More Recycle Tips!

Well, I am almost done my Tetris scarf, so you can look forward to the pattern next week. While you are waiting I figured I would give you a couple more recycle tips, these ones coming straight from lessons I learned from my Grandmother who tried her best to never waste anything. So I will just list off the things she found a use for that you might too!

1. For crackers that come in a box with paper (The ones we have are a Newfy classic, Purity Cream Crackers)....the paper can be taken out to be used as tracing/pattern paper

2. Cereal bags can be reused as wax paper after being wiped out

3. While talking about what comes out of boxes, don't forget that the thin cardboard from the boxes is great for kids crafts and for patterns.

4. Milk bags are great as sandwich or snack bags or even bags for your crafty supplies

5. Any and all containers can be used again....I especially love when something comes in a glass jar...stay tuned for a pattern for a beautiful decorative vase from a recycled container!

So, just a small reminder that sometimes what we throw in the garbage isn't really trash! Let me know if you've found something useful in your trash!

Waste not, Want not

For this week's craft tip, I have a little recycling tip. Whenever you have a lot of ends in a crochet (or knitting) project -like my tetris scarf- you end up throwing out a lot of wool. I found the waste really annoying and plus the mess made with the yarn ends could get pretty intense. Here is my solution: I got a freezer bag and that's where I put my ends. I know what you are thinking, okay, so you got a mini garbage bag for your ends, big deal....but here's the cool thing, I now have stuffing for my various stuffed projects. The yarn I collect in my bag can be used for small stuffed animals or cushions, depending on how long I decided to collect it. TA DA! Waste not, want not.

I also wanted to show you my updated scarf. I commented on the previous blog that I ended up starting over and using double instead of single crochet. I like the results and I wanted to show you how it looks now:

A New Experiment!

Okay, here we are, my first Crafter's Corner. As always, I have a lot going on in my crafting world right now. I have two very tedious blankets on the go right now (they are made ENTIRELY by 1.5 inch granny squares) that are taking up most of my time. I am also converting my baggy t-shirts into baby doll tees but that only takes a few minutes so it's not really a big project. There is one thing that I am very excited about though and I want to share it with you.

I have recently decided to start crocheting video game inspired items and I am starting with a scarf and hat set. The scarf and hat set is inspired by the original Tetris. The scarf is going to be black with an in progress game of Tetris on either end and falling blocks throughout the rest of the scarf. The hat is going to be black with a trim made of Tetris blocks. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty excited about the project and I'm hoping that it works out because if it does then I have opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for myself (and my readers) for crochet patterns. So I will definitely keep you posted and if it turns out I will post the pattern on a future Monday. For now, I will tell you this...I have graphed out the pattern on graph paper with each block representing 4 single crochet stitches and so far it is working out.

The only problem is having to constantly switch colours, it's making for a rather big mess.

Well, that's what's going on in my craft world right now, on Wednesday I'll be back with a great winter comfort recipe!