Well it has been quite a year for anyone who has been following this blog and my cancer journey this year. I figured I’d do a year-end update just to close out the year. First and far most, I am doing well. My recent scans show nothing of concern and I’m feeling pretty good. While my hair is very very short, it has grown back and I can go without the hats and scarves now. I survived surgery in April, chemo this summer, and radiation this fall. I have cut, poisoned, fried, and burned this cancer. Hopefully, God willing, I have permanently kicked it out the door and out of my body. I never want it to return and I pray daily that this can be the end of breast cancer or any cancer in my life.
In closing, I want to say thank you to everyone who has emailed, commented, prayed, written, called, or otherwise supported me through this pink journey. It hasn’t been easy. Cancer never is. But there is always hope and things can get better. I am proof positive of this.
So thanks again all my friends and family, I love you all. Enjoy life to its fullest and have a very happy New Year![…]
I’ve been on a bit of a dishcloth crocheting craze lately. Here is my latest creation. Its a crocheted cotton dishcloth or washcloth. I call it my pointed granny dishcloth.
Click to supersize
My pointed granny dishcloth can be made with scrap cotton yarn as shown above in the second photo. It’s a great way to use up those small pieces of cotton you have in your stash. My pointed granny pattern is similar to my star dishcloth design below that features a center scrubbie option using plarn (plastic bag yarn) with 5 points.
My 5 point star dishcloth
So grab your crochet hook and crochet yourself a 4 point or 5 point star granny dishcloth using one of the free patterns. Either way, I hope you enjoy my dishcloth designs.
My Pointed Granny Dishcloth Pattern
Dishcloth measures: 9” wide and 12” wide across diagonally (4 pointed corners)
Hook: Metal “H” US sized hook
Materials:
Sugar & Cream Cotton yarn (used about 2-ozs of crème and ½ oz green)
(This is almost a great pattern to use cotton yarn scarps as shown in 2nd dishcloth)
With center color, Ch 5, Sl St to form ring. […]
What better way to have a green Christmas than to handcraft your own Christmas gift bags from recycled materials. Maybe you need a small bag for a gift card. Well check out this cute little gift bag crocheted from recycled plastic bags.
Crafting with recycled plastic bags is also known as plarn. If you need to know how to make plarn, check out this picture tutorial. You can crochet this gift bag using plarn with this free pattern .
Maybe you need a larger gift bag. If so, here is a Christmas tote bag crocheted from recycled plastic grocery bags. This roomy tote bag would make a wonderful gift bag for a book or other flat items. Here is the link to the free crochet pattern for this tote bag.
Please consider this eco-friendly way to gift wrap your presents this year. Recycling plastic bags, upcycling them into reusable bags, and not using traditional gift wrap does truly make it a greener Christmas for everyone.[…]
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.[…]
Here is my latest recycled plarn tote bag. It is a roomy tote bag that features a nearly 4 inch wide flat bottom. This allows your tote to stand up on its own. I used a new stitch in this crocheted plastic bag project which is called the spike stitch. You crochet down into the prior row to create a long stitch that looks like a spike. I worked a spike stitch every 4th stitch to make a decorative blue stripe on my tote bag.
This bag also features longer handles. I’ve had requests for longer handles on my tote bags so I crocheted this bag with 18 inch handle straps. Of course if you use this tote for groceries, it will stretch even longer. With these longer handles, you can put it over your shoulder while carrying the tote bag.
Here is a closeup photo of the flat bottom of my recycled plastic tote.
So grab your crochet hook and crochet yourself a spike stitch tote bag today. As always, happy green crafting to all!
Free Spike Stitch Plarn Tote Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn “Plarn”
Approx. 50-60 plastic grocery bags – Brown/tan in color
One smaller amount of blue plarn – Approx. 10-15 bags
Hook: “N” U.S. size metal hook
Description: Recycled Plarn Tote Bag
Bag measures 13” wide and 13” tall with 18” handles and nearly 4” wide flat bottom
Directions:
Ch 28 with brown plarn. […]
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