I’m happy to present my crocheted laundry basket. This laundry basket project is made from recycled plastic bags or plarn. In case you are new to the idea of crafting with plastic bags, here is my picture tutorial showing how to make the plastic yarn from the plastic retail bags.
This laundry basket project has been a huge undertaking. It is the largest recycled plastic bag project that I have ever crocheted. It has well over 150 bags in the finished product. When I set out to crochet a laundry basket, I wanted a large enough bag that I could use for a clothes hamper as well as a carrying bag for transporting the laundry to and from a laundromat.
The basket has a round base and while it looks funneled-shaped at the top, its really round in it’s overall shape. The photo above has 6 large beach towels in the bag and as you can see it still has room for more. You can also roll down the top and handles when using it for a hamper so it stands up if the basket isn’t full.
Plarn Laundry Basket Pattern
Materials needed:
Approx. 150+ white plastic grocery bags for main bag and
20 grey plastic bags for stripe and trim
Hook: N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook
Description: Plarn Laundry Basket Bag
Bag measured flat: 22″ wide and 28″ long with 14″ strap and
22″ tall standing with 17″ wide bottom
Directions:
Rnd 1
Using a magic circle, Sc 6 times into circle with white plarn. Don’t join but work in rounds unless advised otherwise. Use a stitch marker to mark rounds.
Here is my latest open-stitched crocheted dishcloth pattern for those that like that style of a cloth. It reminds me of a picket fence and thus the name was given to this pattern. I added a crab stitch or reverse single crochet trim to finish off the dishcloth.
I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern and happy crocheting to all!
Crocheted Picket Fence Dishcloth Pattern
Hook:
H (5 mm) USA crochet hook
Materials:
1-1/2 ozs of Cotton yarn (Green Twists used)
1/4 oz contrasting Cotton yarn for trim (Sage Green used)
Description:
9 inch x 9 inch Cotton Dishcloth
Directions:
Row 1
Ch 32, Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st. (31)
I noticed that I had several old potholders that were stained and had holes in them. So I figured it was time to recycle them into some new and pretty potholders.
Here are the before pictures of my old potholders.
I crocheted a chain the length of the old potholder plus 3 stitches. Then single crochet (Sc) in the round until the shell is long enough to insert the old potholder inside.
I just love these hooded scarf patterns from over at Crochet N’ Crafts. Here is the beginner hooded scarf pattern that I recently crocheted but with a twist. I crocheted this all in one piece.
Okay now for the details.
I don’t normally share a project in progress but this crocheted laundry basket is just such an enormous project that I have to post about it even though it’s not completed yet. I’m guessing its about half finished and I believe I’ve used already over a hundred recycled plastic bags.
I have had a recycled plastic bag or plarn laundry basket on my to-do list for a long time. I eventually get around to creating most of the things on my list but it does take time. Speaking of which, this recycled bag may end up being the largest one I have ever crocheted and it’s taking a lot of time.
Here is a picture I took of the base which is about 15 inches wide.
When I first saw the McGregger’s Garden Square, I knew I had to crochet it for a dishcloth. It’s just so cute and would make a wonderful Easter gift.
I used a H (5 mm) hook when I was crocheting the square as I didn’t have a G hook available. Once I finished the square I added a few more rows to make it big enough for a dishcloth. I used Sugar’n Cream Ecru cotton to do the last 3 rows. You will start in any stitch where you did a long Dc on the last green carrot top row.
Row 1: Sc into the long Dc of the prior row, then ch 4, skip over to the next long Dc and do a Sc in the stitch. Repeat around and in corners work Sc, ch 2, Sc. Join with slip stitch into 1st Sc.
Row 2: Ch 3, work 3 Dc in each ch-4 space, in corners work 2 Dc, ch 2, 2 Dc; work 3 Dc in each ch-4 space and repeat around.
Here are one Easter craft projects that I have been working on. It is a blanket buddy that I crocheted for my newest granddaughter’s first Easter. I crocheted it using this blanket buddy pattern but with some changes which I detail below.
I used a H (5 mm) hook and crocheted with double strands of off-white Caron yarn. I did 20 rows on the blanket before I began the decrease portion. I know many people have said the blanket pattern as written was small so I wanted to make mine bigger. My finished blanket is 17 inches wide by 18 inches long not including the bunny head.
I used black yarn to do the face. I worked on the face for quite some time and while I’m not completely happy with it, I’m finally calling it good. At least as good as I could get it.
One other important thing to note when working this pattern is that
Here is a new twist on recycling those plastic produce nets that lettuce comes in at your grocery store. I crocheted using cotton yarn along with the netting to create these handy diagonal scrubbies.
You probably have seen the double thick diagonal potholders before. You basically single crochet in the back loops only in the round until the ends begin to curl around and then the sides close in to each other if you continue. Here is an excellent crochet pattern and picture tutorial that shows the method.
Ch 14 for a 3 inch scrubbie. I used a J (6 mm) crochet hook and 2 and a half lettuce nets. Ch 19 for a 4 inch scrubbie and about 4 lettuce nets. I used Sugar and Cream in psychedelic cotton yarn to crochet both scrubbies and still had enough left to make this small matching dishcloth using my open mesh magic dishcloth pattern.
You assemble the lettuce nets by cutting them about 1 inch wide across to make loops. Here is my picture tutorial on assembling the netting loops so you can crochet with it along with the cotton yarn. You just hold the lettuce netting strand along with the cotton yarn as shown here to crochet the scrubbies. I turned my work to the outside once the edges reached each other which creates the seed stitch look to the scrubbers. Weave closed the seam by using the tail of your cotton yarn to finish off the scrubbie.
The result is some great recycled scrubbers that can be used on non-stick pans as well as for cleaning your sink, bath or other cleaning needs.
This free crochet pattern is a variation of my fingerless gloves as you basically start out with the same pattern and change it when you come to the heel. The basic pattern is crocheted in the round and is designed to fit a woman who wears a size 9-10 medium shoe. I also crocheted a pair of these socks smaller and I have included those changes at the end of the pattern below.
Women’s Crocheted Socks
Yarn:
2) Patons Stretch Sock Yarn 1.75 oz each – Sugar
Hooks:
F (3.75 mm) size crochet hook for ribbing only
G (4.25 mm) size crochet hook
Description:
Women’s shoe size 9-10 M socks
Directions
Make 2 socks as follows:
Using F hook for ribbing, leave a long tail and ch 11.
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