Reduce, Reuse, Crochet!

One of the great positives to crocheting is that you can make things to help recycle items around your house! In this post I'll show you some projects I've been working on to help reduce, reuse, and recycle, and I'll be linking some free patterns along the way!

The first project I was really excited about was my "plarn" shopping bag. This is SUPER easy to make! And its practically free! Start saving your plastic bags when you go shopping. Any plastic bag will do as long as its clean! (Who wants to crochet with sticky plastic bags? Yuck! Cut em up, using this tutorial for instructions, and make a giant ball of plarn.

Then check out this tutorial on how to make the bag. You can use any pattern you like really. You could make market bags, a rug, coasters. The possibilities are endless!

Another great thing you can do to reduce waste is to use a water bottle instead of plastic bottled water. Don't feel like lugging around a water bottle every where you go? Then this pattern is for you. This water bottle cozy is made using cotton yarn, so it doesn't stretch and absorbs and moisture that might be accumulated from your cool drink. 

Dish cloths are a great easy option for beginners who want to replace their paper towels. Each ball of Lily Sugar n Cream yarn is $1.99 (although sometimes you can find them on sale/clearance for less!) and one of those will make 2 hand sized dish cloths. These are the ultimate multi purpose cloth!! Use them to wipe down your counters and hang to dry for next use. Use dry to do some dusting. Use as a pot holder or trivet! I even use them to wipe my sons face and hands/whole body off after he's done eating. They're THAT soft! (;

Super easy to make as well! Just chain however wide you'd like it to be. You can use many different stitches, but even simple ones like single and double crochets work great. Finish off with a round of single crochet around the edges, doing 3 crochets in each corner, and you're done! Double them up for a nice pot holder or trivet as well (;

Have any more ideas for some recyclable projects? Post your link below! 

 

Works In Progress: Lamb Hat and Crocodile Clutch!

This week for me was all about trying new things. I purchased a pattern for an adorable baby lamb hat, and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! I also gave a try at the intimidating yet surprisingly easy crocodile stitch in a cute clutch. And of course some various other projects in the works as well.

You can find a link to the pattern underneath its picture! I hope you find some inspiration in my work this week. I've been lacking it lately, but after a few days of building my inspiration I'm back on track!

Now for the pictures (:

 Baby Lamb Hat

This granny square is for Judes owl lovey that is in the works.

I used this youtube video for the start of it since it was my first time making a granny square!

This is my beloved crocodile stitch purse in the works! The handle is going to be that pink on the left. I'm thinking about doing the back in pink and grey striped single crochets, but thinking about weaving in all those ends is making me dizzy! (;

 

Here I am wearing a cowl I quickly made one afternoon. No pattern used, just chain however long you want it, join to make a ring, and half double crochet around until you get your desired width! Easy peasy!

A mug cozy! I seem to just keep making these whenever I have an extra 20 minutes. They really are SO easy!

Remember this bag? Well my amazing grandmother sewed me a lining for it! It's pinned in and ready to be sewed in by me, I just haven't had the time to start it yet.

And last but not least, dish cloths. Or wash cloths. Or dusting rags. Or spit up rags. Can you tell I use these a lot?

I also realized I forgot to take a picture of my scrap rug I've been working on, but that's okay because I plan on making a whole new post for that (: 

Keep an eye out for the Lamb Hat, Cowl, and Mug Cozy in my Etsy Shop. If you haven't yet, you should check it out! I add new listings weekly and love to work on custom orders!

I hope you guys enjoy all the free patterns. Don't forget to share what you've been working on too!