Bread Bags Upcycled into a Coaster

Here is a quick little crochet project using recycled plastic bread bags. I cut the bread bags into strips just as I do here in my tutorial to create what I call plarn (plastic bag yarn.) I used about 5 or 6 different colored bags to crochet this coaster. It’s a great way to upcycle bread bags and other heavier plastic into a useful item that otherwise might end up in our landfills.

I used an aluminum “H” crochet hook and cut my plastic bags about 3/4″ wide. Starting with a magic circle, Sc 6 times into circle. Don’t join but just mark the beginning of round so you know where it is. Next round, work 2 Sc in each stitch. Next round, work a Sc in next stitch, then 2 Sc in next stitch and repeat around. Next round, work a Sc in the next two stitches, then 2 Sc in next stitch and repeat around. Next round, work a Sc in the next 3 stitches, then 2 Sc in next stitch and repeat around. (Each round increase the number of Sc’s and then do your 2 Sc’s.)

Continue working in rounds and adjust stitches as needed so your coaster lays down flat. I did 6 rounds and finished with a few Sl Sts on last round so my edge was smooth and the coaster is round. I used scraps of plastic about 1-1/2 inch long to make my fringe around the outside of the coaster. I then trimmed the edges so the fringe measures about an inch long. My coaster’s middle is about 4-1/2 inches wide. You can make smaller or larger coasters as desired. Remember when crafting with recycled materials, it’s not an exact science so adjust your pattern as needed. The important thing is to recycle or upcycle that old plastic!

Christmas Kitchen Towel Sets

Are you like many of us handcrafting Christmas gifts this year? I have been busy crocheting kitchen towel sets for Christmas gifts. Each set includes a greenie which is crocheted from recycled lettuce netting and cotton, along with dishcloth, potholder, and a towel topper.

Here is one full Christmas crochet kitchen towel set and below you will find individual items with the pattern links.

All photos are clickable to supersize.

Towel topper with the free pattern found here.

Christmas star dishcloth pattern found here

Christmas potholder with the free crochet pattern link here.

Greenies are crocheted with this free pattern but with a scalloped edge option. The option edging is accomplished by working *Ch 3 in corner st, Dc in same st, skip 2 sts and Sl St in next st* and repeating between * around to beginning Ch 3.

So whether you are into crafting with recycled materials or just crocheting, I hope I have inspired you with my kitchen towel sets. They do make wonderful gifts and are very useful items around the kitchen.

Corded Cloth Pattern

Here is my simple but useful corded cloth pattern that is crocheted in cotton yarn. This cloth makes an excellent washcloth or dishcloth. I added the reverse single crochet stitch border and thus the name Corded Cloth was given to this project.

Here is a solid colored cloth in denim cotton.

I have been crocheting several washcloths for the project that I joined over at Ravelry for our troops. The website is Warmth for Warriors and we are doing washcloths right now for the troops if you’d like to join in here.

Here is the free crochet pattern below for the washcloth or dishcloth. Enjoy!

Corded Cloth Pattern

Description: 8 inch Square Washcloth or Dishcloth

Materials needed:
1.25 – ozs. Cotton Yarn and just a small amount of contrasting yarn if needed for the border

Hook:
H (5 mm) USA size hook

Directions:
Row 1
Ch 30. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st across. (29)

Country Granny Dishcloth

This is a basic granny stitch dishcloth but with a twist on the beginning round. I crocheted additional stitches to create a wider center to give the dishcloth a flower petal look. Plus it is a great pattern for using scraps of cotton yarn to crochet a cute-looking dishcloth.

Country Granny Dishcloth Pattern

Hook: H (5 mm) US sized crochet hook
Size: 8.5 inch square with one row of edging or 9 inch square dishcloth if two rows of edging trim added.
Materials: 2 ounces cotton yarn (small amount of contrasting color used on last 2 edging rows.

With H hook, Ch 4 and

Crochet a Water Bottle Holder

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!

Crocheted Jar Helper

This project is for a jar helper that I crocheted to help you open those tough jar lids. The center is a plastic mesh that is cut from a dollar store roll of shelf liner.

I cut down the middle of my roll which was 12 inches wide. So for every 12 inches from the roll, you can cut four squares.

Work with a smaller crochet hook around evenly with your cotton. I used a D hook for my base row and then you can change to a G hook if desired to finish off your crocheted edging. I made a number of these jar openers and plan to use them as gifts along with matching dishcloths.

Crocheted Jar Helper Pattern
Finished crocheted piece measures: 7 inch Square
Hook: Metal D USA sized crochet hook

Materials:
1/2 oz – cotton yarn
6 inches x 6 inches piece of plastic shelf liner

Cut a 6 inch x 6 inch square from the plastic shelf liner roll. I purchased my non-slip shelf liner from the dollar store. The roll was 5 inches x 12 inches so I was able to cut 20 squares from the 99 cent purchase.

