotton/ramie red vest from my local thrift store. It had a hole in it and they had it in their free area so I gladly took it home and unraveled it. It yielded 3 nice balls of red yarn.

I used Rachel’s free sweetheart Valentine heart pattern over at Crochet Spot to create my hotpad. I followed the posted pattern but added an extra round of single crochet by repeating round 4 twice. I crocheted two red hearts and then put them back to back for a double layered heart hotpad. I finished off my hotpad by working a round of single crochet around and through the double layers with a contrasting white cotton yarn. I then worked the final round as outlined in the pattern to create the scalloped edging.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentine’s Day and as always happy crafting!

Dual Handled Plarn Tote Bag

Cindy4 Comments


This week I present a dual handled plarn tote bag. A reader recently asked if I had a free pattern for not only a shoulder strap but also a bag with handles to grip with your hands. So I got busy and crocheted this tote bag for her. It’s like the best of both worlds — You can throw this jumbo tote bag over your shoulder or grasp it by the smaller handles.

This is another over-sized tote bag project that is similar to my jumbo plarn beach bag which features one long shoulder strap that has a pull through front closure. I think this tote bag would make an excellent farmer’s market bag as you have so much room inside and the two different ways to carry it around.

So whether you want one long strap or dual handles on your plarn tote bag, you can mix and match these two free crochet patterns that I am posting at my blog. Best wishes and happy crafting to all!

Free Jumbo Dual Handled Tote Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn Plarn
Approx. 80 white plastic grocery bags for main bag and
16 orange plastic bags for stripes

Hook: N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook

Description: Dual Handled Plarn Tote Bag
Bag measures 16 inches wide and 20 inches long with 30 inch shoulder strap and 9 inch handles

Directions:
Ch 34

Log Cabin Scrap Dishcloth

Cindy8 Comments

I have wanted to make a log cabin design dishcloth for some time now. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to use up some scrap cotton yarn that I have. I have looked at several different log cabin designs and just decided that I would grab a crochet hook and see what I could come up with.


Here is my first completed log cabin dishcloth. It’s not square but who says a dishcloth really needs to be. Well I used 6 different colors of cotton yarn to complete my dishcloth. I’m thinking it would be a great hotpad too and am starting another one right now which I’ll add a solid color for a back which will give it a double layer.

I wrote up the crochet pattern for this and hope it makes sense about where to attach your yarn as you change colors. I always started the new color on the right side (RS) of the dishcloth and you can use the photo to help you with your starting points. Remember you can always deviate and do your own thing with the colors and the number of rows. It’s kinda like doing a freeform but still keeping the log cabin design as your goal.

Well, I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern below. If you use my pattern, please let me know how your dishcloth came out and I love to see photos of my reader’s creations.

Log Cabin Scrap Dishcloth Pattern

Hook:
H (5 mm) USA crochet hook

Materials:
Cotton yarn scraps in 6 colors
1/4 oz contrasting Cotton yarn for trim

Description:
8-1/4 inchesx 10-1/4 inches Cotton Dishcloth

Directions:
Row 1
With Cream color, Ch 12, Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st. (11)

4 Years Old Today

Cindy7 Comments

Today my blog here at MyRecycledBags is 4 years old. I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I decided to launch my idea about sharing ideas and posting free patterns for plastic bag crafts. The word plarn hadn’t even been discovered yet. But now crafting with plastic bags or plarn is a commonly known term.

Many sites and crafters now promote the use of plastic bags and other recycled materials on the Internet. While I wasn’t the first, I’d like to think that I’ve been one of the most active and long running sites that shares all their patterns free. I am always here to help if you have a question or need help with a crochet pattern. I truly love to share my ideas and it has been my pleasure to run this blog for the past four years.

So on this 4th anniversary of my first blog post, I want to say thank you to all my readers and on-line friends. Without all your love and interest in recycled crafting and my blog, I would not have enjoyed the success I’ve been able to have with this site. I so appreciate you all and hope I can keep blogging and sharing for many more years to come.

Blessings and (((Hugs))) to all!

Newborn Baby Sweater Vest

Cindy3 Comments


This crocheted newborn baby sweater vest is a variation of my Ana sweater that I created. The Ana sweater vest pattern is for a toddler’s size 2-3 but several people have asked for a smaller size which I am happy to share in this post today.

I crocheted a matching hat using Barb’s seamless baby hat pattern. I just added a few rows of single crochet stitches around the edge to match my trim on the baby sweater vest to complete the set.

This baby vest was crocheted using a sport weight yarn that I obtained from a free yarn swap so I’m not exactly sure what it is. It’s a soft yarn with a darker blue ribbon thread that runs through it. I used a pink contrasting yarn to finish off the project. For the newborn sweater, I used a bow tie at the front rather than a button closure but you can switch up the patterns and use either style for your sweater.

I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern below — Enjoy!

Newborn Sweater Vest Pattern

Finished Newborn baby vest measures: 8-1/2 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches long
Hook: Metal G (4 mm) US sized crochet hook

Materials:
4 ozs – Sport or Aran weight yarn and a small amount for contrasting yarn for trim

Row 1 (Back piece)
Ch 36