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Tag: upcycling

Top 100 Upcycling Blogs

Cindy4 Comments

I just was notified that my blog was selected by a group of panelist as one of the Top 100 Upcycling Blogs on the web. Wow that is so exciting to be recognized in this way on the Internet.

I am number 23 of the 100 blogs. This is one of the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Upcycling Blogs on the Internet and I am so honored to be listed.

Here is the full list of blogs that made the list. I hope you take a few minutes and check out the different blogs featured in the post.

Recycled Plarn Backpack Pattern

Cindy20 Comments

Presenting the long awaited and many times requested free plarn backpack pattern. This project is crocheted from recycled plastic bags along with a bit of scrap cotton yarn to create an unique backpack or knapsack. This has been a challenging project but I have kept the crochet stitches and instructions as simple as possible so even a beginner should be able to craft this cool recycled backpack.

Here is the how to make plarn tutorial link that shows detailed pictures on how I create plastic yarn from recycled plastic bags.

Click photos to supersize closeups

Enjoy the pattern and happy green crafting to all!

Free Plarn Backpack Crochet Pattern

Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn or Plarn – Approx. 60-70 plastic grocery bags
1 oz. of scrap cotton yarn
1 buckle hardware latch for front flap

Hooks:
N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook for main body of backpack
J, H & G U.S. size crochet hooks for straps, trim, and drawstring

Description: Plastic Bag Plarn Backpack or Knapsack
Bag measures 13″ wide and 13″ long with 18-1/2″ back straps

Directions:
Ch 18

Readers Creations

Cindy8 Comments

I want to share some of my readers creations that have been emailed to me. Several of my crafty readers have sent me photos of their completed plarn (plastic bag yarn), VCR, and cassette tape recycled bags. I just love seeing everyone’s finished projects and hope you enjoy them too. Click on any of the photos to supersize them.

Libby’s Motif Tote Bag

Libby from Texas used my colorful granny square motif pattern to crochet her bag. She did put one more row of sc around the top before starting the handle. You can find the free pattern link for this recycled plastic tote bag here.

Libby’s Cassette Tape Beaded Bag

Libby’s brown evening purse was made with two strands of cassette tape and two strands of brown ribbon that came from a sweater she unraveled. How cool is that its double recycled! She wanted a purse with beads in the strap, so she added some beautiful beads and used a nifty knitter for the rest of the strap. A magnetic button closure was added with beads glued to cover the prongs on the outside.

Another reader Diane has been busy creating several of my recycled bag patterns. First she shared with me the hobo bag that she made using this recycled plastic bag pattern. She tweaked the pattern by adding a cell phone pocket, used a zipper instead of a magnetic snap and put other pockets in the lining.
Diane’s Blue Ribbon Hobo Purse

Diane also crocheted a plastic tote bag using my colorful motif pattern. She completed her tote bag by lining it with some pretty material that matched her motifs.

Then Diane used my green shopping bag pattern found here to crochet her yellow reusable grocery bag.


Next Bonnye shared some VCR tape bags she crocheted with fun fur added. As shown below she used recycled VCR video tape and fun fur together to create some very cool looking bags!

Thanks to all my readers who sent in photos sharing their recycled crafting projects. I really enjoyed all your beautiful work with upcycled materials. Keep those great green craft projects coming!

Curled T-Yarn Trivet Hotpad

Cindy22 Comments

Here is my first curled T-shirt yarn or T-yarn project. Curled T-yarn is created by cutting an old recycled tee-shirt into strips and then stretching the strip so it curls in on itself. This creates a circular-type yarn from the t-shirt strip. Here is my picture tutorial on how I make recycled curled T-shirt yarn. My finished project is done in a basic motif granny stitch pattern. This trivet hotpad is not only very frugal as it didn’t cost me anything, it’s also an excellent way to upcycle old tee-shirts into a new cool reusable item.

All photos are clickable to supersize them


Here is a closeup of the T-yarn once its cut and stretched.

Free T-Yarn Motif Hotpad Crochet Pattern

Materials needed:
One large t-shirt without side seams (blue) – Cut and stretched into approx. 65 yards of T-yarn
Small amount of contrasting T-Yarn (white)

Hook: J U.S. size metal crochet hook

Finished Hotpad Trivet: 7 inches wide

With center color Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.

Tee-Shirt Recycled into a Handbag

Cindy27 Comments

Recycled your old tee-shirts into a cute handbag. I crocheted this purse using two t-shirts and a part of another for the striping. I added a flower as an embellishment and here is my final result.

Click to supersize photos

Here is a photo showing how I cut around the tee-shirt to create “yarn” to crochet with. You just continue cutting in one continuous strip and go around corners as shown. If you do need to join two strips, either overlap and weave under your ends or join splicing strips together by either hand or machine stitching the ends together. Another method that doesn’t require sewing the strips together is to make a small slit hole at the end of the two strips you need to splice together. The slit should be cut lengthwise only about 1/2 inch from the end of the strip and should only be big enough to allow the next strip to pass through it. Hold the two strips with the holes together then take the uncut end and lace it through two holes. Pull the strip completely through the holes and pull tight to make the splice as small as possible.

Have fun with this project by recycling your tee-shirts into a charming eco-friendly handbag. The materials are free and so is the crochet pattern below.

Free Crocheted Recycled Tee-Shirt Bag Pattern

Bag measures 10 inches wide and 9″ long with 8″ handles.

Material: Three different colored tee-shirts cut into 1/2″ to 3/4 inch strips

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook

Chain 12