Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Recycled Crafting


Log Cabin Scrap Dishcloth

January 30, 2011 8 comments
Log Cabin Scrap Dishcloth

I have wanted to make a log cabin design dishcloth for some time now. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to use up some scrap cotton yarn that I have. I have looked at several different log cabin designs and just decided that I would grab a crochet hook and see what I could come up with.


Here is my first completed log cabin dishcloth. It’s not square but who says a dishcloth really needs to be. Well I used 6 different colors of cotton yarn to complete my dishcloth. I’m thinking it would be a great hotpad too and am starting another one right now which I’ll add a solid color for a back which will give it a double layer.

I wrote up the crochet pattern for this and hope it makes sense about where to attach your yarn as you change colors. I always started the new color on the right side (RS) of the dishcloth and you can use the photo to help you with your starting points. Remember you can always deviate and do your own thing with the colors and the number of rows. It’s kinda like doing a freeform but still keeping the log cabin design as your goal.

Well, I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern below. If you use my pattern, please let me know how your dishcloth came out and I love to see photos of my reader’s creations.

Log Cabin Scrap Dishcloth Pattern

Hook:
H (5 mm) USA crochet hook

Materials:
Cotton yarn scraps in 6 colors
1/4 oz contrasting Cotton yarn for trim

Description:
8-1/4 inchesx 10-1/4 inches Cotton Dishcloth

Directions:
Row 1
With Cream color, Ch 12, Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st. (11)

4 Years Old Today

January 24, 2011 7 comments
4th Birthday

Today my blog here at MyRecycledBags is 4 years old. I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I decided to launch my idea about sharing ideas and posting free patterns for plastic bag crafts. The word plarn hadn’t even been discovered yet. But now crafting with plastic bags or plarn is a commonly known term.

Many sites and crafters now promote the use of plastic bags and other recycled materials on the Internet. While I wasn’t the first, I’d like to think that I’ve been one of the most active and long running sites that shares all their patterns free. I am always here to help if you have a question or need help with a crochet pattern. I truly love to share my ideas and it has been my pleasure to run this blog for the past four years.

So on this 4th anniversary of my first blog post, I want to say thank you to all my readers and on-line friends. Without all your love and interest in recycled crafting and my blog, I would not have enjoyed the success I’ve been able to have with this site. I so appreciate you all and hope I can keep blogging and sharing for many more years to come.

Blessings and (((Hugs))) to all!

Newborn Baby Sweater Vest

January 21, 2011 3 comments
Newborn Baby Sweater Vest


This crocheted newborn baby sweater vest is a variation of my Ana sweater that I created. The Ana sweater vest pattern is for a toddler’s size 2-3 but several people have asked for a smaller size which I am happy to share in this post today.

I crocheted a matching hat using Barb’s seamless baby hat pattern. I just added a few rows of single crochet stitches around the edge to match my trim on the baby sweater vest to complete the set.

This baby vest was crocheted using a sport weight yarn that I obtained from a free yarn swap so I’m not exactly sure what it is. It’s a soft yarn with a darker blue ribbon thread that runs through it. I used a pink contrasting yarn to finish off the project. For the newborn sweater, I used a bow tie at the front rather than a button closure but you can switch up the patterns and use either style for your sweater.

I hope you enjoy the free crochet pattern below — Enjoy!

Newborn Sweater Vest Pattern

Finished Newborn baby vest measures: 8-1/2 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches long
Hook: Metal G (4 mm) US sized crochet hook

Materials:
4 ozs – Sport or Aran weight yarn and a small amount for contrasting yarn for trim

Row 1 (Back piece)
Ch 36

Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag

January 14, 2011 6 comments
Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag


I present the jumbo plarn beach bag. This is the largest recycled plastic bag that I have ever crocheted. It measures 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall. It features a 30 inch long strap that you pull through the front opening to secure your beach bag closed. Then because the strap is long, you can throw it over your shoulder and off you can go.

So if you need a jumbo beach bag or maybe you want an extra large grocery tote, this plastic bag pattern will definitely fill your needs. It also allows you to use several different colors of recycled plastic bags for the stripes. The colorful stripes add a nice touch to the otherwise plain white bags that are so abundant.

Free Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One very large ball of plastic bag yarn or Plarn
Approx. 80 white plastic grocery bags for main bag
15 grey and 8 pink plastic bags for stripes

Hook: N (9 mm) U.S. size metal hook
Description: Jumbo Plarn Beach Bag
Bag measures 16 inches wide and 20 inches long with 30 inch strap

Directions:
Ch 34

T-Yarn Magnifying Glass Case

January 7, 2011 2 comments
T-Yarn Magnifying Glass Case

I recently bought this magnifying glass and it did not come with a case. Well unless you have a case, you can’t toss it in a drawer without it getting scratched. So I set out to crochet myself a little cozy to protect the glass. I wanted something stiff and protective so I used a ball of t-yarn that I had leftover from a tank top that I cut up.

I cut my t-yarn or tarn only about 3/8 inch wide and then gently stretched it. Here is my t-yarn tutorial for the details on how I prepare my t-shirts into a yarn material. I only needed a small ball of t-yarn for this project and believe it only required about half the front of the tank top to make this magnifying glass case.

Click to Super-Size Photos

Here is another photo showing the glass as you pull it out of the case. Because the t-shirt yarn is stiff, the glass doesn’t need a closure and stays put inside nicely as I crocheted my cozy with a snug fit. My magnifying glass is 3 inches wide and the pattern below is for a cozy for this size glass. Adjust your stitches for a smaller or larger glass as you work your increases at the beginning. I kept constantly checking my fit after the first several rounds. I worked this project in the round and just made sure the glass fit inside the cozy as I crocheted further. Once you reach the correct width of the glass, you work single crochet stitches evenly to finish. Hope this makes sense and email me if you have any questions as you work the crochet pattern.

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Free T-Yarn Magnifying Glass Case Cozy Pattern

Materials needed:
Small amount piece of a t-shirt cut into 3/8-1/2″ inch wide strips and gently pulled to curl your t-yarn or tarn

Hook: H (5 mm) U.S. size metal crochet hook

Finished Case Cozy: 3-1/2″ wide x 3-3/4″ long
Fits a 3″ wide Magnifying glass

Using T-yarn, Ch 4.

Flowered Ana Sweater Vest

January 1, 2011 5 comments
Flowered Ana Sweater Vest

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2011 and I hope you all are planning all kinds of fun and frugal craft projects for the new year. Me, I’m working on a newborn sized Ana sweater shell. I have had several people ask for a smaller version of my Ana sweater pattern as the original pattern is about a size 2. So you know me, ask and you will receive. Anyway I should have the newborn sweater pattern posted in a few weeks as I’m just finishing it up now.

A reader just shared her finished Ana sweater vest with me. Sara, who I might add is just 13 years old, sent me these photos of her vest that she crocheted using my pattern. She added these adorable flowers and used contrasting yarn to trim her Ana sweater vest. I just love Sara’s embellishments and admire her crocheting talent at just 13 years old. It has been my pleasure to share Sara’s beautiful vest with all my readers. Enjoy and make it a great new year!

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About Me

Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. Welcome to my blog site that is dedicated to recycling and crafting. I love to crochet and create crafts and other useful things from recycled materials. I share many free tutorials and patterns for creating recycled projects as well as other handmade items.


Here is a direct link to all my free patterns available here on My Recycled Bags.


Thank you for stopping by to visit and for your interest in My Recycled Bags!