Plarn!!!

OK, so how many of you out there have heard of plarn? For those of you who haven't, plarn is a term used for plastic yarn made from recycled bags like grocery bags, bread bags, newspaper bags, trash bags, and even VCR and Cassette tapes... the possibilities are endless. I found this information on a website called "My Recycled Bags". This site has not only instructions for making your own plarn, but also has tips for attaining recycled bags, maintaining this plarn, and even crochet patterns for bibs, bags, coasters, and more. So after a few failed attempts at creating something with this plarn I finally sat down and worked on something simple. I made the bag below from 2 SC squares that I stitched together and added a SC strap. Also pictured below are 2 coasters I made randomly without a pattern.. I still need to trim my tails and warm them to get them to lay flat but all in all they look pretty good! When I have enough bags I am going to make a rug for my kitchen!

Sarah's Quick and Simple Baby Booties

If anyone has any corrections, tips, or thoughts on how to better write this pattern, please leave me a comment!

Skill Level: Easy

Project Time: It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to do 1 bootie. So about 2.5 – 3 hours.

Materials:
4.00mm (G) Crochet Hook
1-2 Ounces Sport Weight Yarn (I used Bernat Baby Coordinates)

Size:
Fits 4” sole and 5 ½ “ ankle

Stitches and Abbreviations Used:
Ch – Chain
DC – Double Crochet
Slst – Slip Stitch
DC FP – Double Crochet in Front Post (for this pattern FP is inside the ankle)
DC BP – Double Crochet in Back Post (for this pattern BP is outside the ankle)
Tog – Together
Rnd – Round

To make smaller or larger always Ch the number of DC you want to do and add 2 Ch (example: this pattern uses 39 DC you Ch 41).

-Boot-

Ch 41
Row 1: DC in 4th Ch from hook. 1 DC in each Ch to end (39 DC). Ch 3 and turn.
Rows 2-7: *Miss 1st DC, 1 DC in each DC to end Ch 3 and turn.* Repeat from * to * 6 times for a total of 7 rows.
Finish Off

-Closing Boot-

Fold in Half
Toe: Slst tog in DC #19 and #21 (from end in top). Slst 8 more times (#’s 18 & 22, 17 & 23, 16 & 24, etc.) for a total of 9 Slst. Finish off.
Sole: Slst tog in DC # 19 and #21 to end(#’s 18 & 22, 17 & 23, 16 & 24, etc.). DO NOT FINISH OFF continue to heel.
Heel: Slst tog up heel opening. Ch 1 and turn inside out (right side out)

-Ankle-

Rnd 1: Ch 2, DC FP, DC BP, alternating between FP and BP all around. Join with Slst in top of Ch 2. (I ended up with fp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp, fp, bp)
Rnds 2 & 3: Ch 2 DC FP, DC BP, alternating between FP and BP all around. Join with Slst in top of Ch 2. Finish Off.

Weave in and trim tails.

Hair Bands and Car Accessory Cases (photos)

Good morning! I finally have a couple pictures. I took individual pictures of the scrunchies, but they didn't work out very well. So right now I only have a "group" picture. Enjoy!

From Left to Right: Lacey Hair Scrunchie, Mini Lacy Hair Scrunchie(same as the first one but minus rnd 3), Floral Scrunchie, and the last two(rainbow and white) are two I created... the white one also has purple in it. These were all made with Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn except for the rainbow one, it was made with a WW yarn of an unknown brand.

This is the face plate cover for my car CD player. It was fun to make and only took about an hour or so. Its made with Caron 1 Pound Black yarn and Bernat Baby Coordinates Pink Yarn all in DC

Hair Bands and Car Accessory Cases

I don't have pictures yet... but I wanted to tell you about my recent experiments.
I got my very first car 2 weeks ago and it has one of those CD players with the removable face plates. My husband and I were real worried that I would break it by putting it in my purse, so I crocheted a case for it with Caron 1 Pound black yarn and Bernat Baby Coordinates pink yarn. Its so thick and strong. I love it.
Last night I was bored and while looking for baby crochet patterns I came across a blog with a pattern for a hair scrunchie. I decided to give it a try. My, it turned out beautiful... so I made 2 more in different random patterns. I will make more with my scrap yarn and maybe try to sell them too. Ill post pictures later.

Baby Blanket

This is the second baby blaket I have made. I made this for a friend who just had her baby last week. It is made with Bernat Baby Coordinates purple and white yarn. I attached a pink and purple flower with a white and purple center on the corner. I made a simple pink blanket for my cousin's baby girl last Chrismas with Bernat Baby Coordinates Light Pink and White yarn. I don't have pictures of it though, so I will just share this one with you.

Baby Sets

I have had a wonderful time making these baby sets as they have been a great learning experience for me. Although I have never made hats or bibs before now, I do consider myself an almost pro at baby booties as I have been making them for almost a year now.
I gave the blue set to my cousin who is expecting her first baby this month. I still don't know what I am going to do with the pink and white sets. I toyed with the idea of selling them and giving 50-75% to charities like Knitting for Noggins with Arkansas Children's Hospital, Project Linus, Wings of Hope - Crafty Angels, and Heavenly Angels in Need. I thought about either sending them supplies, money and/or items I crocheted myself. But at the moment I'm not quite sure how to get these items sold. I've thought about ebay and etsy. I think I still need to pray about it.
So are you ready for some pictures?