Crocheted kitchen scrubber

Another great recycle project born out of need.

I used Plarn to make kitchen scrubbers.

If you have never used Plarn its super simple. You can use a variety of items for plarn. One of my favorites is to just cut up plastic grocery bags. I have also used broken VCR tapes or Cassette tapes. These work well if you have something that you want to make that is larger then a small item like a kitchen scrubber.

So for this item I cut up plastic bags and then tied the ends together to make one long piece that i could crochet together. I left ends on so that I could stuff them inside of the scrubber for extra scrunch.

Making strips out of plastic bags:

Crocheting with cotton yarn and plastic held together.

Directions are simple:
Chain 3 Double crochet into first chain 3 space like this:

double crochet into that same space 10 times, Slip stitch into top of first chain.
looks like this:

Single crochet 2 times in the back loop of each double crochet around (20 stitches) Slip stitch into first SC.
like this:

Single crochet into next two single crochets, then 2 single crochets into next single, around.

3rd round is single crochets all the way around, finish off one of these rounds, you need two.

Finished off one:

The inside:

Second one not finished off:

with the wrong sides together (and all the plastic tails tucked inside) single crochet the two together like so:

Crocheting them together:

You now have a finished scrubber:

*sorry for some of the blurry pictures I had little ones sitting next to me and they can not sit still! *

Recycled Skirt

Today I got to sew. I spent hours sewing in fact. Its the first time since we moved that I have had the sewing machine out, So of course I over did it.

I started this project a while back (probably 8 months ago, before my life turned upside down) So I do not have any pictures of how these jeans started out, or the dress that I used either. But the new skirt and its many stages have pictures.

I started with an old beloved pair of jeans that had worn to thin in the thigh area to be suitable to wear any longer. I cut cut off the legs just at the fold for the crotch. (sorry there is no nice way to say that when you are talking about sewing old clothes) I left the top part of the jeans in tact. I then disassembled a less then flattering very out dated, someone donated it to me dress. The print is a cute little floral number that I love but the cut and style were very dated and just not so flattering. We wont mention the buttons... yes they were that bad.

Once I got the dress into pieces I started to assemble the layers. I needed to take two strips and sew them together then I ran stay stitching around the top.

It looked like this:

Once that was finished I started the long process of pinning the piece to the top half of the skirt while I pulled the thread to add small gathers to the floral part.

Like This:

Once I had a million pins in the thing I began to sew it together. First I sewed it inside out, then I flipped it and sewed it with a top stitch (in the ditch) as shown below.

First row completed it looked like this:

Then I moved onto the second tier, which is another layer of the same floral fabric.

Second Tier added

 I turned and top stitched (in the ditch) each layer for added strength.

closer look of stitching in the ditch

Then I decided to finish off the edge with some eyelet lace. It gave it a nice finished look and its a perfectly comfortable skirt.

Eyelet going on one way

Eyelet flipped and being top stitched in place

I got a cute skirt that cost me nothing more then a little time and energy. Its all completely recycled right down to the eyelet lace that once belonged to my grandmother.

Ignore the backdrop, just look at the cute skirt!
Please?

Craft purchasing etiquette

If you are someone who loves to purchase hand made crafts because you yourself are not crafty but can appreciate someone who is you should know a few things.

1. A crafters time is worth the money they charge for their items.

2. Just because you can find similar items cheaper at a box store does not mean they are worth less money.

3. Placing an "order" with someone you know who crafts, be it knit, crochet, sew, beading etc is not a polite way of asking if the person would be willing to make something for you.

4. Gushing profusely is completely appropriate.

5. Yes a handmade blanket REALLY costs THAT much! (see rule 1 for proof)

6. Unless a crafter has a booth, an online store, or other venue do not assume that they are willing to make and sell their crafted items.

7. Do not assume that a crafter is willing to create special items with your favorite color choices.

8. Compliment the crafter on their hard work, abilities, and color schemes.

9. Always tell people who the crafter is that created the item you love so much, when possible hand out extra business cards. If rule number 6 applies!

10. Share these rules with everyone you know so that we can all support one another.

* yes I am a crafter! I love to crochet, make jewelery, and sew. I however have gotten away from selling my items OR making them for people who do not appreciate them. To many people seem to think since they can buy a knit cap from a box store that my lovely crocheted items should be less expensive. The yarn alone costs between $5-10.00 and the hours it takes me to sit and make an item are still worth being paid a wage per hour. I am an expert in my field of crochet, which means I do very advanced patterns and my items are sturdy. They last a long time and are well put together. Yes you could probably find an item that would "work" just as well as my lovely handmade items, however they will be just like everyone else's. They also are machine made and took a fraction of the time to complete.

