Crocheted Polypropylene Grocery Bag

What's a crafter to do with polypropylene string? I can't remember the title of the book that I saw this idea in, but I picked up some string to make up my own pattern.

I started from the bottom up, finishing with the straps. I don't like to get too fancy with my crocheting so it's all chains, single and double crochets.

I really like how this bag turned out, and who knew polypropylene string came in pretty colors! I have this blue shown here as well as red which you can see in the bag, just above the bananas.

(Pattern disclaimer! I just quickly jotted down what I remember of how I made this bag. If you happen to try this pattern and it reads all screwy, let me know and I will try to decode it for you. I will not pretend to be a pro, I really don't do a lot of crocheting... Also, this is just my interpretation of a bag I saw in a book I can't remember the name of. I don't mean to rip off the pattern at all!)

Pattern: Crocheted Polypropylene Grocery Bag

Bag is made from bottom up in the round.

-Chain 25.

-Single crochet all the way down one side of chain and back up the other side and slip stitch to join to work in the round.

-Chain 2 to begin round and work single crochet for 2 rounds.

-Chain 3 to begin round and work double crochet for 2 rounds.

-Chain 5 to begin round, (*skip 1 space, double crochet into next space, chain 3*) repeat (*to*) until end of round, slip stitch into 3rd chain from beginning of round to join.

-Slip stitch into next 2 chains, chain 5 to begin round, (*double crochet into next space (between double crochets), chain 3*) repeat (*to*) until end of round, slip stitch into 3rd chain from beginning of round to join. Do 11 rounds like this.

-Chain 2 to begin round and work single crochet for 2 rounds.

-Work single crochet around both single crochet rounds together to create a bigger, sturdier round for the bags edge.

Strap Directions

-Lay flat (to help determine where the straps will be attached.)

-Slip stitch to about 1 1/2 inches in from side.

-Chain 3, double crochet into next 4 spaces. (5 double crochet-wide strap.) Turn.

-Work until strap reaches desired length. I made mine 19 inches.

-Hold strap end to 1 1/2 inches in from opposite side and single crochet together to join.

-Slip stitch around to other side until about 1 1/2 inches in from side. Repeat strap directions for second strap.

I don't know that hook gauge needs to be too specific. I used a 5mm and my bag ended up measuring 14" top to bottom, 10" across at the bottom and 14" across at the top. Straps measure 19".

Another thing to note, the single and double crochet at the bottom does not stretch as readily as the loosely chained body of the bag. I like it this way but you could always omit the double crochet section and start right in on the body portion of the pattern.

New rug & new shirt

New crocheted rug for the bathroom!

This rug has been a long time WIP. Ever since we'd painted our bathroom I'd been meaning to make a new rug to match. Now, finally it is done. I'd scrapped the original idea I'd had because seriously, who wants to do many laborious bullion stitches for plumpness when you can do easy, sexy little single crochets with 3 strands of yarn for sturdiness? Much more practical I think!

~Specs~

Pattern:
I made it up. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately. Basically I made a chain to the length I wanted and single crocheted until I'd reached the desired width. Then I single crocheted around the entire thing for edging, finished by threading through around the entire edge to help the rug keep it's shape. Voila!

Yarn:
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton - 100% cotton /2.5 balls @ 340g

Needles:
10.00mm plastic crochet hook

Pros:
Easy and quick.

Cons:
The rug does not fit under the door when it swings open or close. Doh! Also, the edges of the rug were all rippled and loosey goosey until I threaded through the edge with leftover yarn.

My new tank top!

Love, love, love this shirt! In a frenzy of inspiration I whipped this baby up. I used one of my Fella's old shirts and a pair of lacy underwear that I had never worn but had kept around... which I can now justify!

Here is the how-to:

1) Using one of my well-fitting tank tops as a template I pinned the outline on the old shirt.
2)I cut following the outline, (though I free-handed the neckline, eek!) unpinned, turned the cut shirt inside out and pinned sides to be sewn.
3)Sewed up sides with a straight stitch then went over again with a zigzag for reinforcement.
4)Cut up lacy underwear and pinned around neckline on wrong side. Sewed on lace with straight stitch.
5)Went around back of neck line with straight stitch for reinforcement.
6)Sewed on ties at top of shoulder with zigzag stitch. Gathered fabric at shoulder and tied ties.

Honestly, this is one of the most comfortable shirts I own now.

Little Quickies -FO's

Yesterday my Fella and I purchased a new coffee table. It's got cool little hidden drawers on the sides and the top of the table has a glass covering. We've got all sorts of ideas of what to put underneath the glass for display/decorations so stay tuned for that. I decided that even though I am not the coaster-using kind of girl, this table would require some on account of the glass covering. So I whipped these little babies up. I don't crochet often so I was a little rusty at first.

~Specs~

Pattern:
Various sample flower patterns from some old photocopies I found.

Yarn:
Louet Euroflax - 1/4 ball leftover from a previous project. (Full ball: 270yrds/100g)
100% Wet Spun Linen

Crochet Hook: 3.50mm

Pros:
Quick and dirty. I like my crochet in small doses.

Cons:
Not the friendliest yarn to use. It's kind of rough on the hands but I still really like the results. I think I will leave this yarn for weaving from now on.

And speaking of weaving! After all the slow and steady I switched into speed-crafty mode this weekend. I was inspired into weaving this scarf while I was ogling my stash. (yeah, I admit it!) It's just a bunch of sock yarn but I love it. Sort of a retro orange flavour.

~Specs~

Pattern: My own (148 ends)

Yarn: -Warp-DG Confetti Superwash-2 balls (75% Superwash wool/25% Nylon) 210m/50g
-Weft- Sisu-1 ball (80% Virgin wool/20% Nylon) 160m/50g

Reed size: 12.5 dpi (30/10cm)