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


Happy Easter

April 15, 2011 4 comments
Happy Easter


With Easter just around the corner, I thought I post some of the recycled Easter baskets that I have crafted in past years. So if you are looking for recycled Easter basket projects, let me share a few links of free patterns with you. This cute green Easter basket was made from a recycled plastic soap base and then I crocheted the top using plastic bags.


Maybe you need something a little smaller, if so check out this mini plarn Easter egg basket. It’s a real quick and easy pattern. Also it only takes about 3 to 4 plastic bags made into plarn to crochet.


Should you need a large Easter basket, here is my big recycled Easter basket that I crocheted from some purple plastic bags that you were given to me several years ago. To this day, I’ve never seen bags this color again and was so fortunate to be given them by a reader of this blog.

I hope you enjoyed this little parade of recycled Easter baskets that I have crocheted. Happy Easter Everyone!

Mini Recycled Wreaths

December 3, 2010 4 comments
Recycled Bottle Rings


I crafted these Christmas wreaths by using recycled rings from milk, juice, and other bottles for my wreath’s base. The crochet wreath pattern I used can be found over at Ravelry that a blog friend Kristy posted. The ruffled wreath was created by just working more double crochet stitches around. Just add stitches to get the desired ruffling for your wreath.

By using rings that you recycle from bottles and jugs, you can save yourself money on crafting supplies as you have no need to purchase plastic rings for your wreaths. Not only can these rings be used for wreaths, they also be used on potholders and other crafting projects that call for round plastic rings.


Here is my green plarn wreath. I crocheted this using plastic recycled from packing pillows cut into plarn. I did just a single round of double crochet stitch around an apple jug ring for this little wreath with a J crochet hook. A small piece of red cotton yarn was used to add a bow to the wreaths. That’s all it takes to make these cute and quick little recycled wreaths. Enjoy!

Green Easter Basket

March 22, 2010 11 comments
Green Easter Basket

My Easter basket project this year uses the bottom of a laundry soap bottle and plastic bags. I cut the bottom off a plastic soap bottle and used it as a base for my Easter basket. I then crocheted around the base and up with recycled plastic bags or plarn.

The pink bunny was crocheted using AmiAmour’s free crochet pattern found here. This is my first official ami animal and while I’m not going into the ami making business, I was pleased with the outcome of my Easter bunny.

Oh and I used cut up plarn for the grass in my Easter basket. That way it can be recycled after the holidays into another project. Happy Easter!

Free Pattern for Recycled Plastic Easter Basket

Materials needed:
Plastic bags cut into 3/4″ strips of white bags (3-4 bags)
And approx. 4-5 bags of green and yellow plastic bags
1) Plastic handle from a soap box or other plastic strap
1) Plastic laundry soap base cut from bottle
Metal punch and hammer for making holes in plastic base

Hooks: H (5 mm) US sized metal hook
and J ( 6 mm) US size crochet hook
Small Steel crochet hook for first round on base

Description: Recycled Plastic Easter Basket
Basket measures 7″ wide and 4-1/4″ tall with 20″ handle strap
at base 6″ wide and 3″ across.

Directions:
Using the base cut from a laundry soap bottle (mine was 6″ long and 3″ wide), punch holes around the base as shown in the photo. I used a metal punch and a hammer to put my holes in the plastic base.

Christmas Towel Toppers

December 18, 2009 3 comments
Christmas Towel Topper


Need a last minute Christmas gift? How about crocheting a quick towel topper? It is a fast and frugal craft project. Here is the free pattern link for my crocheted doubled towel topper. Included with the pattern is a picture tutorial that shows how to create a no-sewing or cutting towel topper.

These towel toppers do work up very quickly and make wonderful gifts for the holidays.
Happy Holidays!

Cute Plarn Snowman

December 9, 2009 9 comments
Plarn Snowman


Check out this cute plarn snowman which was crocheted from recycled plastic bags. This project is being shared here at my crafting blog with permission from Snowcatcher who is the creator of this adorable snowman. Here is the pattern link to the free crochet tutorial for the snowman project which includes the hat and scarf.

Snowcatcher even provides an option to make this cute little guy into a plastic bag keeper rather than just a decoration for Christmas. Anyway I just found this to be such a cute recycled crafting project and am thrilled to be able to share it with all my readers. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Recycled Christmas Gift Bag Ideas

December 12, 2008 10 comments
Christmas Tote

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.

Christmas Kitchen Towel Sets

December 5, 2008 9 comments
Christmas Star Dishcloth

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.

Denim Christmas Stocking

December 8, 2007 11 comments
JeanStocking4

Craft a recycled denim Christmas stocking this holiday. I used a pant leg of some old jeans and a printed stocking panel to make this unique Christmas stocking. I then topped it off with a crocheted top edge and a jingle bell.

Here is the back of the stocking. I left mine plain but you could add embellishments. Another option is to just make your entire stocking like this one and not use a printed panel as I did on the stocking above. Either way your recycled denim Christmas stocking is sure to be one-of-a-kind!

Below is a mini tutorial showing the steps to make your denim Christmas stocking.

Christmas Gift Bag

November 23, 2007 21 comments
GiftBag

Need a quick little Christmas gift bag? Check out this cute crocheted gift bag made from recycled plastic grocery bags.

I added a bit of fun fur on the drawstring and a candy cane to complete this unique bag. You can be creative and add trim around the top edge or just tie a bow as shown below.

This gift bag measures 6 inches wide by 8 inches long with a drawstring closure. Fill your gift bag with candy or maybe even a handcrafted item. Either way it’s a wonderful eco-friendly gift idea that can be reused after Christmas as a little ditty bag or even as a small handbag.

Free Crocheted Recycled Gift Bag Pattern

Materials needed:
One ball of plastic bag yarn aka plarn cut into 1 inch strips
Small amount of fun fur for drawstring (approx. 40 inches long)

Hook:
N (9 mm) size crochet hook for bag and smaller hook for drawstring

Description: Gift Bag
Bag measures 6 inches wide and 8 inches long

Directions:
Ch 3, join with a Sl St to form a ring.



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!