Rnd 1
Using a small D crochet hook, attach yarn at a corner and ch 1.

Crocheted Knob Pot Cover

As promised in my last post, here is my crocheted knob pot cover pattern. This project was worked using recycled t-shirts cut into t-yarn or tarn. Tarn is the material created by cutting the t-shirt into a long strip about 3/8″ to 1/2″ wide and then is gently stretched so the tarn curls in on itself. Here is my tutorial for making what I call curled t-yarn.

For those people who would like to crochet this knob cover using rug or chunky yarn, here is a picture of my lid cover crocheted using some black rug yarn. I have included the option for crocheting with rug yarn in the free pattern below.

Depending on your knob size, you may need to adjust your stitches in the crochet pattern posted. The important thing is to check the fit of your cover as you crochet the rounds so your knob cover fits snugly and doesn’t slip off.

I just love my knob cover and use it all the time on my old glass crockpot lid. It is so nice now to just slip the cover over the knob and I can lift the lid without having to worry about it being too hot or slipping out of my hand.

I hope you enjoy this free pattern and want to take this opportunity to say Happy New Year.
Have a wonderful 2010 everyone!

*****************************************************************************************************************************

Crocheted Knob Pot and Lid Cover Pattern

Materials needed:
Small amount of tarn (t-shirt yarn) cut into 3/8-1/2 inches inch wide strips and gently pulled to curl your tarn

Option: Rug yarn or a chunky yarn can be used in place of tarn see pattern changes at the bottom.
Hook: H (5 mm) U.S. size metal crochet hook

Finished knob cover is 1-3/4 inches wide at top and 3 inches wide at base

Rnd 1
Using t-yarn / tarn or rug yarn make a magic circle and Sc 7 times into circle. Do NOT turn your work in this project. Mark so you know where the round starts as you do not join in this project unless specially told to but rather just continue working in rounds.

Crocheted Plarn Soap Dish

I have been asked to crochet a recycled plastic soap dish holder so this is up I came up with. I crocheted this soap dish using about three recycled plastic bags so it’s a great project if you only have a few bags in a special color.

It’s just the right size if you have a large square bar of soap. Here is my plarn soap dish with a scrubbie also crocheted from recycled plastic bags.

Here is a plarn soap dish pictured with a oval bar of soap along with a crocheted dishcloth to match.

Here is one other crocheted soap dish with white plastic retail bags along with a scrubbie added with a cotton yarn trim. The cotton yarn edging adds a colorful touch to the otherwise boring white bags. You can also use the soap dish crocheted from recycled plastic bags as a scrubbie holder. Just rinse it out in warm water if it gets too soapy or dirty. Either way this recycled soap dish is a handy holder and provides a useful way to reuse those plastic bags you may have stuffed in your kitchen drawers and cabinets.

***************************************************************************************************************************

Free Crocheted Plarn Soap Dish Pattern

Materials needed:
3 — plastic bags cut into strips 3/4 inches wide and interlocked to create plarn
Here is the link to my plarn-making tutorials should you need it

Hook:
J (6 mm) US size metal crochet hook

Gauge: 3 Sc = 1 inch; 3 rows = 1 inch

Description:
Recycled Plastic Soap Dish – measures 5-1/2 inches long by 3 inches wide

Directions:
Row 1
Ch 13, Sc in the 2nd st from the hook and in each st across.

Crocheted Plastic Bag Coasters

Recycled Plastic Bag Coasters

I had been asked recently if I had a recycled coaster pattern. At that time, I did not have a pattern nor had I ever crocheted any coasters using recycled plastic bags. I decided that there are many things that I need to crochet using recycled plastic bags. So I have complied a to-do list of items and will attempt to create each item out of recycled materials.

Once I successfully complete each item, I will share the pattern with everyone. Some of the items have been made by other people in the past but I will make and test my own patterns. That way I can post the free patterns all here. I want to build this website into a complete library of free patterns where crafters can come, learn, and try new ideas using recycled materials. My goal is to continue promoting eco-friendly products through recycling and crafting.

So here is this week’s first installment of new projects and patterns from my to-do list – recycled plastic bag coasters!

These are a quick item to crochet. I made this set of four in no time at all. Two were crocheted using all white (with red specks) plastic grocery bags and the other two using grey plastic bags to create a different look.

————————————————————————————————————

Crocheted Recycled Plastic Coasters Pattern

Coasters measure 4 inches wide across.

Material: Plastic bags cut into 1 inch strips — Grey and white bags shown in pattern.

Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook