I create this mini shoulder bag quite awhile ago and just never wrote up the pattern. Well I recently sold a few of these and decided I should write up the crochet pattern to share it here. It’s a quick little project and it only takes about 12-15 plastic bags to complete.
This cute little shoulder bag measures 6.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches long with 36 inch strap. It is of course crocheted from recycled plastic bags or plarn. It makes a wonderful little girl’s purse or a handy little shoulder bag to hold your ID along with a few small items.
As always here is the free recycled bag pattern and please enjoy this green crafting project!
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Crocheted Mini Recycled Plastic Shoulder Bag Pattern
Purse measures 6-1/2 inches wide and 5-1/2 inches long.
Strap length is 36 inches when not tied.
Material:
One ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips.
One button 3/4 inch button shown on bag.
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 16
Sometimes I am just amazed at all the new words and cancer lingo that I have picked up in this pink journey of mine. If you are not familiar with a MUGA (MUltiple Gated Acquisition) scan, it is a nuclear medicine test to evaluate the function of the heart ventricles. Specifically it is used to test my left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) rate of blood. This test is used to monitor my heart’s overall function while taking the cancer drug Herceptin. While Herceptin is an excellent drug to fight the HER2+ cancer cells, it can affect ones heart function and in some cases cause serious heart damage.
In May, I had a baseline MUGA scan done before I started Herceptin. My baseline score was 55. A normal score is between 50-80. My treatment plan has me scheduled to take Herceptin for a full year. So having a beginning score of only 55 made me very nervous. Many people’s scores are reduced as they continue on Herceptin and if you have too low of a score, you may have to stop Herceptin or cut back on your treatments. Because it is a wonder drug for breast cancer patients who are HER2 positive like me, I was really anxious to have my first MUGA done since I started Herceptin.
I am thrilled to share that my recent MUGA score was 61.9. I am so happy and relieved to know that my heart is functioning well and that my score was actually higher than the baseline one. So that means for now, I am tolerating the Herceptin well and it’s not causing any damage to my heart.
One other update to share is that my radiation or rads as we call it in the cancer lingo world, is going well. On Thursday, I will be halfway done with my treatments. My skin has just a mild pink look which is similar to a sunburn. I am using my gel cream twice daily and so far my skin is holding up.
Anyway that’s all the MUGA and rads news I have to share. Now I’m off to work on a new recycled tote bag project that I’m trying to get done. I’ll be back to share it soon, until then — Happy Green Crafting to all!
Recently I was asked for a pattern for a wide tote bag. Surprisingly I have been working on this bag which I am calling my mega tote bag. My mega tote is crocheted from recycled plastic bags made into plarn. The tote features an open mesh styling and handy wide strap. It measures a generous 18 inches wide so you can carry those long items in it. It would also make a wonderful market bag as it has a sling type strap that fits comfortably over your shoulder.
Here is a closeup of the mesh stitching made by crocheting a triple crochet stitch. Click on photo to supersize it.
So for those crocheters out there looking for a free pattern to crochet yourself a recycled mega-wide tote, look no further. Here is your free pattern to crochet a plarn mega tote bag!
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Free Recycled Mega Tote Bag Pattern
Tote bag measures 18 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Strap length is 20 inches long
Material: One large ball of plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips. (Approx. 45-50 bags)
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 28
My blog friend Nan, owner of Nannybird.blogspot.com, created this great purse design and which I finally was able to crochet using her pattern. The purse is crocheted using recycled plastic bags or plarn. In case you are new to the term plarn, here is the link to my picture tutorial on how to create yarn from recycled plastic bags.
Here is Nannybird’s Recycled Purseability Purse Pattern. Nan offers her pattern free for personal use and is very helpful should you have any questions as your crochet this cute purse. While you are over visiting Nannybird’s Blog, I hope you’ll take a moment to checkout all of her recycled bags. She has made purses not only from plastic bags but also from candy wrappers. She has quite an assortment of purses that she has displayed on a cool slideshow at her blog.
Enjoy the remainder of your Labor Day weekend. And to everyone getting ready for back to school or off to college, take care and happy green crafting!
Well, this week I’m officially on the radiation roadway. On Monday, I had my simulation where the radiology tech walks you through a sample treatment procedure and shows you all the machines. I also had my form made. It’s a big blue pillow that is filled with bead-like material which is similar to a bean bag chair. The pillow is big and starts about at my mid back and goes up passed my head. You lay down on it to shape your head and body into the pillow and put your arms up above your head just like you will do for each radiation treatment. The radiology technician then sucks the air out of the form, leaving it shaped firmly just to fit your body. The form is used for me to lay down upon now for each radiation treatment. The idea is that I will be in the exact same position each time and this form helps the techs place me precisely the same for each treatment. I had x-rays and a CT scan done for the doctor to do all the necessary calculations for my treatments.
I returned on Wednesday once all the calculations were completed.
For all you dishcloth lovers out there, here is my free star dishcloth pattern that I created. It is crocheted with 5 points and uses a granny square stitch. The center can be crafted with recycled plastic bags or plarn which creates a center scrubbie.
Here is the option to crochet the dishcloth using just cotton.
Yesterday, I had my radiation consultation which is the next step in my breast cancer treatment. I was told at the beginning that radiation would be necessary for about 6-7 weeks following completion of my chemo. Unfortunately it’s every day, five days a week, and I live 80 miles round trip from the nearest Hospital that provides radiation. Oh, boy and gas is so cheap these days…
Anyway thankfully I’ll be done before the weather gets bad and the snow hits up here. So that’s at least one good thing. I’m trying to focus on the positives and keeping my spirits up. Of course the biggest positive of radiation is that it’s killing off any remaining cancer cells and hopefully putting a final end to my cancer ever returning.
Just in time before Summer is over, crochet this handy water bottle holder from recycled plastic bags or plarn. It has a convenient sling shoulder strap and holds a reusable Nalgene 32 oz/1000 ml or one liter water bottle. This makes a wonderful water bottle holder because the bag is crocheted using plastic bags, you don’t have to worry about it getting wet from the condensation from a cold bottle.
Here is the free pattern link to crochet the water bottle holder.
Enjoy the rest of your Summer and happy green crafting to all!
Need a cute summer handbag? Why not crochet yourself this hobo handbag from recycled plastic bags. Who said trash can’t be stylish when you can create something this cute and useful from plarn. This handbag purse is lined and has a magnetic clasp for a closure. It measures 8″ x 11″ at the widest point. Plenty big enough to hold everything you might need for a daily outing.
Click to view full-size
Inside picture of the lining.
Should you want a larger version of this hobo purse here it is. Click here for the free pattern link.
Click to view full-size
I have given you several different sizes, materials, and ideas for creating your own recycled hobo purse. So what are you waiting for — grab that hook and go!
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Free White Hobo Bag Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of white plastic bag yarn aka Plarn – Approx. 40 bags
1 set of 1 inch D rings or circle rings
2 yards of ribbon (1/8″-3/16″ will work)
Magnetic clasp closure
Material for lining if desired
Hooks:
N US size Metal crochet hook
J US size Metal crochet hook
Description: White Hobo Bag
Bag measures 8 inches wide and 11 inches long
Directions:
Rnd 1
Using N hook, Ch 23.
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