I have great news and a reason to smile. I just completed another round of scans and an ultrasound. I am NED! If you aren’t familiar with the term NED, it means No Evidence of Disease when referring to someone who has had cancer. I am happy to report all my scans and tests are clear. It’s as one doctor said to me today, it’s all good — be assured there is no sign of cancer.
It’s been since March 2008, that I have been battling breast cancer. Once you’ve had cancer, you tend to think about it’s return. You try and not worry about a recurrence. At first it’s about all one can do but not think about it’s return. But as time goes on it does get better. The reassurances that it has not returned is empowering. Things haven’t always been easy and I still have a few aches and pains from surgery and radiation. But overall I am feeling pretty good and have basically gotten my life and activities back to normal now. So I smile and say that I love NED. I hope and pray I stay that way forever. Until the next scans and follow-ups, I am reminding myself to enjoy life today and to be happy I am beating cancer each and every precious day.
I want to share some of my readers creations that have been emailed to me. Several of my crafty readers have sent me photos of their completed plarn (plastic bag yarn), VCR, and cassette tape recycled bags. I just love seeing everyone’s finished projects and hope you enjoy them too. Click on any of the photos to supersize them.
Libby’s Motif Tote Bag
Libby from Texas used my colorful granny square motif pattern to crochet her bag. She did put one more row of sc around the top before starting the handle. You can find the free pattern link for this recycled plastic tote bag here.
Libby’s Cassette Tape Beaded Bag
Libby’s brown evening purse was made with two strands of cassette tape and two strands of brown ribbon that came from a sweater she unraveled. How cool is that its double recycled! She wanted a purse with beads in the strap, so she added some beautiful beads and used a nifty knitter for the rest of the strap. A magnetic button closure was added with beads glued to cover the prongs on the outside.
Another reader Diane has been busy creating several of my recycled bag patterns. First she shared with me the hobo bag that she made using this recycled plastic bag pattern. She tweaked the pattern by adding a cell phone pocket, used a zipper instead of a magnetic snap and put other pockets in the lining.
Diane’s Blue Ribbon Hobo Purse
Diane also crocheted a plastic tote bag using my colorful motif pattern. She completed her tote bag by lining it with some pretty material that matched her motifs.
Then Diane used my green shopping bag pattern found here to crochet her yellow reusable grocery bag.
Next Bonnye shared some VCR tape bags she crocheted with fun fur added. As shown below she used recycled VCR video tape and fun fur together to create some very cool looking bags!
Thanks to all my readers who sent in photos sharing their recycled crafting projects. I really enjoyed all your beautiful work with upcycled materials. Keep those great green craft projects coming!
It’s a Flower Power Plarn Tote Bag!
As I have stated before, white plastic bags are about all I can get on a consistent basis so here is my latest idea to bring more color and charm to my recycled tote bags. I added several colorful flowers that have been crocheted from recycled plastic bags. Since each flower takes only about one plastic bag, it is easy to add some bright and pretty flowers to a otherwise plain tote bag. To view the finished details of the above tote, just click on the photo to supersize it. I also added some ribbon and a bow tie at the center front of my recycled tote to complete the project.
Below you will find another addition to my library of plarn patterns that I offer here free. Here is the link to see a complete list of all my free patterns.
Free Crocheted Flower Power Tote Bag Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn approx. 40-45 bags
A few plastic bags of several different colors for flowers
Small amount of ribbon for bow tie if desired
Hooks:
Q USA size plastic hook
N USA size metal hook for handles and J hook for flowers
Description: Large Plarn Tote Bag
Bag measures 13 inches wide and 14 inches long
Directions:
Using Q hook, Ch 20.
Here is my first curled T-shirt yarn or T-yarn project. Curled T-yarn is created by cutting an old recycled tee-shirt into strips and then stretching the strip so it curls in on itself. This creates a circular-type yarn from the t-shirt strip. Here is my picture tutorial on how I make recycled curled T-shirt yarn. My finished project is done in a basic motif granny stitch pattern. This trivet hotpad is not only very frugal as it didn’t cost me anything, it’s also an excellent way to upcycle old tee-shirts into a new cool reusable item.
All photos are clickable to supersize them
Here is a closeup of the T-yarn once its cut and stretched.
Free T-Yarn Motif Hotpad Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One large t-shirt without side seams (blue) – Cut and stretched into approx. 65 yards of T-yarn
Small amount of contrasting T-Yarn (white)
Hook: J U.S. size metal crochet hook
Finished Hotpad Trivet: 7 inches wide
With center color Ch 4, Sl St to form ring.
This is a tutorial on how to make T-yarn from old recycled tee-shirts. T-yarn maybe a new term to you. T-yarn or Tarn is what the yarn is being called that is made from cutting t-shirts into strips for crafting.
The best t-shirts are ones that do not have side seams as you can cut around and around starting at the bottom. First cut off the hem and then with a sharp pair of scissors cut strips about 1/2″ to 3/4″ wide. Cut in one continuous strip as I have shown here.
All photos are clickable to supersize them
I stopped at the armhole openings as this was the end of my continuous strip that is completely one piece cut in rounds. You can cut off the sleeves and start another continuous strip at this point but it’s not as smooth as the main body because you will have curves in your strip where you have to turn the corners.
To create the circular T-yarn, you gently pull on the strip. I found the best way to do this is by taking a short length about 1-2 feet long and stretching it. The stretching causes the tee-shirt strip to turn in on itself thus creating your rounded T-yarn. One important warning is not to pull too hard otherwise the strip breaks. I did have this happen on my first attempts so be advised to gently pull on the strip until it won’t stretch any further. Then you move to the next section of your strand and stretch it again. Continue stretching your strip until the whole long continuous strand has been stretched and is curled as shown in the photo.
