Craft Blog

When you are crocheting, there are many different types of yarn you can use. For beginning crocheters, they may not know this. Most people think of yarn as just the basic stuff you can pick up at Wal-Mart. They think of the cheap stuff that children use for school projects and such. For advanced crocheters, they are probably very well aware of the different types of yarn that can be used.

Along with the many different types of yarn there are many different yarn weights. One type of yarn that probably few beginning crocheters know about is recycled silk yarn. When most people think of recycled they think of something like recycled paper—the paper that is not quite as strong as unrecycled paper and is harder to erase on; the stuff you used in third grade when learning to write cursive.

While this may not be what you think of exactly when you think recycled, you will have some sort of image, however, it is important to understand that it is great to recycle, it just seems that people tend to have the view that products that have been recycled do not have quite as good quality as products that have not been recycled.

This is not the case with recycled silk yarn however. Recycled silk yarn is very good yarn and it probably more expensive than a lot of other yarns. Recycled silk yarn comes from colorful saris that women in South Asia wear. It is made from the loose ends of the saris that are collected in the industry mills. There is a little stereotype that products that come from the orient always seem to be a little bit more refined and a little bit better quality. That is what this yarn is like, fine, high quality yarn.

This yarn is very fine. It has vibrant colors and textures that are unique. It is considered by the best crocheters to be very beautiful yarn. It is supposed to make very beautiful items such as scarves, hand bags, etc.

There are two different types of recycled silk yarn. One type is first grade recycled silk yarn. This type is very good. It is tighter than the other grade and it is spun more evenly. It is smaller than grade two and it is also denser. Its diameter tends to be more consistent than some yarns. It is very soft and has no odor. This is one type of recycled silk yarn and it is a very good type for certain things.

Second grade recycled silk yarn is a little bit different. It is not quite as fine as the first grade. It has a coarser feel and is less consistent in its width variety. Its width variety is much broader. It can have different color, as well as texture, than the first grade.

Both grades are very good yarn overall and can make beautiful items that will be enjoyed by the owner. If you learn to work with basic yarn first then working with recycled silk yarn would not be hard, though if you start with the recycled silk yarn, you won’t likely want to try your lesser expensive and lesser quality yarn varieties as they are not as easy to work with, or create as beautiful end results.

One word of warning, is that recycled yarn is not as tough as other yarn. If you do make items you will use regularly, such as scarves, mittens, and hand bags out of recycled silk yarn you will probably want to be careful with them. You will want to take good care of them and be sure that you do not ruin the yarn. Care isn’t that hard, but it is probably something that you will want to be aware of.

If you use recycled silk yarn you could probably have a lot of fun with it. It is definitely a lot more fun than normal, basic yarn. You could make things that are a lot more fun to use because they are unique, high quality, and truly beautiful.

You’ve been crocheting for a while now and you feel like your skills have gotten to the point where you need a new challenge.  You are fairly competent in making sweaters, blankets, bibs, scarves, and you’ve even tried hats.  But you’re looking for something a little more difficult.  You’re ready to embark on a sock making extravaganza.  But how exactly do you go about crocheting socks?

Keep reading and you’ll learn how.  And you’ll also learn a little bit about crocheting in general, where it came from and a bit more about how to do it.

First, let’s have a general review of what crocheting actually is.  Crochet is a process of creating fabric (creating a sweater or blanket or bib or shawl, etc.) from yarn or thread.  The word “crochet” comes from the French word croc or croche, meaning “hook.”  Crocheted fabric is begun by placing a slip knot loop on the crochet hook, pulling another loop through the first loop, and repeating this process again and again in order to create a chain of the desired length.  The chain is either turned and worked on in rows, or joined at the beginning of the row with a slip stitch and worked in rounds. 

Crocheting socks is most easily learned by practice.  And there are many different patterns you can use to make socks.  The suggestions given here may be different than a pattern you find at your local craft store.  But here are some suggestions for getting started.  You will need to find a pattern on your own in order to finish the socks. 

