Plastic Bag Tote

I was sent email about how I created the plastic bag tote seen here, so I thought I'd put the information up here so all could view it.

Materials:

• various plastic bags
• size 10 US needles
• coated string for sewing
• blunt eye needle
• pattern: Simple Knits with a Twist by Erica Knight; the pattern can also be found on the DIY Network.

Notes: I cut the bags in 1/2-inch strips starting at the top of the bag and going around and around as though peeling and orange. This way ensures one long continuous strip. I cut the strip off at various intervals so that I could incorporate other bag colors into the ball of "yarn" I was creating. I tied the strips together in knots leaving the ends as is.

I've also included a picture of the type of bag I used. I prefer the thicker ones rather than the flimsy grocery store variety.

This bag was a lot of fun, but a little hard on the hands. I will definitely make another one, trying a different way to put it together. This pattern uses a gusset. for the next one I may just knit one long strip and fold it over. I also would like to try doing this same bag in single crochet.

Earflap Hat

I originally crocheted this hat before my son Jace was born using the pattern from Candy Babies for the hat on the cover. I used Bernat Denimstyle and Lu Lu instead of the Berroco Suede and Plush for the hat. I recently tried it on him since it was now supposed to be his size, but found the hat to have too much height in it. Since it was constructed from the bottom up, it was easy to fix. I frogged about 8 rows and then tried it back on Jace. I only needed 4 more rows for the hat to be the right height, so I decreased every other stitch in each of the 4 rounds. I put it back on Jace after finishing it up, and voila! He has an adorable--and warm--hat to wear for this winter!

Sling and Booties

Here are the pictures of the booties and sling I made for my sister-in-law's shower.

Baby Shower Gifts

I have been working on a few gifts for my sister-in-law's baby shower this Sunday. So far I have crocheted her a baby blanket and sewn a baby sling.

I used Patons Cha Cha eyelash yarn together with some sport weight yarn for the blanket. I just chained the width I wanted it to be and did single crochet rows. I then edged it with Patons Pixie in double crochet. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

For the sling I followed the pattern on the Maya Wraps website. It's a quick sew. I've made a few of these for myself and friends and find that they make great shower gifts! I use mine all the time to carry my baby boy!

I'm also working on baby booties now using a Lion Brand pattern. I have one done so far using Bernat Baby Coordinates doubled instead of the Watercolors yarn called for in the pattern. I hope they fit a newborn. I used needles 2 sizes larger than the pattern calls for because the first one I knitted up looked way too small. Even the second one compared to my son's 10-month-old foot still looks really small.

I hope she likes these gifts! I've really enjoyed making them!

After I'm done with the booties I'm going to start working on a few of my own unfinished projects. Those keep getting pushed aside so that I can make gifts for others. I want to at least get a shrug done that I have been working on so that I can wear it before I have to start making Christmas gifts!