Click to supersize
Here is a small sample of what the curled T-yarn looks like when you crochet with it. It’s smooth to work with and has a nice finished look. You can either crochet or knit with the recycled yarn that has been created. This circular T-yarn would make excellent potholders, trivets and of course is perfect for a recycled tote bag. One large tee-shirt netted about 90 yards of T-yarn once stretched. So grab your crochet hook or knitting needles and experiment with this recycled material to create some wonderful eco craft projects.
Today I want to share some free patterns from a few friends of mine over at Crochetville. Crochetville is a crochet forum where ideas, patterns, friendships, and finished projects are shared among all the craft members.
Here is a scrubbie I made using Rachel’s pattern that she calls her all purpose scrubbie. As soon as I saw this handy scrubber, I knew I had to crochet it and add some of my recycled plastic to the project. So I added some recycled lettuce netting along with Sugar and Cream Country Stripes cotton yarn on rounds 2-5 on the bottom only. And because I’m lazy and don’t like to sew, I just put my two round disks together and worked SC sts around to join the two together. Rachel’s pattern calls for using a yarn needle to join the two rounds together so use whichever method you desire to complete your scrubber.
If you need a tutorial on how to make and crochet with the recycled plastic lettuce netting you can find it here. Here is Rachel’s free all purpose scrubbie pattern link.
Next I present Rhelena’s dishcloth that features a granny style stitching. Here is the free pattern link. The only thing I added to her pattern was a sl st around the center circle to tie in my yarns as I used up a bit of scrap yarn I had for the center. The main dishcloth was crocheted using the same Sugar and Cream Country Stripes cotton yarn that I used in my scrubbie project. I really like this yarn as it naturally provides you a type of striping to your crochet items.
Well this wraps up my latest addition of crocheting with recycled materials here at My Recycled Bags. By adding the recycled lettuce netting, my scrubbie is extra durable but gentle enough to use on non-stick pans. My dishcloth completes the kitchen set which I will be saving for a future gift-giving idea.
Recycled your old tee-shirts into a cute handbag. I crocheted this purse using two t-shirts and a part of another for the striping. I added a flower as an embellishment and here is my final result.
Click to supersize photos
Here is a photo showing how I cut around the tee-shirt to create “yarn” to crochet with. You just continue cutting in one continuous strip and go around corners as shown. If you do need to join two strips, either overlap and weave under your ends or join splicing strips together by either hand or machine stitching the ends together. Another method that doesn’t require sewing the strips together is to make a small slit hole at the end of the two strips you need to splice together. The slit should be cut lengthwise only about 1/2 inch from the end of the strip and should only be big enough to allow the next strip to pass through it. Hold the two strips with the holes together then take the uncut end and lace it through two holes. Pull the strip completely through the holes and pull tight to make the splice as small as possible.
Have fun with this project by recycling your tee-shirts into a charming eco-friendly handbag. The materials are free and so is the crochet pattern below.
Free Crocheted Recycled Tee-Shirt Bag Pattern
Bag measures 10 inches wide and 9″ long with 8″ handles.
Material: Three different colored tee-shirts cut into 1/2″ to 3/4 inch strips
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 12
I have been saving grey plastic bags for several years until I had enough to crochet this recycled plastic bag (plarn) net market bag. I’m happy to say that I was finally able to finish the bag using this unique colored plastic bags. You may recognize this open netted bag as it is a variation of another market bag I crocheted that had long straps. Both recycled bag patterns feature an expandable sturdy bottom and an open netting look for the main body of the bag.
If you prefer the longer straps on your market bag, here is the free pattern link for the white market bag with 18 inch long straps that is pictured below.
So mix and match the straps or bag colors as desired to create your eco-friendly market tote bag. Below is the pattern for the grey market bag with 8 inch handles. Enjoy the project and happy recycled green crafting to all!
Free Recycled Plastic Net Market Bag Pattern
Bag measures 14 inches wide and 14″ long with 8 inch handles
Materials: One large ball of plarn (plastic bag yarn) Appox. 45 bags
My picture tutorial is found here on how to make plarn yarn from plastic bags
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) US size hook
Chain 24
I’m excited to share with you all my recycled plastic bracelet that was crocheted from bread bags and plastic packaging material. I just love the colors and look of the bracelet. I added this blue button but then I found this cool pink glittery button and had to try it on the bracelet too. Which one do you like better? I really love them both!
Click to supersize any of the photos
I also want to mention that I used one of those big plastic packages that toilet paper rolls come in to complete this project. It had such pretty blue and pink colors and I was able to cut it into 1/2 inch wide strips and joined the ends just as I do here with my regular plarn (plastic bag yarn) making projects. So roundup some plastic and upcycle yourself this fashion bracelet. I guarantee that yours will be one of a kind and be a definite eco fashion statement when you wear it. Enjoy!
Free Crochet Pattern for Recycled Plastic Bracelet
Materials needed:
One small ball of plastic bread bags cut into 1/2 inches to 5/8 inches strips
Approx. 4-6 bags
1) 1/2 inch button
Hook: N (9 mm) size metal hook
Description: Recycled Plastic Bracelet
Bracelet measures 1-1/2 inches wide and 10 inches long
with wrist opening appox. 8 inches around
Directions:
Ch 21
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