For materials, you will need about 100 grams of fingering or sport weight yarn.  Your hook should be about an E.  Your gauge size should be about 5.5 stitches per inch.  You can also try using light worsted weight yarn, of about 100-200 grams.  Use a size G hook or a gauge size of 4.5 stitches per inch.  A final option is using heavy worsted or bulky weight yarn of about 200 grams.  Use a size I hook, a gauge size of about 3.5 stitches per inch. 

Next, for a good fit, you should measure the length of the foot from toe to heel and the size around the foot at the instep (or arch). 

To begin, start at the toe. Working into the bottom bump of each stitch, slip the stitch in the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across, making the last slip stitch into the first chain. From here on, insert hook under both top loops of each stitch, as is usual in crochet.

Continue in a coil (right side facing).  Then continue in a pattern stitch to end of a side. Make a toe increase in the next stitch to turn the corner. Place a marker in the middle of the increase. Continue in pattern stitch to the end of the side. Make a toe increase in the next stitch. Place a marker in the middle sc of the increase.

Continue in pattern stitch to next marker.  Move the marker to the middle. Find your instep size and then repeat for the total number of stitches for your instep.  Remove the markers and set them aside. Continue in a pattern stitch, without any more increases, until the piece measures about 2 inches less than your desired foot length. Lay the piece flat. Place a marker in the sc at each side corner. Continue in a pattern stitch to the first marker. Remove marker.

The next step is to turn the heel.  As this is where crocheting socks becomes a bit more complicated, you will need to find a pattern to help you complete the socks.  Though it may be wiser to simply get a pattern on your own and start from scratch.  Good luck!

After a trip to the grocery store, most people either toss the dozens of plastic grocery bags they receive or stuff them under the sink to be recycled as trash bag liners. However, if you crochet, you can use your plastic grocery bags for a variety of crocheted projects and crafts by transforming the bags into “yarn.”

What Can I Make With Plastic Bag Yarn?

Plastic bag yarn can be used for tote bags, rugs, outdoor mats, and a number of other projects. Keep in mind that as a general rule and for obvious reasons, plastic bag yarn is not used for clothing. You can find entire books in the library on how to crochet with plastic bag yarn and patterns. These can also be accessed online.

How Do I Make Plastic Bag Yarn?

There are a number of resources that show step-by-step how to make yarn using an ordinary plastic bag. You will probably be surprised how simple it is. The steps for making a ball of yarn out of a plastic bag are as follows:

1)    Make sure the bag is clean and dry. As a general rule, it should not have been used to hold anything that could carry bacteria, such as meat or poultry and eggs. It’s easier to just toss the bags that have carried meat or fish, but if you want, you can still use them by washing them in the sink with a disinfectant soap and then letting them air dry. Obviously, it’s faster and easier to throw away bags that have held contaminated materials and just use those that were used for dry goods.

2)    Lay the bag flat, and cut off the handles and the bottom seam.

3)    Fold the bag lengthwise several times so it ends up a strip. This is similar to folding a piece of paper to make a fan, without rotating it. It should be about 1-2 inches in diameter when you’re finished.

4)    Lay the strip horizontally and cut into 1 ½ – 2-inch pieces. You should end up with about 6-8.

5)    Unfold the strips; they will resemble rings. Lay one ring over the other, so it overlaps slightly.

6)    Next, take one end of one ring and loop it through the other, pulling it back through so it connects the two with a knot.

7)    Keep repeating this until you have a ball of “yarn.” Keep in mind that it could take dozens of bags to do a project.

Things to Keep In Mind

In order to make sure your bags will make sturdy, useful yarn, it’s wise to keep the following points in mind:

•     Never use bags that have contained pesticides or poisons, even if you do wash them – they can still contain traces of the poison.

•     If the bag has holes or tears, you can still make it into yarn using the above-mentioned loop method. Just avoid the tears when knotting the rings together.

•     Avoid bags that have a distinct odor.

•     Be creative. The bags you use need not be limited to the grocery store, nor do they need to be all white. Use bags from the dry cleaner, bubble wrap, or anything made from that same material.

If you’re looking to spice up your crocheting with a new and different type of yarn, consider making plastic bag “yarn.”