Close

Two Stripe Plarn Tote Bag

It is a new year and time for a new recycled bag! What better way to kick off a new year but with a new homemade reusable and upcycled tote bag. This tote bag was crocheted using about 45 brown plastic bags and 12 reddish-colored newspaper delivery sacks.

Here is a closeup of the top and handles.

This bag is very similar to my basic crocheted tote bag pattern but with a few changes including two stripes. The two stripes were added by cutting up 12 recycled plastic bags that newspapers are delivered in. Here is the tutorial link for cutting newspaper sacks into plarn to use as yarn.

I have provided the full new crochet pattern below for everyone’s personal use. As always, my patterns are free and I hope people will enjoy them.

Two Stripe Plarn Tote Bag Crochet Pattern

Materials needed: Plastic bag yarn “Plarn” in main color brown (40+ bags) cut 1 inch wide
and approx. 12 contrasting colored plastic bags for stripes

Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook

Description: Recycled Plastic Tote Bag

Bag measures 12 inches wide and 12 inches long with 5 inch handles

Directions:
Ch 28

Round Granny Blanket

I have wanted to try out a round granny blanket pattern for a while now. I used this round granny mandala pattern from Crochet from Raymond. It is an outstanding pattern with lots of pictures to help show how to create a beautiful round granny mandala blanket.

This pattern can be used to blend different colors and assembling color fades creates so stunning granny mandala. One only needs to check out the over 600+ different completed blankets on Ravelry to be inspired to grab some yarn and start your own beautiful round granny mandala.

Here is one more round granny blanket that I just finished today.

Kitchen Towel Toppers

I crocheted several kitchen towel toppers last month for gifts. Now that Christmas is over, I can share them here on my blog. It seems that everyone enjoys receiving these handmade towels so every year I crochet a few of them for friends, co-workers, and family. I do try and not give them every year to the same people as I don’t want them to get tired of receiving them.

My towels are double layered as I fold the towels in half and then crochet through both layers to add the tops. The nice thing is that there is no cutting or sewing needed to begin crocheting the towel topper onto the towel.

Converting a Square to a Granny

I crochet this beautiful Margaret Square. I wanted to continue and convert it over to a granny stitch square to create a baby blanket. So here is my mini tutorial on how I converted this crochet square over to a granny stitch blanket.

Using a H (5 mm) crochet hook I slipped stitch over to the corner space and chained 3. Worked 2 more double crochet (DC) in corner and then chained 2, work 3 more DC in same corner space. Then skip 2 stitches and work 3 DC in next stitch, repeat this to next corner and work 3 DC, chain 2, and 3 DC all in corner space. Repeat around and end the row with a slip stitch into the top of the beginning chain 3.

The result is now an 8 inches square which you can just continue working in the granny stitch method. To begin each new row, just slip stitch over to the corner space and chain 3. Then work 2 more DC in corner, chain 2, and 3 more DC in corner space. After that you simply need to work 3 DC in