Here is my latest recycled plastic bag project. It is a crocheted plarn basket made from plastic bags cut about one inch wide and assembled. Just follow the plarn link for more information on how I make my plarn yarn for crocheting. The basket was crocheted using the free recycled plastic basket pattern but seamless. For this project, I did not do the ch-2 or joins. I just working in the round with out joining. I added 3 rounds of single crochet (SC) in pink bags for contrast before starting the handle portion of the basket. For handles on this basket, I chained 14 and skipped 9 stitches for ..read more

I used the Maybelle flower pattern to crochet these cute coasters. The pattern is very versatile as you can use the flower motif for headbands, blankets, bags and many other things by simply joining the flowers. I used a G (4 mm) crochet hook and just a small amount of yellow acrylic and brown suede yarn to make these four coasters. My coasters came out to 5 inches wide. These will be used in a charity auction basket along with wine glasses and a bottle of wine ..read more

I wanted to revisited some of my recycled Valentine’s themed projects. Over the years, I have crocheted and sewn several fun projects that might inspire some of you to try these for Valentine’s Day. Plus it’s eye candy for any plarn and denim lovers out there. Here is a recycled plastic Valentine’s card holder that adults and children can both make together. It uses some pieces of red and white recycled plastic bags, scrap yarn, ribbon and a small remnant of red felt to make. The full picture tutorial and directions can be found at the fused plastic Valentine’s heart link. Here is a little Va ..read more

I have an option now for my original crocheted helmet hat pattern. This option allows for a seamless crocheted hat so you don’t have the noticeable seam down one side. Seamless hat option: Start with a magic circle or you can chain 3 to create a ring to crochet into. You don’t join or work any chain 2 to begin each round. You simply crochet into the next stitch of each round without turning or joining. Round 1 – 6 DC in magic circle (12) Round 2 – 2 SC in each stitch (24) Round 3 – Now starting with original hat pattern, work round 3, and each additional round of increases to 60 or 65 stitche ..read more

Babypoohsmom from Crochetville shared with me her crocheted baby lovey or lovie, using a store-bought stuffed animal. You crochet the lovey separate with a hole in the center for the stuffed animal. This way the lovey can be washed without the stuffed animal if necessary. Using a ponytail hair tie, you crochet around the tie with 36 stitches. I used a H (5 mm) crochet hook for my baby granny stitch lovey. The pattern used is based off this YouTube video. This is a Dollar Store bear that is about 5 inches tall. You can use any type of stuffed animal that you can fit into the center hole. I am ..read more

If you are like me, you just hate not saving those pretty Christmas cards that you receive each year. So let’s recycle those beautiful old cards into something new and keep on enjoying them. Here is a before photo of the cards that I punched holes all around the edges. Next you just need a small crochet hook to work into the holes. I use a small hole punch and a C (2.75 mm) crochet hook in my projects. I have a picture tutorial and full details can be found here on how to make these recycled Christmas card ornaments. Here is one of my favorite cards, that I cut in half and glued the pieces b ..read more

Here are two Christmas towels that I bought at the Dollar Store. They make wonderful holiday themed towels by adding a crocheted towel topper with a jingle bell. I used the double layered towel topper pattern that is a free crochet pattern. I did work the handle on 8 stitches just because this 24/7 cotton yarn is thin. This gives the handle a bit more strength for hanging it up. For the buttonhole, I crocheted 2 chains and skipped 2 stitches for the space for the jingle bell. Depending on the size of the button or jingle bell you use, just adjust your stitches to make the hole big enough for ..read more

This is the 16th Thanksgiving that this blog is celebrating. I can’t believe it’s been that many years since I first started My Recycled Bags back in 2007. But time flies as they say and even faster now that I am older. Wishing everyone a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving ..read more

A few months ago I shared that I dyed my first batch of wool yarn using grape Kool-Aid. I dyed just one white skein of wool yarn in my first attempt. You can read the full post here about how I dyed the yarn using Kool-Aid. I was really happy how my test came out and here are the baby hats I crocheted using that yarn. First I crocheted this ribbed band baby hat. The free crochet pattern is found here. I used a G (4.25 mm) crochet hook for this project and did add few extra rows of the ribbing to reach a hat length of 5 inches long. Next hat was crocheted using the double post baby hat pattern ..read more

I picked up a few of the Halloween kitchen towels at Dollar Tree to add towel toppers to them. These themed towels are a fun and quick project that I am using for a upcoming fundraiser. The towel topper is added to the towel by simply folding it in half and crocheting along the top edge. No cutting or sewing is needed. The first row is challenging but using a fine point steel crochet hook really helps. Once that first row is complete, the rest of the pattern works up very quickly. The free crochet pattern is found here at waffle towel topper. Enjoy and Happy Halloween ..read more