
One of my goals this year was to learn the crocodile stitch. I watched several you-tube videos on the stitch and while there are a few different variations, the stitch is generally crocheted the same. Some people work a chain stitch between scales and others end the rows a little differently.
Here is a quick and simple little crocheted baby bib pattern I came up with using the crocodile stitch. If you are learning this stitch for the first time, you may find this instructional post and video helpful as you learn the stitch. The crocodile stitch is easy once you get the hang of working the base rows and scale rows. I hope you enjoy crocheting the baby bib pattern and working the crocodile stitch.
Crocodile Baby Bib Pattern
I (5.5 mm) hook and H (5 mm) hook for edging
1-3/4 oz / 80 yards of Cotton Yarn (Sugar’n Cream Pinky Stripes used)
Baby bib measures 7 inches wide x 7 inches long with 9 inch ties.
Directions:
Row 1
With I hook, Ch 18 loosely. Dc in 3rd chain from hook.
*Ch 2, Skip 2 Ch, 2 Dc* repeat until the end of the chain. (6 2-Dc sets)

Here is Barbie’s little black dress that I crocheted with some fingering yarn. This is a variation of my Barbie baby doll top pattern. I took the original pattern and made a few modifications to create this dress pattern for a small Barbie doll.
I worked even on 20 sts from row 2 with a G (4 mm) crochet hook. Repeated row 11 for 5 rounds to round 15.

This week’s project is a bit different. It involves recycling plastic balloon bags and creating a pump holder. Let me explain the story behind this project. I was contacted by TristnShout Balloons to see if I was interested in recycling their empty balloon bags. Apparently they have an abundance of empty balloon bags and wondered if I’d be interested in crafting with them. They also expressed the need for a holder to hold their portable air pumps that they use to fill balloons.
After a discussion with them, it was agreed that I would design and craft a holder for their balloon air pump using the recycled plastic balloon bags. I made four of these balloon holders from the bags they sent to me.
I have shared the free crochet pattern below should anyone want to make this bag holder. The pattern would work for a water bottle holder as well as other uses. The holder was designed to have a strap added for carrying as shown. With the large eyelets on each side, it could also be used on a person’s belt by threading through one of the eyelets.
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Recycled Plastic Balloon Bag Holder Crochet Pattern
Bag measures 4 inches wide and 9-1/2″ long with 1-1/2 inch hole in bottom
Materials: One ball of plastic yarn made from balloon bags- Approx. 30 bags

It’s Christmas Eve 2012 and so it seems appropriate to share some Christmas snowflakes. I crocheted these Christmas snowflakes for gifts this year. I made two potholders using this crocheted snowflake pattern. I worked the snowflake on the front panel only and then a solid single crochet piece for the back of the potholders. The back panel is 27 stitches wide for 30 rows using a G hook.
Then I crocheted just the snowflake using an H (5 mm) crochet hook to create a dishcloth. The result is a 8-1/2 inch square cloth. I added the dishcloth along with

Here is a hotpad I crocheted using my T-yarn trivet pattern. This hotpad’s yarn is a combination of a white t-shirt cut into a very narrow strip to create what I call t-yarn and some leftover Red Heart chunky blue yarn.
I crocheted with the white t-yarn for the center and scalloped edging. I did one extra round with the blue chunky yarn to make the hotpad just a bit bigger and to use up the small amount remaining. The result is a hotpad trivet that is 8-1/2 inches square.
I wanted to use the chunky acrylic yarn to show how a t-shirt yarn pattern can be used with regular yarn too. You could also make this hotpad by holding two strands of worst weight yarn together to crochet the pattern. Either way, you end up with a great looking motif hotpad trivet.

I recycled a few more old Christmas cards into Christmas ornaments. This time I made 4 inch round ornaments from some old cards I have been saving. I used a small bowl from the kitchen to make the round circle. I just placed the bowl over the part of the card that I wanted to cut out. It worked well to place it so I could see if I was capturing all the area I wanted for the ornament. Then I just traced around the edge of the bowl with a pencil and cut out the circles.
You can read all the details on how to recycle Christmas cards into ornaments in a previous craft blog I did last month. These are really quick and easy projects and a wonderful way to recycle old Christmas cards.

This recycled bag features a new stitch design that I added for a new look to my latest reusable bag. I call this stitch the Picket Stitch. I have used a similar stitch idea in my picket fence dishcloth pattern and thought it would be interesting to use on a tote bag pattern. It adds a different look and I’m always trying to come up with new ideas for dressing up my recycled bags.

I like to save old Christmas cards to recycle them into new and useful items. In my recycled gift tag post, I cut them to create cute little gift tags that can be used on packages. This year I wanted to use the old cards to create some Christmas ornaments that I could send along to the troops overseas. I know they may not have a tree but they could hang these little ornaments on a knob in their vehicle or hang it in their living area. Maybe the small decoration would remind them of Christmas and bring them a little joy for the holidays.
Materials needed:
Old Christmas cards
Small hole punch
Scissors
Glue
Small crochet hook C (2.75 mm) works well with the small holes
Scraps of yarn (aran, ww, or even sport yarn will work)
Cut two cards to match so that you have front and backs the same size.

Here is a Barbie baby doll top that I crocheted. I added a pair of my Barbie bloomers to complete the set which makes cute baby doll PJs for Barbie.
This set is designed for a Barbie doll with a 3-1/2″ waist and 5-1/4″ hips. You can just crochet the baby doll top and mix and match it with a skirt or pants to create different outfits for Barbie. You could also make the top longer by repeating Row 11 to crochet a cute Barbie dress.
Enjoy the free crochet Barbie baby doll top pattern below.
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Crocheted Barbie Baby Doll Top Pattern
G (4 mm) hook and F (3.5 mm) hook for edging
1 oz of fingering or light sport yarn
1 small button or snap for back closure
Ch 22 with G crochet hook.
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