To many choices, help me decide!

With the start of fall I am raring to get my hands on my yarn and start creating! I LOVE this time of year. I have spent hours upon hours already trying desperately to decide what my next project should be. I have an idea of what I am looking for but just can not seem to settle on one style yet. Over the years I have crocheted many beautiful things for many beautiful people but rarely do I make things for myself. The reason I taught myself to crochet is because I wanted to make beautiful things for ME. I wanted hand made sweaters and beautiful blankets to cuddle under. I wanted all these things and instead I taught myself to crochet and made beautiful things for everyone around me. most babies who have been born in the last 15 years in my family, or near and dear friends got a hand made baby blanket as a gift. I have created blankets for each of the children, although my little ones need new ones not baby blankets. The first time I made something for myself was last year when I created the Wool Eater

Now I am ready to create new things for myself. My husband bought me some wonderful alpaca yarn back in February when we went to Fort Bragg California, in a little shop in Mendocino called 

The Mendocino Yarn shop

I loved that little shop, we spent some great time in there touching all the different yarn, except I avoided the wool since I am so ultra sensitive to it! This is where I learned that I am not sensitive to alpaca, and as a gift my wonderful hubby bought me some beautiful stuff, one large black skien, and then 3 smaller skien's in blues. I originally thought I would do this wonderful shall in all the colors but have since changed my mind. 

So now I am trying to decide what I am going to do, I will eventually choose I am sure but for now the choices seem like there are just to many! I have decided that I will put it out there and share some of the patterns I am looking at and ask the public for an opinion. I want something that is versatile enough to be dressed up or down. I want it to be open in the front not closed. But I can't seem to decide if I want it to be rounded at the bottom or pointed into a V shape. I have so many choices to make! Each of these patterns are free patterns and I will likely modify one to be something I want but here are the styles I am looking at. 

All Shall

Vintage style

Cozy shawl

Caplet, closed and I want it open, but I love this style

I think this is elegant and beautiful

this is just a rectangle shawl, but can be wrapped beautifully

Seraphina shall, this was the original inspiration

hand made clasp

back of shawl, I made for a friend

front of shawl, I created this myself

So these are the choices. please tell me what do you think? Which of these lovely shawls should I choose? I am so torn! They are all beautiful and lovely! I just cant decide which I love the most. Post a reply on this blog and let me know what you think. 

The shawl that I made for a friend is not what I am looking for but mostly just a sampling of one that I have done. I do think it was beautiful and I will be creating my own clasp to close the shawl with, but I do not want a shawl that is exactly like this one. This was done for a dainty little person and I am not that person. :) 

Place your vote! 

Fall

I love the fall.

I love the crisp air and the anticipation of cooler weather.

I love the smell of rain on the earth.

I long for days spent quietly with a good book.

I am a crafter and I long for a craft room where I can lock the door behind me and just create.

inside of the diaper bag I made for my cousin.

                            The outside of the diaper bag.

A post stitch crocheted baby blanket for my cousins baby. Booties to match. 

The most colorful star ripple blanket made for a dear dear friend. I have made a couple of baby blankets that have the same pattern but I love this one with all the vibrant colors. 

Relaxation masks filled with a blend of lavender & rice. They make wonderful soothers for headaches and are good either hot or cold. 

I love to create wearable fun jewelery too

My favorite thing that I have made was made for myself for the first time in over 15 years. It is called the Wool Eater and I love this blanket. it reminds me of fall. It is lap blanket size and had I not run out of yarn I would have made it larger, but it is perfect for sitting under with that afore mentioned good book. 

I think the time has come for me to break out my crafting skills again, they always seem to take a back seat in the summer as I am usually busy doing so many other things. The fall is when the crafting bug starts to hit and I have miles of yarn that need to be used, yards of fabric that are calling for me, piles of beads that are screaming to be made into something beautiful to wear and lets not forget all the creations in the kitchen I am longing for. Apple pie, pear torts, fresh baked breads and soups and stews. I love to cook too... perhaps tomorrows blog will delve into that subject. Today I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into things I love & have created.